Anya Taylor-Joy says that she always ended up playing the dragon when she played Super Mario Bros as a child but is now proud to be Princess Peach in the new movie of the gaming franchise.
Speaking to RTÉ Entertainment via Zoom, the American actress, who previously starred in The Witch and The Queen's Gambit, said, "Actually, when we used to play this game when we were kids, I was always the dragon, so it feels good to be able to play a character that is inspirational to young boys and girls who is admirable in her leadership.
"I feel very glad to have played a princess who is capable and kind and caring but also incredibly tough and in charge. That feels good and I’m proud of that."
She added, "My brother played Super Mario when he was younger, and I really wanted to play but as a kid I was outside all the time so when I got this movie it was great to have an opportunity to play a character that gave me a chance at a second childhood because I got to play the games as research."
Super Mario Bros. Movie also stars Always Sunny in Philadelphia star Charlie Day and Chris Pratt as the titular moustachioed Italian plumber team, a larger-than-life Jack play as baddie Bowser, and Seth Rogen as Donkey Kong.
Asked if she was a gamer now, Taylor-Joy said, "Yes. I particularly love going to the arcade. I love the nostalgia factor. It’s great that there are all these arcade bars because it’s a good time. I would say I’m a gamer now, but I wasn’t when I was a kid."
Taylor-Joy has maintained a ferocious work rate since her breakthrough in Netflix hit The Queen’s Gambit and with three new movies on the way, she shows no signs of slowing down.
"It’s pretty wild," she says. "Every time I think I’m going to take a break, it never happens and it’s completely of my own making and I hopefully learning to run as fast as all the things I say yes to."
Super Mario Bros. Movie is in cinemas on 5 April
