Checkmate! Critically acclaimed actress Anya Taylor-Joy, perhaps best known for her role in chess epic “The Queen’s Gambit,” has now conquered the real estate game, paying about $2.3 million — the full asking price — for a stylish sanctuary in the Hollywood Hills.
Even for Hollywood, which is filled to the proverbial brim with unique and historical homes, this place has a notably interesting legacy. While tax records say the current residence was built circa 1921, there’s some debate over its exact age. Evidence suggests the place may have entered the world much earlier — as early as 1904, when it was reportedly one of four hillside hunting cabins constructed by a wealthy businessman for his four daughters.
If true, the 1904 date would make the house one of the oldest in the area. And while most of the home’s last few owners do not appear to be famous, the sellers in this case were an actress-and-writer couple who are returning to their native Australia. Reports have also suggested that the place was once occupied by the likes of Ian McKellen, Daniel Craig and Robert Downey Jr., though we at Dirt can’t vouch for the veracity of that.
In any case, the listing describes the house as a “pre-Craftsman” that is “literally a piece of Hollywood history.” Invisible from the street behind gates and a towering hedge, the wood-sheathed residence has been remodeled many times over the years, and is today more of a magazine-worthy architectural homage to Frank Lloyd Wright than just an “ordinary” hunting cabin with about 2,300 square feet of living space.
Born in Miami to British parents, Taylor-Joy’s acting breakthrough came with 2015 horror flick “The Witch,” which was a critical and commercial success. The 26-year-old has since appeared in a slew of Hollywood films and TV shows (“Split,” “Glass,” “Peaky Blinders”). In 2020, Taylor-Joy cemented her industry status with starring roles in “Emma” and “The Queen’s Gambit”; last year, she hosted “Saturday Night Live” alongside Lil Nas X.
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Image Credit: Cameron Carothers Cloistered behind massive gates and hedges, the property has an atypical layout, with a BBQ center and in-ground hot tub in the front yard, flanking the walkway to the front door.
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Image Credit: Cameron Carothers The colored glass windows are part of the Frank Lloyd Wright homage, and the Douglas Fir hardwood floors are original to the home.
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Image Credit: Cameron Carothers Upstairs is a mezzanine-level library. The prominent Noguchi pendant lamp was a gift to the sellers from the late Heath Ledger.
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Image Credit: Cameron Carothers The dual-sided fireplace also warms the kitchen and dining area.
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Image Credit: Cameron Carothers Painted a trendy shade of forest green, the renovated kitchen also flaunts top-of-the-line Viking appliances.
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Image Credit: Cameron Carothers The dining room offers a fireplace of its own, this one sheathed in brick.
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Image Credit: Cameron Carothers Also on the main level is a sunroom. Wraparound windows overlook a jungle-like thicket of bamboo, further enhancing the home’s Bali-esque vibe.
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Image Credit: Cameron Carothers There’s also a den/office that opens directly to the backyard.
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Image Credit: Cameron Carothers Colorfully cheerful is the powder room, which pairs walls painted a vibrant watermelon hue with a blue-tiled sink.
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Image Credit: Cameron Carothers All three of the home’s bedrooms and both full bathrooms are located upstairs. The primary bedroom has a vaulted ceiling and doors opening to a private deck.
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Image Credit: Cameron Carothers The deck has peek-a-boo views of the Sunset Strip and is surrounded by attractive native and drought-tolerant plantings.
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Image Credit: Cameron Carothers The primary bathroom includes a rain-style showerhead and green mosaic tiles.
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Image Credit: Cameron Carothers Back outside, the hot tub — it’s more like a small plunge pool, really — features a black-and-blue mosaic tile surround.
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Image Credit: Cameron Carothers Mature eucalyptus trees effectively shade most of the terraced hillside lot from the sun, while multi-colored Heath Ceramics tiles surround the barbecue.