Anya Taylor-Joy Discusses the Emotional ‘Lucky’ Finale and Her Experience on ‘Dune Part Three’

Anya Taylor-Joy reflects on two distinct projects that challenged her in unique ways. In a recent interview with The Hollywood Reporter, the actress shared her thoughts on the poignant conclusion of Apple TV’s ‘Lucky’ and her time working on Denis Villeneuve’s ‘Dune: Part Three.’

The finale of ‘Lucky’ sees Taylor-Joy’s character, Lucky, finally breaking free from her criminal upbringing. After the loss of her husband Cary and the realization that her father John may never change, Lucky makes a pivotal choice that opens the door to a new future.

Instead of keeping the $10 million that has circulated throughout the series, Lucky decides to return the stolen money to the federal government. She also walks away from her father and the criminal life that has defined her.

For Taylor-Joy, this ending was both painful and hopeful. She explained to The Hollywood Reporter that the narrative resonates with a common experience: loving someone who is ultimately detrimental.

“Either personally or through somebody close to us, we all know what it is to love somebody that’s not good for us,” Taylor-Joy remarked. “It’s a lesson that has to be learned individually.”

This lesson is particularly significant for Lucky, whose identity has been heavily influenced by her father. John raised her to be a skilled con artist, and for much of her life, gaining his approval meant excelling in the very skills she ultimately sought to escape.

Taylor-Joy noted that this emotional journey made the final moments resonate deeply. Although Lucky understands she must leave John behind, a part of her still yearns for him to make the right choice.

“You still feel that heartbreak because Timothy is so charming, and you so want him to do the right thing,” she explained. However, the conclusion offers Lucky something she has never truly possessed before. “Where we leave Lucky, she, for the first time, isn’t being told who she is; she’s telling other people who she is.”

Taylor-Joy also perceives Lucky as fortunate in a more profound sense. Although she ends the series alone, she has endured everything thrown her way and now possesses the power to dictate her future.

“Anytime you have the opportunity to make your own fate, you’re pretty lucky,” she stated. “And she made it out alive.”

While ‘Lucky’ provided Taylor-Joy with an emotionally complex character, ‘Dune: Part Three’ offered her a different kind of experience. She reprises her role as Alia Atreides in the third installment of Villeneuve’s sci-fi saga, and she claims the production exceeded her expectations.

“’Dune: Part Three’ was everything that I hoped it would be,” Taylor-Joy shared with The Hollywood Reporter.

Having made a brief appearance as Alia in ‘Dune: Part Two’, her role is set to be much more prominent in the upcoming film. She approached the production with the intent to absorb as much knowledge as possible from Villeneuve and the filmmaking process.

“I just wanted to be a sponge on that set and pick up everything in terms of the atmosphere and what it is to lead from a place of love,” she explained.

Taylor-Joy was particularly struck by the environment Villeneuve fostered on set. Despite the challenging conditions, she noted that the cast and crew were committed to delivering their best work because of their trust and respect for their director.

“It was so deeply inspiring to be in these really harsh elements and know that every person is doing their absolute best work because they believe, trust and adore the person that’s leading the ship,” Taylor-Joy remarked.

This experience also rekindled her passion for acting. Taylor-Joy expressed her hope to maintain the excitement she felt in her youth and to approach filmmaking with the same curiosity.

“When I think about myself in the future, I hope that I never get jaded and that I still have that childlike exuberance,” she said. “So when I look at Denis, I’m like, Oh, it’s possible.”

For Taylor-Joy, ‘Lucky’ and ‘Dune: Part Three’ have imparted two distinct lessons. One emphasizes the importance of letting go of those who hinder your growth, while the other reinforces her love for storytelling.

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