Taylor Russell

Taylor Russell McKenzie (born July 18, 1994) is a Canadian actress and filmmaker. After playing a number of minor roles, Russell received recognition for starring in the Netflix science fiction series Lost in Space (2018–2021). She rose to prominence with her roles in the drama film Waves, and the horror film Escape Room (2019) and its 2021 sequel. For starring in the road movie Bones and All (2022), she won the Marcello Mastroianni Award. She performed onstage in the play The Effect from 2023 to 2024. Russell co-directed the 2020 short documentary film The Heart Still Hums, with Savanah Leaf, which was the base for a movie adaptation by Leaf titled Earth Mama (2023).

Early life Taylor Russell McKenzie was born on July 18, 1994, in the small community of Deep Cove, North Vancouver, located near Vancouver, British Columbia. Russell was raised in Vancouver, Toronto, and Montreal. She has an older brother and a younger brother. As a child she would visit her grandparents in Montreal, Quebec. She is from a large family on her father's side. She recalled that growing up she felt unaccepted by her peers due to the color of her skin. Her parents faced financial struggles, leading the family to rely on welfare, and they were frequently compelled to relocate, uprooting their lives a total of sixteen times to accommodate her father's professional pursuits. Russell also began working at the age of 13.

As a child, Russell was artistically inclined. She wanted to pursue a career in ballet, and later as a painter. At twelve, Russell learned to play the bass guitar. This routine went on for four years until she landed her first major TV role. The day before her first shift, she was in a traffic accident and received an $8,000 insurance settlement for her back injury, which she used to move to Los Angeles. In 2014, she starred as Lark Voorhies in the Lifetime television film The Unauthorized Saved by the Bell Story, and Jennifer in the Disney XD television film Pants on Fire.

Russell made guest appearances in the CBC Television drama series Strange Empire (2015), the TNT science fiction series Falling Skies (2015), and the Freeform supernatural horror series Dead of Summer (2016).

2018–present: Breakthrough and acclaim

In 2018, Russell earned recognition for her starring role as Judy Robinson in the science fiction series Lost in Space, a Netflix remake of the original 1965 series, for which she received critical praise and a nomination for the Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actress in a Streaming Presentation. Essence magazine stated that she "impresses in her role as a genius medic and doctor, who is compassionate and caring even in the face of danger." The series concluded in December 2021, after three seasons. On her ability to represent Black women in a science fiction series, Russell stated, "I know there are not a lot of women of color who are in the sci-fi genre and I feel really lucky that they chose me to hold that position on our show ... It holds a really big place in my heart." surpassing initial expectations and grossing $155.7 million. Also in 2019, Russell garnered critical acclaim for her starring role in the drama film Waves, which was released by A24 on November 15, 2019. IndieWire website dubbed her performance a "revelation", going on to write that "While Waves is filled with excellent performances from its stacked cast, it's Russell that makes off with its most spectacular turn." For her performance in the film, Russell received the Gotham Independent Film Award for Breakthrough Performer and the Virtuoso Award at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival, among several others.

Russell starred in Thor Freudenthal's romantic drama Words on Bathroom Walls (2020), alongside Charlie Plummer, Andy Garcia, and AnnaSophia Robb, which earned positive responses both from critics and audiences. She also co-directed, wrote, and produced the documentary short film The Heart Still Hums, which earned the Palm Springs International ShortFest Award for Best Documentary Short.

In 2021, Russell starred in the comedy-drama film Dr. Bird's Advice for Sad Poets, and reprised the role of Zoey Davis in the Escape Room sequel Escape Room: Tournament of Champions, which grossed $65.8 million. Russell directed part of the music video for her Waves co-star Alexa Demie's "Leopard Limo (Archive LL11)", which also features her voice. The following year, Russell starred alongside Timothée Chalamet in the romance horror film Bones and All, directed by Luca Guadagnino. The film premiered at the 79th Venice Film Festival on September 2 to positive reviews. Russell's performance in the film earned her widespread critical acclaim and the Marcello Mastroianni Award.

In 2023, Russell began starring as Connie in the play The Effect by Lucy Prebble at the Royal National Theatre in London. The play transferred to The Shed in New York City in March 2024. The play was nominated for Best Revival at The Laurence Olivier Awards and Russell was nominated for her role at the Evening Standard Theatre Awards and the WhatsOnStage Awards.

Russell starred in the comedy film Mother, Couch opposite Ewan McGregor which premiered at the 48th Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF). She is set to appear in the thriller Hope, from director Na Hong-jin, alongside HoYeon Jung, Michael Fassbender and Alicia Vikander. In July 2024 it was announced she would join the Luigi de Laurentiis jury panel for Best First Work at the 81st edition of the Venice Film Festival.

The Heart Still Hums The Heart Still Hums is a short documentary film directed by Russell and Savanah Leaf. It was released on June 17, 2020, by Searchlight Pictures. The film follows five woman who are victim to drug addiction, homelessness and neglect as they fight for their children. In 2021, it was adapted into a feature film adaptation titled Earth Mama that had Leaf act as writer and director.

Media image Russell made her modeling debut opening the SS23 Loewe show in 2022. Creative director of the Spanish luxury brand Jonathan Anderson chose Russell after meeting her through mutual friend Luca Guadagnino. In November 2022, she was named a Loewe Global Ambassador. Russell has modeled in campaigns for Loewe, Chanel, BYRDIE, and Prada. Russell was on the cover of Vogue for the first time in the March 2024 issue of Vogue Italia by Paolo Roversi. Russell made her Met Gala debut in 2024 as part of the Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion exhibition. Speaking to Vogue, Russell was labelled a muse for Jonathan Anderson.

Personal life Russell currently lives between New York and London. She is a fan of Patti Smith and has a small lightning bolt tattooed on her inner wrist, emulating the one Smith has on her knee. Russell is trained in ballet and dances for 15 minutes every morning after waking up. Her favorite book is By Grand Central Station I Sat Down and Wept by Elizabeth Smart. From June 2023 to May 2024, Russell dated English singer Harry Styles.

Filmography

Film Year Title Role Notes 2013 If I Had Wings Amy Conrad Credited as Taylor Russell McKenzie 2015 Suspension Carrie 2016 UNIT Bryan Robin Short film 2017 Before I Fall Ashley 2018 Down a Dark Hall Ashley Hot Air Tess 2019 Escape Room Zoey Davis Waves Emily Williams 2020 Words on Bathroom Walls Maya Arnez 2021 Dr. Bird's Advice for Sad Poets Sophie Escape Room: Tournament of Champions Zoey Davis 2022 Bones and All Maren Yearly 2023 Mother, Couch Bella 2026 Hope Ai'dovor

Television Year Title Role Notes 2012 Emily Owens, M.D. Mean Girl #1 Episode: "Emily and... the Outbreak"; Credited as Taylor McKenzie 2013 Blink Jessica Television pilot 2014 The Unauthorized Saved by the Bell Story Lark Voorhies Television film Pants on Fire Jennifer Television film 2015 Strange Empire Cassie 2 episodes Falling Skies Evelyn 5 episodes 2016 Dead of Summer Laura Episode: "How to Stay Alive in the Woods" 2017 Sea Change CeCe Television film 2018–2021 Lost in Space Judy Robinson Main role; 28 episodes

Theater YearTitleRolePlaywright Venue 2023 The Effect Connie Lucy Prebble Lyttelton Theatre, London 2024 The Shed, Off-Broadway

Filmmaking credits

Awards and nominations