Taylor Russell is a Canadian actress who is known for her powerful role in the Netflix sci-fi series Lost in Space (2018–2021). Growing up in Canada she was always drawn towards arts and creativity and her passion was later depicted in her work. Russell began her acting career in 2012 and has risen to prominence in the film and television industry since then. She had a lead role in the psychological thriller Waves (2019) and had distinct roles in TV productions like Pants on Fire (2014) and Falling Skies (2015).
BIOGRAPHY
Taylor Russell McKenzie was born on July 18, 1994, in the small community of Deep Cove, North Vancouver, Canada. Russell belongs to mixed races as her mother is a white European and her dad was an Afro-Jamaican. She wasn’t accepted by her peers in school due to her dark complexion and often faced discrimination. Taylor began her dance training and was passionate about ballet. At the age of 18, she began acting professionally after taking classes and getting hooked. She didn’t know what she was doing in her first theatrical job and worried about making a fool of herself.
“But that’s also the fun of it. You don’t know if it’s going to be any good or if you’re going to fail,” she says. “I don’t want to be the most knowledgeable or experienced person in the the room. I’d rather be the person who doesn’t know anything about what they’re doing and can find their way.”
SOCIAL MEDIA ACCOUNTS
The Canadian Actress is mostly active on her Instagram account where she shares glimpses of her life, and her magazine cover shoots, as well as interacts with her fans. Taylor isn’t very active on other social media platforms. Here is the list of her official accounts:
WIKI
Taylor Russell is a Canadian woman who has roots in Jamaica and Canada as well. She is known for her role as a strong woman at the same time her personality has an aura of soft feminism which captures the attention of the audience. She is 5’5” feet in height with a blend of White and Black facial features. Russell loves short hair. Her dimples and beautiful smile are a distinct feature of her face. The Canadian beauty has a slim and well-sculpted figure.
| Real Name | Taylor Russell McKenzie |
| Stage Name | Taylor Russell |
| Nickname | Russ Tmac Tay |
| Birthday | July 18, 1994 |
| Age | 29 years |
| Birthplace | Vancouver, Canada |
| Present Residence | London |
| Gender | Female |
| Zodiac Sign | Cancer |
| Nationality | Canadian |
| Mother Tongue | English |
| Ethnicity | White Canadian Black Jamaican |
| Religion | Christian |
| School | Local School in Vancouver, Canada |
| College/University | Studio 58 – Theatre and School (Langara College) |
| Qualification | Acting Theater |
| Occupation | Acting Modeling |
| Net Worth | USD 5-10 million approximately |
| Relationship Status | Dating |
| Children | None |
| Height | 5′ 5” |
| Weight | 55kg |
| Eye Color | Dark Brown |
| Hair Color | Black |
| Body Shape | Chest: 32 inches Waist: 25 inches Hips: 34 inches |
| Pets | Dog |
| Hobbies | Book Reading Harp Playing Dancing |
ZODIAC SIGN
Her sun sign is Cancer. Cancer is a water sign, known for its sensitive and creative nature. They are selfless, devoted, and nurturing. Cancerians are dedicated to the important things in life and often gain popularity. Popular figures like Pamela Reif, Ariana Grande, and Elon Musk also have the same star sign as her.
PARENTS AND SIBLINGS
The Canadian beauty has a White mother and a Black Afro-Jamaican father. The couple met in Canada and got married but their financial situation wasn’t good. Russ’s father was an actor and they relocated over 16 times due to her father’s job during their childhood. Taylor Russell spent most of her time on the maternal side. She has two brothers, one is older and the second one is younger than her. In an interview with Elle, she said:
“I moved a lot of my life, I was always in new environments. Things changed a lot, so there was always an opportunity for reinvention, to create something new.”
EARLY LIFE AND EDUCATION
Taylor Russell started acting when she was 18 after enrolling herself in acting classes. Before that, she was passionate about learning ballet and being a professional dancer. She attended Studio 58 – Theatre and School (Langara College) which helped her polish her skills. She worked in a restaurant, butcher shop, and jewelry shop to save money and go to Los Angeles for auditions. Russell continued her struggle for four years before finally getting a role in a TV series. Russell’s parents were financially unstable and they kept on moving for work in different cities and places for over 16 years. Russ said she spent her early life being like a mom and a very responsible and serious person.
RELATIONSHIP AND DATING RUMOR
Although Taylor remained very private about her dating life. However, Russ hit the limelight after being spotted with British singer and actor Harry Styles, on multiple occasions on the streets of London. The couple started dating in June 2023 and now both are in a relationship. The entertainment magazines filled their pages with spicy stories about the couple and their time together. The rumors also spread about Taylor being pregnant with the child of Harry Styles. However, it is yet to be confirmed. In an interview about her relationship with Harry, she said,
“I mean, love, a lot of the time, feels like a drug, you feel so insane. Being with the person all the time, you’d do anything for them. You’re like, I wanna have all of this stuff with you and I wanna do everything with you. That feels like, especially when you’re not in love all the time. I have my distinct loves of my life and so I can remember the feelings of them pretty specifically and intensely. When I think about them, and being in love, it definitely feels like a drug. But honestly, I didn’t experiment with drugs much when I was a teenager and in my twenties.”
CAREER
She made her acting debut on Television in 2012 by playing a minor role in Emily Owens, M.D. Russell made her Hollywood debut in an American Netflix science fiction series Lost in Space (2018-2021) which was a remake of the original 1965 series. She gained worldwide recognition after that and also won multiple awards for her extraordinary performance. In 2019, she made a breakthrough with her lead character in the psychological thriller Escape Room. Russell starred alongside Timothée Chalamet in the romantic horror road film Bones and All (2021), directed by Luca Guadagnino. Taylor is now working on a Korean film Hope and its release date is yet to be announced.
Filmography
Her roles are mostly Astonishing and Serious with a hint of traditional feminism. Taylor speaks with her face and eyes when she acts. She gets along with every character and has unique transitional abilities that captivate audiences with her exceptional talent. Let’s take a look at the films she worked in.
| If I Had Wings | 2013 |
| Suspension | 2015 |
| UNIT Bryan | 2016 |
| Before I Fall | 2017 |
| Down a Dark Hall Hot Air | 2018 |
| Escape Room Waves | 2019 |
| Words on Bathroom Walls The Heart Still Hums | 2020 |
| Dr. Bird’s Advice for Sad Poets Escape Room: Tournament of Champions | 2021 |
| Bones and All | 2022 |
| Mother, Couch | 2023 |
| Hope (Korean Film) | To Be Announced |
Television
Russell also makes remarkable appearances on Television. Some of her work is as follows:
| Emily Owens, M.D. | 2012 |
| Blink | 2013 |
| The Unauthorized Saved by the Bell Story Pants On Fire | 2014 |
| Strange Empire Falling Skies | 2015 |
| Dead of Summer | 2016 |
| Sea Change | 2017 |
| Lost In Space | 2018-2021 |
NET WORTH
The Canadian enchantress has a net worth of USD 5-10 million approximately. She is a successful Canadian actress who is rising to prominence with his exceptional acting and has fans from different countries.
Source of Income
Her main source of income is several successful roles in Films and Television. Moreover, she endorsed various Canadian and English brands and worked as a model for numerous fashion magazines. In 2022, Taylor also hit the catwalk in the opening of the show for Loewe, a Spanish luxury brand. The actress has also appeared in campaigns for Chanel, Prada, and collaborations with Balenciaga and Alexander McQueen.
FAVORITES
A List of some of Taylor McKenzie’s favorite things is as follows:
| Favorite Colors | Yellow Red Cream |
| Favorite Actor | Paapa Essiedu |
| Favorite Actress | Michele Austin Sissy Spacek |
| Favorite Director | Luca Guadagnno |
| Favorite Fashion Brand | Prada Loewe Balenciaga |
| Favorite Movie | Badlands |
| Favorite Food | Plant-based Diet Chocolates |
| Favorite Drink | Coffee |
| Favorite Music | Pop and Classical |
| Favorite Song | Creep by Radiohead |
| Favorite Music Band | Radiohead |
| Favorite Instrument | PianoHarp |
| Favorite Genre | Japanese Anime |
| Favorite Japanese Anime Directors | Mamoru Hosoda Makoto Shinkai |
| Favorite Writer | Patti Smith |
| Favorite Books | Woolgathering Man and His Symbols The Name of the Wind |
| Favorite Destination | New York |
AWARDS
Bones and All actress got critical acclamation for her roles and also is the recipient of several prominent awards. The winning list of her awards is as follows:
| African-American Film Critics Association Gotham Independent Film Award | 2019/ Won |
| Hollywood Critics Association BlackStar Film Festival Nashville Film Festival Palm Springs International ShortFest | 2020/ Won |
| Venice Film Festival | 2022/ Won |
INTERESTING FACTS
- She is a voracious reader and a huge fan of author Patti Smith.
- Taylor loves photography and painting.
- Russell has a small lightning bolt tattooed on her inner wrist and another tattoo is on her knee.
- Russ is learning to play the harp as it gives a soothing sensation.
- The Canadian actress is best friends with Alexa Demie, an American singer and actress.
- She released a documentary “The Heart Still Hums” in 2020 about homeless children and also did charity work.
- Tay has a skin condition called Vitiligo.
- Taylor Russell is a fashion freak and has an expensive styling habit.
- She modeled for famous Spanish, French, and Italian brands as well as fashion magazines.
What is Taylor Russell famous for?
She is known for her roles in the drama film Waves (2019), and the horror film Escape Room (2019).
Is Harry Style dating Taylor Russell?
Both have been dating since June 2023.
Which country Taylor Russell belongs to?
She is Canadian. Her mother is White and her father is Afro-Jamaican.
Who is Taylor Russell bestfriend?
Alexa Demie is her best friend.
