6 Vanessa Kirby Moments That Prove She’s Our New Queen

How is it that Vanessa Kirby is so effortlessly cool?

Is it those bushy eyebrows, constantly arched at an angle conveying both sensuality and disinterest? Is it those razor-sharp cheekbones that denote the shadow of a coquettish smile? Or is it those large, doe-like eyes that always seem to be protecting a secret? I haven’t even gotten past her stunning physicality yet and already have three theories about her coolness. That’s how much of a walking enigma Vanessa Kirby is!

Whatever ancient pagan ritual she underwent to become so cool, it’s undeniable that Vanessa Kirby has become a bonafide star: As Sue Storm in The Fantastic 4: First Steps, she has taken the world by … bomb cyclone. (I didn’t want to say “storm.”) Now, as she enjoys her biggest box office performance in history and prepares to reprise her role as Sue Bomb Cyclone — sorry, Storm — we can look back at her best pop culture moments.

1. Her handsy press tour with Pedro Pascal

This is a serious question: Wouldn’t you touch Pedro Pascal? Because Vanessa Kirby did, but now all the tabloids have lost their minds. The pregnant and engaged Kirby has been seen caressing Pascal throughout their Fantastic 4: First Steps press tour, and Pascal has seemingly encouraged it, leaning in to stare lovingly into her eyes. Naturally, cantankerous Karens across the country have taken to Twitter to denounce such un-Christian behavior. More likely, Pascal is just queer and Kirby feels unthreatened enough by him to get touchy-feely with him. Still, I love a stunt queen and frankly stan how adeptly Kirby has side-stepped these allegations while simultaneously allowing tabloid chatter to reach a fever pitch. You work those PR angles, diva!

2. Her BAFTA-award winning work on The Crown

Now that we’ve addressed her unbothered attitude towards toxic tabloid speculation, we can gush about Kirby’s talent. Crownies, of course, remember Kirby from her work as Princess Margaret in the first two seasons of The Crown. As the tragic, melancholy sister of the blessed and highly favored Queen Elizabeth, she oozed pathos and grandeur. Though Kirby had already worked as an actress for years at this point, this was officially her big break. She couldn’t have asked for a better launch.

3. Making the impossible possible … twice

As the White Widow in Mission Impossible – Fallout and Dead Reckoning Part One, Kirby weaponized her unconventional sensuality in the best possible way. Unrelentingly sleek and mysterious, she managed to convey an ineffable otherworldly quality that made her both unnerving and irresistible. Mission accomplished.

4. Holding her own opposite Joaquin Phoenix

As Josephine Bonaparte in Napoleon, Kirby managed to locate some humanity and charm in Ridley Scott’s otherwise dense and pretentious slogfest. She even managed to shine opposite Joaquin Phoenix, a feat in itself considering how much of a scene-chewer the man is. And even though the movie didn’t earn Kirby (or any actor) an Oscar nomination, it still proved that she could hold down serious fare on the big screen.

5. Her fashion bonafides

Honestly, Vanessa Kirby has the frame and demeanor of a Balenciaga model even when she’s just wearing a T-shirt. Her shoulders jut out at the most alluring angles and her lower back appears to be entirely free of scoliosis. (I might have a low standard for what impresses me in 30-year-olds these days.) Anyway, this all combines to lend her the frame of a very talented gizelle. That being said, Kirby also has a good eye for fashion and rarely disappoints on the red carpet. Some standout examples include her three-piece, midriff-baring, rose-smothered Venice Biennale getup. 

6. Oh, and she has an Oscar nomination

It isn’t exactly unheard of for Marvel stars to be Oscar nominees, but it’s still impressive that Vanessa Kirby became “Vanessa Kirby, Oscar nominee” so early into her career. That would be due to her performance in 2020’s Pieces of a Woman, which featured an extended, one-take home birth sequence that required a tremendous amount of range, concentration, and skill. If it wasn’t already clear from The Crown that she was an actress of immense charisma, uniqueness, nerve, and talent, then Pieces of a Woman made it o-fficially official. And if Fantastic 4 is any indication, then she has what it takes to translate her talent to mainstream properties, and in this case, elevate them. I genuinely look forward to seeing what she does next.