Anya Taylor-Joy plays a vulnerable con artist in "Lady in the Lake"

Hollywood star Anya Taylor-Joy takes on the role of a deeply complex and fragile con artist named "Lucky" in Apple TV+'s new series, "Lady in the Lake." The show, based on Marisa Stapleton's novel, delves into human greed and the protagonist's desperate attempt to escape a dark criminal past. Taylor-Joy, who also executive produced the series, revealed she felt an immediate connection to the character upon reading the script. She actively pushed for actor Domhnall Gleeson to be cast as the male lead, stating, "I knew it was him the moment we met!"

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I knew it was him the moment we met!

"Lady in the Lake" follows "Lucky" after a failed multi-million dollar heist. She finds herself pursued by both the FBI and the mob, forcing her to confront the criminal childhood she desperately tried to leave behind. Taylor-Joy, a self-proclaimed fan of heist films, appreciates how they are often portrayed as slick and glamorous, citing George Clooney's style as an example. However, what drew her to this role was the series' exploration of the con artist's hidden sorrow. "She's someone who can never stop moving, who has to keep going to survive," Taylor-Joy explained. "She has to constantly observe others and take things to live, which is a type of con artist I haven't seen before."

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She's someone who can never stop moving, who has to keep going to survive. She has to constantly observe others and take things to live, which is a type of con artist I haven't seen before.

While "Lucky" inherits her father's talent for exploiting human weaknesses, much like "The Matrix" operates, Taylor-Joy sees herself as fundamentally different. "I'm naturally empathetic, but Lucky has to carry a certain cynicism and suspicion, which I don't have. I still believe in humanity and goodness," she said. She also played a key role in casting Gleeson, praising his "genuine warmth and a hint of danger." The series explores the intertwined fates of their characters, with Taylor-Joy humorously suggesting that psychologist Freud would find their relationship fascinating, as they seem to fall in love with projections of their parents while simultaneously trying to escape their lives.

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I'm naturally empathetic, but Lucky has to carry a certain cynicism and suspicion, which I don't have. I still believe in humanity and goodness.