Anya Taylor-Joy was bullied at school over her looks.

Despite later becoming one of Hollywood's most sought-after stars and a favourite of the fashion world, the 30-year-old actress says she was repeatedly told by fellow pupils she was not beautiful after moving to Britain as a child.

Florida-born Anya opened up about her early experiences in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, reflecting on the challenges she faced after relocating from Buenos Aires, Argentina, to London at the age of six.

Anya said she found herself ostracised almost immediately after starting school in London.

The Hollywood Reporter reported that after kissing a classmate on the cheek, she was alienated by fellow pupils and repeatedly told she was not beautiful.

The actress made the comments while posing for a fashion shoot accompanying the interview, wearing designs by Ludovic de Saint Sernin, Rabanne, Datt Official and Lanvin.

Anya attended the fee-paying Queen's Gate School in South Kensington, where she said she struggled to fit in after arriving from South America.

The actress has spoken frequently in recent years about feeling isolated during her childhood, and earlier this month told L'Officiel constantly moving between countries left her feeling "alienated" from her peers.

Today, Anya is best known for projects including Netflix's The Queen's Gambit, The Witch, Split, Dune: Part Two and Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga, while she is also preparing for the release of Apple TV+ series Lucky.

Despite the criticism she faced growing up, Anya's path towards the entertainment industry began unexpectedly while she was still a teenager.

She told The Hollywood Reporter she was outside Harrods attempting to break in a pair of high heels for a party when she was approached by Sarah Doukas, the founder of Storm modelling agency.

Anya said she initially had "no interest in modelling".

However, she added she had heard "that sometimes models become actors" and already knew "that's what I want to do with my life".

Her acting career accelerated following acclaimed performances in horror films including The Witch and Split, before she achieved global fame starring as chess prodigy Beth Harmon in Netflix phenomenon The Queen's Gambit.

More recently, Anya led George Miller's Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga, portraying the younger version of the iconic warrior first played by Charlize Theron.

Discussing the film with The Hollywood Reporter, Anya said: "This was my dream. It was my dream to be in these Mad Max movies and as this crazy feminist icon."

She added: "I just advocated and advocated and advocated for her to live up to her name. It was my mountain on that movie, and I got it, but it was hard, hard won."

Anya also reflected on working with director George Mille on the Mad Max project.

She said it was "very difficult" to discuss the experience because being "completely honest" about it would "hurt nobody but myself."

Away from film, Anya has also spoken recently about embracing the nomadic lifestyle that once left her feeling disconnected.

In her interview with L'Officiel, she said: "But now I look at it with so much love, because I just think it perfectly set me up to live this kind of transient life."

Reflecting on dividing her time between London and Los Angeles, Anya added: "I've always been nomadic by nature.

"Now I've just fully embraced it as part of who I am. If I have a couple of days off, I'm always like, 'Ooh, what's within driving distance?' If it's six hours or less, I'm like, 'Let's go. Why not?'"