Fun
Frisky
Nostalgic
Intense
Adventurous
Choked Up
Curious
Romantic
Weird
One of the highlights, and there aren’t many, of The Americans ending with their sixth season is that Holly Taylor is about to become known as one of the best actresses of her generation. Today, and surely for many years to come, we celebrate her as our Woman Crush Wednesday.
WHO’S THAT GAL: Holly Taylor
WHY WE’RE CRUSHING: Since 2013, we’ve watched Holly grow up right in front of our eyes, both as a woman and an incredible actress. She’s clearly taken notes from her on-screen mom, Keri Russell, and as her character Paige blooms into a super spy, Holly the actress is blooming into one of the most in-demand, professional, and talented young performers. There aren’t many actors that could handle material so heavy and challenging for six seasons, and not only has Holly done a great job — she’s continuously gotten better each step of the way. From Paige’s rebellious teen years, to her religious streak, to her boxing lessons in the garage, Holly’s brought a natural and genuine quality to Paige that has transformed her on-screen persona from a barely tolerable teen to a bold and brave woman.
The 20-year-old actress has kept a social media presence that very clearly belongs to a normal young woman, all while starring in one of the most critically acclaimed dramas. There’s something refreshing about seeing her Instagram candids with friends and not a starlet with overly plumped lips pouting in a selfie. Perhaps it’s that she’s originally from Canada or that she has a great unit of family, friends, and co-stars around her keeping her grounded, or maybe it’s that she knows the world is her oyster. She’s tackled some material that is just about as dark and dense as it gets for television, so her options once the show comes to its conclusion are nearly endless — and no sensible gal would want to mess that up.
WHERE YOU’VE SEEN HER BEFORE: Clearly Holly’s been a bit tied up with The Americans for a while, so with the exception of a handful of films including Ashley, Worst Friends, and The Otherworld, she’s mostly stuck to her job on the FX drama, where she has more than proven her capabilities as a performer. And needless to say, she’s made a bigger impact there than we ever could’ve expected when we first met her sweet young character.
WHERE YOU’LL SEE HER AGAIN: This season of The Americans gives Holly more to do than ever: she’s testing out disguises, she’s following sources, and she’s learning to take on the family business in a fearless way. Once we sadly part ways with Paige at the end of the season, you can look forward to catching Holly in the thriller films We Still Say Grace and The Witch Files. And the list will only continue to grow from there…
