Anya Taylor-Joy says the stability she has found with husband Malcolm McRae has made her more willing to take risks elsewhere in her life.
In a new interview with Elle U.K., the 30-year-old Lucky star described McRae as her best friend and said their marriage has given her a sense of security she never expected to experience.
Taylor-Joy said having a healthy and dependable relationship has emboldened her to accept unfamiliar challenges and move beyond her comfort zone.
Marriage Gave Taylor-Joy an Unexpected Sense of Security
Taylor-Joy admitted that finding a lifelong partner had not been something she placed on a personal checklist. “To have a best friend who goes through life with you, it has given me a sense of security that I didn’t really ever dream about,” she told Elle U.K..
Now that she has that foundation, Taylor-Joy feels more confident about taking professional and personal risks because she knows she has something “nutritive and solid and healthy” waiting for her. “I don’t want to sound smug, but I love him so much,” she said. She also described their marriage as unusually joyful, estimating that she spends approximately 90% of their time together laughing.
They Share Their Daily ‘Adventures’ During Time Apart
She works internationally as an actress and producer, while McRae is a musician and member of the rock duo more. When work separates them, the couple checks in at the beginning and end of each day to hear about the other person’s latest “adventures.”
McRae uses what Taylor-Joy called a “dumb phone,” while she has largely stepped back from social media. She said being offline has done “wonders” for her mental health, even though it occasionally leaves her unaware of whatever subject is dominating online conversation. “I think it’s so nice to be fully present,” she said.
They Secretly Married on April Fools’ Day
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Taylor-Joy and McRae met in 2021 at a music studio and later discovered that they share the same birthday, April 16. They privately married in New Orleans on April 1, 2022, with two close friends serving as witnesses. The couple chose April Fools’ Day for an intimate ceremony that remained secret from the public for two years.
Taylor-Joy confirmed the marriage on their second anniversary in April 2024 by sharing photographs and video from the celebration. “Two years ago, on April Fools, I secretly married my best friend in New Orleans,” she wrote. “The magic of that day is ingrained in every cell of my being, forever.”
Her custom Dior gown featured embroidered flowers and birds, while the couple served cakes designed to resemble anatomically accurate human hearts. Taylor-Joy joked about the unusual desserts in her caption, writing, “Yes, those are anatomically correct heart cakes. Yes, I am the vampire Lestat.” The couple later celebrated with friends and family at a larger wedding in Venice in late September 2023.
McRae Marked Four Years of Marriage With a Playful Tribute
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McRae celebrated their fourth wedding anniversary on April 1, 2026, by sharing photographs and video from their life together.“Four years married,” he wrote. “I’m trying to return to you more love than you’re able to give out.”
He maintained the playful tone Taylor-Joy associates with their relationship by conceding that his wife was better than him at “almost everything.” McRae claimed one exception: “I dominate in thumb wars.”