by Tim Gordon
Every so often, we get the privilege of watching an artist blossom in front of our eyes. For me, one of the most rewarding journeys has been following the rise of Teyana Taylor. She’s always been a hustler, always been a grinder, but lately, she’s been showing us something even deeper: the grace, fire, and artistry of a woman fully stepping into her moment.
Her latest role in Paul Thomas Anderson’s One Battle After Another feels like a coronation. As Profidia Beverly Hills, Taylor doesn’t just play a character; she pours every ounce of her lived experience into a woman who is at once fierce, vulnerable, and unforgettable. It’s the kind of performance that doesn’t just win attention; it earns respect.
Taylor’s story has always been rooted in drive. At just 15, she was choreographing Beyoncé’s “Ring the Alarm,” a statement debut for someone not even old enough to drive. Soon after came her first record deal, her single “Google Me,” and the mixtape From a Planet Called Harlem. Those early years showed us something crucial about Teyana: she wasn’t waiting for permission. She was going to be seen, heard, and felt.
When she joined Kanye West’s GOOD Music in 2012, Taylor started turning heads on a bigger stage. Her debut album VII arrived with a sultry R&B sound that reflected both grit and vulnerability. Her unforgettable performance in Kanye’s “Fade” video at the 2016 MTV VMAs became a viral cultural moment, a symbol of her discipline, artistry, and sheer star power.
Albums like K.T.S.E. and The Album only deepened that identity, a mix of Harlem edge, raw honesty, and sharp style. And under the name “Spike Tee,” she directed her own visuals, taking control of her image and eventually directing for other artists. Taylor wasn’t content to be a performer; she was determined to shape her own narrative.
The pivot to acting wasn’t instant, but when it came, it landed. In 2023, she stunned audiences with her performance in A Thousand and One. As Inez, she delivered a portrayal brimming with lived-in truth, a mother struggling to hold on to her son and her dignity in a world that seemed determined to strip both away. Critics hailed it as a breakthrough, and suddenly, Hollywood began to see Teyana Taylor in a new light.
She followed it with Straw, a stripped-down indie that let her flex in a quieter, more intimate register. It was a reminder that her range wasn’t dependent on high drama; she could carry a story with stillness and humanity.
Then came Jeymes Samuel’s The Book of Clarence in 2024, a bold biblical satire that gave her a chance to show humor, style, and presence on a larger canvas. Taylor lit up the screen in a way that suggested her growing comfort in front of the camera, playful one moment, commanding the next. Taken together, these projects were more than roles; they were stepping stones, laying the foundation for the kind of career arc actors dream about.
Which brings us to One Battle After Another. In Paul Thomas Anderson’s ambitious ensemble piece, Taylor steps into the role of Profidia Beverly Hills, and it’s nothing short of transformative.
Profidia is a revolutionary woman carrying the weight of struggle and survival while still daring to fight for more. On the surface, she’s a fighter, but Taylor infuses her with humor, defiance, vulnerability, and heart. She’s magnetic, a character who alters the film’s current every time she appears.
The now-viral sequence of Profidia charging into battle while visibly pregnant, machine gun in hand, has already become one of the film’s defining images. It’s shocking, yes, but also deeply symbolic: a portrait of strength, sacrifice, and the refusal to be erased. Taylor makes it iconic.
What makes this performance even more special is how much of herself she poured into it. Anderson gave her space to shape the character, encouraging her improvisation and trusting her instincts. Taylor adjusted Profidia’s cadence, movements, and voice until she felt lived-in. What audiences are responding to isn’t just acting, it’s embodiment.
In a film headlined by Leonardo DiCaprio, Sean Penn, and Regina Hall, Taylor doesn’t just hold her own; she shines. Profidia Beverly Hills is the kind of role that makes an industry recalibrate, the kind that makes casting directors and auteurs suddenly see an actor differently.
It’s not just that Taylor is good in One Battle After Another. It’s that she announces herself as an actor who belongs in conversations about range, gravitas, and cultural resonance. She’s not “promising” anymore. She’s proven.
What’s exciting about this moment is that it feels like just the beginning. Taylor’s 2025 album Escape Room is a reminder that her musical voice is still vital. She continues to direct as “Spike Tee,” building a visual style that is uniquely her own. And whispers about a Dionne Warwick biopic, along with potential directing projects, hint that she’s ready to stretch even further.
The truth is, Teyana Taylor isn’t chasing categories. She’s erasing them.
From a Harlem teenager choreographing Beyoncé to a woman commanding the screen as Profidia Beverly Hills, Teyana Taylor’s story is one of persistence, vision, and undeniable talent. She has grown in public, stumbled in public, reinvented herself in public, and each time, she’s come back sharper, stronger, and hungrier.
Watching her now, it feels like she’s blooming into everything she was always meant to be. One Battle After Another may be the role that cements her status, but it’s just one chapter in a career that promises even more brilliance to come.
This isn’t just growth. This is a transformation. And the best part? Teyana Taylor is only getting started.