Anya Taylor-Joy Sizzles at the London ‘Lucky’ Photocall Before Apple TV Premiere
Anya Taylor-Joy has made a name for herself by immersing into morally complex characters, ranging from a chess genius battling addiction to a warlord’s trusted enforcer. This reputation for transformation makes her latest role feel like a perfect addition to her evolving career.
The project in question is ‘Lucky,’ Apple TV’s upcoming limited series based on Marissa Stapley’s bestselling novel, set to debut on the platform later this month. Taylor-Joy takes on the title role of a con artist who goes into hiding after a multi-million dollar heist goes awry, pursued by both the FBI and a merciless crime boss.
With the premiere just around the corner, Taylor-Joy attended the official photocall for the show in London, held at Raffles London at The OWO during an unusual summer heatwave. She dazzled in a pale blue and black lace dress from Tom Ford’s Spring collection, complemented by black sandals and Tiffany and Co jewelry, having previously worn a longer black version of the same design at the Marrakech International Film Festival closing ceremony last December.
The outfit embraced the sheer, lingerie-inspired silhouettes that have characterized much of Tom Ford’s recent work, creating an unexpectedly fitting connection to a character defined by reinvention and disguise. Throughout the series, Lucky Armstrong constantly shifts identities, names, and even wigs, staying one step ahead of those pursuing her.
Taylor-Joy has shared that this role marks a departure from the typical con artist narratives that initially attracted her to the genre. In an interview with Esquire India, she expressed her long-standing admiration for the slick, stylish portrayal of con artists popularized by actors like George Clooney, but noted that ‘Lucky’ presents a different take on those familiar tropes.
She described her character as someone who is constantly on the move and takes from others just to survive, highlighting a version of the con artist story that she feels has not been adequately explored on screen. This unique perspective has influenced her approach to the physically demanding role, which reportedly included overnight shoots at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas that lasted from eleven at night until eleven in the morning.
The series boasts a stellar supporting cast alongside Taylor-Joy, featuring Annette Bening as Lucky’s formidable mother-in-law and the head of the criminal organization pursuing her, as well as Timothy Olyphant as her father, Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor, and Drew Starkey as her husband Cary. Jonathan Tropper created the series and serves as co-showrunner with Cassie Pappas, while Jonathan Van Tulleken directs the pilot and additional episodes.
Reese Witherspoon executive produces through her Hello Sunshine banner, continuing her trend of adapting popular bestsellers for television, while Taylor-Joy also serves as an executive producer through her own Ladykiller production company. This level of creative involvement adds another layer to what is already shaping up to be one of the most anticipated limited series of the summer.
‘Lucky’ premieres its first two episodes on Apple TV on July 15, with subsequent episodes rolling out weekly through August 19. With a star-studded ensemble and Taylor-Joy’s growing reputation for embodying morally complex roles, the series is set to spark significant conversation once it finally debuts.
Have something to add? Let us know in the comments!