The Queen’s Gambit’s Anya Taylor-Joy Says Eating Vegan Gave Her “So Much Energy”

If you're like us, you spent the better part of the fall watching The Queen’s Gambit on Netflix. The chess-centric series recently became the platform’s biggest scripted limited series, with 62 million households watching the show, according to Deadline. Of course, the show’s success is in no small part to the incredible acting of Anya Taylor-Joy in the role of Beth Harmon, chess prodigy and quirky feminist, playing a "man's game" and winning.

Here's another reason to love this fresh-faced starlet: She’s long been a fan of eating plant-based, or at least plant-forward. She told Harper’s Bazaar UK last year that she eats “vegan whenever [she] can.” Having been a vegetarian since the age of eight, Taylor-Joy has had plenty of experience sticking to a diet that’s limited in animal products, and long on plant foods.

She’s also spent time eating purely vegan in the past. “I was vegan for a long time. I got into it because it’s the most ecologically conscious choice you can make as a consumer. When I was a vegan it was the healthiest I’ve ever felt because I had so much energy,” she told interviewer Bridget March. “I was eating a tonne [sic] because I have a really big appetite and was getting in more greens. As a vegetarian, I love a lot of Italian food—but I don’t get that many greens in there!"

In the realm of beauty products, Taylor-Joy is also a fan of keeping things cruelty-free. “I am the biggest believer in leave-in conditioner and serums. Karine Jackson who does my hair has a really nice vegan serum which is nice and light, but protective.”

We don’t know about you, but we’re sensing a future PETA Sexiest Vegetarian win in Taylor-Joy’s future. And for the love of all things good, a second season of The Queen’s Gambit.

Cheers to saying checkmate to meat, Ms.Taylor-Joy. While we love Beth Harmon, we’re glad to learn you’re nothing like the pills-slinging, boozehound you portray IRL.

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Alec Baldwin has made a bigger commitment to plant-based eating since he was first told by doctors that he was pre-diabetic and needed to change his diet. That was decades ago. But, over the last few years, he's been vocal about the benefits not only to his health but also the impact plant-based eating has on the environment.

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We all remember Pamela Anderson as the curvaceous blonde in the hit series Baywatch as she played Casey Jean in the red one-piece swimsuit that brought her world-class fame. She is a life-long active animal rights advocate and teamed up with PETA to join the Animal Protection Organization.

"We shouldn't eat as much meat guys," Kristen Stewart told GQ in an interview in January. The Twilight star has made a full 180 from vampire to vegan. When she appeared on the game show "Hot Ones" she chose to skip the wings and instead compete by eating increasing spicier sauce on vegan cauliflower wings.

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Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex has never admitted to being fully vegan, but sources say, she eats a plant-based diet most days during the week. She is teaching Prince Harry vegan cooking and in a Plant-Based News article, Markle explained how she hopes to raise baby Archie on a mostly vegan diet.

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Long time vegan, Leona Lewis grew up in a vegan household and continues to eat a plant-based diet. Lewis first adopted the diet at 12 when she learned about the health risks of eating animal products but told Women's Health Magazine she occasionally eats an omelet. She also mentioned her 2:30 lunch is normally a kale salad topped with dried cranberries and she loves a veggie stir-fry for dinner.

Hannah Teter changed her diet after watching the documentary, Earthlings when she discovered how "horrible" factory farming is. After a strict vegetarian diet, Teter liked the way she performed as an athlete and believes that her diet helped her win gold at the 2006 games.

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Winner of the first Masterchef vegan cook-off with Gordon Ramsay, Madelaine Petsch was raised vegetarian and went completely vegan at age 14. She claims that she started this diet before it was "trendy" and shot a campaign for PETA last year wearing a dress made of bok choy. Petsch says her vegan diet allows her to feel "healthier" and not "lethargic."

After doing a little sleuthing on her social media platforms we think Millie Bobbi Brown qualifies as plant-based. Whether or not she is actually skipping all meat and dairy, one thing is for sure: She eats mostly salads, vegetables and grains and lives a predominantly plant-based lifestyle full of healthy foods.

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