Craig Melvin of the Today show left viewers puzzled during a recent live interview with actress Anya Taylor-Joy, known for her roles in major film and television productions.
The 29-year-old actress appeared on the program Wednesday morning to discuss her latest project, The Super Mario Galaxy Movie. However, the interview quickly took a perplexing turn as Melvin’s unconventional questions led some to speculate whether he was unprepared or straying from the script.
The conversation began on a curious note when the 46-year-old co-host remarked on a recurring theme in Taylor-Joy’s roles, suggesting she often seems ‘trapped’ in her characters’ circumstances.
“In The Queen’s Gambit, you’re trapped in chess, in Mario, you’re trapped in the kingdom, and in Survival, you’re sort of trapped again,” Melvin commented.
With a nervous laugh, Taylor-Joy responded, “So, I have a history of being trapped?”
Melvin followed up by asking, “Is that a theme you deliberately choose, or is it just a coincidence?”
Taylor-Joy took the question in her stride and revealed that her roles have a way of finding her.
‘It does feel like fate,’ she said. ‘I think now, with some hindsight, I do see a through-line between my own personal journey and what I’ve been allowed to depict on screen, but they always seem very different to me.’
Today show’s Craig Melvin under fire from fans after ‘awkward’ and ‘unnatural’ interview with actress Anya Taylor-Joy
Taylor-Joy appeared in Studio 1A on Wednesday to promote The Super Mario Galaxy Movie
The aloof questions didn’t stop there.
In recent months, it has been heavily speculated that Taylor-Joy will portray Joni Mitchell in an upcoming biopic.
Melvin asked what the connection is between the role of Mitchell and her performance as Princess Peach in the upcoming Super Mario movie, set for release on April 1.
‘You’re rumored to be playing Joni Mitchell, speaking of through-lines here, arguably one of the most singularly important women in music over the last generation or so,’ he said.
‘Princess Peach, one of the most iconic women in gaming history. What is the connection there?’
In her response, Taylor-Joy said: ‘What is the connection between Joni Mitchell and Princess Peach? That they’re both singular. You can’t touch them. They’re in a league of their own.’
Today show viewers were perplexed by Melvin’s questions during the interview and speculated on Reddit that he was ‘unprepared.’
Replying in a thread, one user wrote: ‘I feel like Craig is usually prepared for interviews but this one felt off today. It was so awkward.’
Melvin asked if the actress could connect her roles of Princess Peach and Joni Mitchell
‘What is the connection between Joni Mitchell and Princess Peach? That they’re both singular,’ Taylor-Joy replied
Taylor-Joy, pictured in New York City on March 18, was praised for how she handled the chat
‘He’s just not cut out for this,’ another said. ‘Seems like a decent person but he has no presence or charisma, and this doesn’t come naturally to him.’
Others praised Taylor-Joy with how she handled Melvin’s line of questions.
‘Honestly, that’s probably the best answer anyone could give,’ one said on X, formerly known as Twitter.
Agreeing, another wrote: ‘I mean, can you think of a better answer to that particular question?’
‘In his defense, this is a question that has never been asked to anyone before,’ a third said. ‘Groundbreaking journalism.’
Melvin has been a part of the NBC network for almost two decades.
He has co-hosted the Today show with Savannah Guthrie since January 2025, replacing Hoda Kotb.
