The nature of paper is that it’s always in a state of becoming: a story, a journal, a script, and now, a dress. Few know this better than Anya Taylor-Joy, whose own love of the written word has inspired a monumental creative dialogue between V, photographer Nick Knight, stylist Anna Trevelyan, a coterie of designers, and Montblanc, known for their own dedication to the life of a page. For the September issue of V, the likes of Matthew David Andrews, Noel Stewart, Jenny Beattie, AGRO Studio, Macy Grimshaw, Thevxlley, Gaurav Gupta, Miguel Castro Freitas for Mugler, and Zac Posen for GapStudio produced original dresses made entirely of paper for Taylor-Joy to wear.

In a world that’s increasingly so digital, there’s ever more beauty in the tactile. This collaboration becomes a love letter to fashion, punctuated with the words “I love you my angel,” written by Taylor-Joy’s own mother in Montblanc’s Meisterstück pen when she visited the set of the photoshoot. No matter the folds and creases of life, Taylor-Joy has come to see the world through pages of her own, whether as a longtime keeper of journals; an avid reader; on scripts she helps bring to life as an actor in films like Dune’s third installment, arriving later this year; or as a producer, on series like Lucky and movies like Sacrifice. As she continues writing the chapters of her life, Anya Taylor-Joy spoke to dear friend Miley Cyrus for V about building a character, escaping the pressures of fame, managing expectations, and finding the beauty in one’s imperfections.

MILEY CYRUS: What is it that makes you fall in love with a character?

ANYA TAYLOR-JOY: It feels like less of a choice, more of an instinct. My body figures it out before I do–I start sitting differently, speaking the words aloud in a new voice. I believe every character has things to teach you.

MC: Does music matter to you in movies? Can a score totally make or break a film for you?

ATJ: Absolutely. I LOVE film scores and soundtracks. I make my own playlists for jobs but the few times I’ve been given a theme for a character whilst shooting, it totally changes the game.

MC: What was it about Lucky that made you go, “I have to do this”?

ATJ: At first, the opportunity to fully produce it alongside such impressive collaborators was hugely appealing but I didn’t want to jump in unless I felt I had something to add. Luckily, reading the book I immediately saw the texture of the world and through the empathy I felt for her, I knew this was material I could sink my teeth into and expand.

MC: You executive produced Lucky and Sacrifice. What made you want to get more involved from the ground up? Was it fun exercising both sides of your brain? I always think of it as the head and the heart…the boss side and the creative side.

ATJ: Exactly. It honestly felt like something I had always been doing, it just now had a job title. I’ve never been able to not think of the project as a whole–I’m obsessed with how something moves, feels, sounds. It’s all storytelling. As a producer you get to help design the world your character lives in. I’m in love with all aspects of filmmaking so to have the ability to play in all the different sandboxes is a thrill.MC: When you step back into a world like Dune, how do you keep it fun for yourself? I imagine there’s so much pressure on a film that big, and I know you love to have a good time, so how do you make sure you don’t lose that?

ATJ: I’ve never let that be a concern. Of course I hope fans will be happy with the end result, but I never forget that I myself am a fan. Of the world, the filmmaker, the character. I approach every job the same–with complete commitment to the present, an open heart and wild curiosity. It’s all an adventure!

MC: I know travel is such a huge part of your life, and unlike me, you actually love being away from home. What’s one of your favorite places you’ve ever been? And what’s the one thing you always pack besides your hot husband?

ATJ: Ooooh, I loved trekking with gorillas in Rwanda. Africa in general is extraordinary. Japan is exquisite. On Dune, I did a couple of side quests to Austria and South Korea. My blessing and my curse is I always travel with an insane amount of books. Nearly a full suitcase. Wish I could get behind a Kindle, but nothing beats holding a physical copy in your hand.

MC: Dune has one of those fan bases that’s so passionate. Do you ever think about expectations? And whose opinion matters most to you? Is there someone in your life you’re still secretly trying to impress?

ATJ: Oh wow. That cuts deep. I think I’m still trying to impress myself? I have absurdly high standards that can be exhausting at times. Not so much for other people but personally. I care so much about the creation that I want to make sure I’ve given it my best. Growing up has meant I’ve learned that sometimes perfection is in letting go.

MC: Fame is part of the job, and it exposes parts of our lives that have nothing to do with the work. How have you learned to protect the parts of yourself that are just yours?

ATJ: If anything, I think I’ve protected myself too much. It took me a minute to not feel hunted, to not want to hide. I’ve learned to take things less seriously by choosing which opinions actually matter to me and which are based on very little information at all.

MC: What else outside of acting has been inspiring you lately? What are you finding yourself wanting to make outside of film?

ATJ: Travel! Music. Older films. Nature. Clothessss.

MC: I love that you journal. Has writing always been your way of making sense of your emotions and everything going on in your head?

ATJ: Absolutely. It started first with wanting to remember my dreams. I’ve always had an active dream life–sometimes it feels more real than this one! Writing is such a sanctuary. Even if you don’t see the value in what you’re writing in the moment, with time you’ll notice little clues. Oscar Wilde wrote, “I never travel without my diary. One should always have something sensational to read on the train.”

MC: What’s one of your favorite looks you’ve ever worn? Mine is obviously the Bob Mackie you wore at my Hollywood Walk of Fame ceremony. You looked so gorg.

ATJ: Thanks, angel. Any time I’ve worn Bob it’s been special. I wore a butter yellow Dior Haute Couture gown to my first Emmys with a low, low back and a huge canary yellow train. That one came in a dream and to see it come to life so beautifully was magic.

MC: You have such a unique look. Did you ever have an awkward phase, or a time where you felt unsure in your own skin?

ATJ: Oh yes, haha. I still do! I think that’s one of the lessons of life; we spend so much time analysing and trying to force our physical bodies to comply to whatever the current beauty standard is that we forget to enjoy its very existence. Whilst it still creeps up, I’m done with that. I’m way too grateful for the wonders it allows me to experience and the beauty it helps me produce. It’s my vehicle for fun.

MC: When you think about everything that’s still ahead, what genuinely excites you the most that we wouldn’t expect?

ATJ: Expanding my unjaded heart. Getting sillier. Feeling everything. And stretching beyond my imagination.

MC: What’s your favorite animal of all time?

ATJ: Hardddd. It’s a toss-up between a snow leopard, a hummingbird, and a killer whale.

MC: Tell me a secret. I love you.

ATJ: (I love you too)

This cover story appears in the pages of V162: now available for purchase!

Photography Nick Knight

Fashion Anna Trevelyan

Interview Miley Cyrus

V Editor-in-Chief / Creative Director Stephen Gan

Creative Director Calum Knight

Makeup Lisa Eldridge (Streeters) using Dior Makeup

Hair Sam McKnight (Premier Hair & Makeup) using Hair by Sam McKnight

Manicure Chisato Yamamoto (Caren) using Dior Le Baume

Set Designer Andrew Tomlinson

Seamstress Ellie Grocott

Casting Greg Krelenstein (GK-LD)

Editor Kev Ponce

Fashion Market Editor Copelyn Bengel

Camera Operator Raquel Couceiro

Photo Assistants Lara Sugar Hughes, Gil Warner, Madison Blair, Max Lancaster

Digital Technician Joe Colley

Fashion Assistants Aleena Klug, Valentina Monterrubio

Set Assistant Patrick Dempsey

Hair Assistant Valerie Benavides

Makeup Assistant Nilofar Mussa

SHOWstudio Art Director Michael Gossage

Photo Intern Oldnightkid Wang

Studio Intern Flora Ritblat