Taylor Russell

Taylor Russell McKenzie was conceived in Vancouver, British Columbia on July 18 on the 18th of July 1994. She also grew up in Toronto, Vancouver, and Montreal. Russell was the daughter of a mother of white and black parents. She was raised on her mother's side. She recalled that growing up she was not accepted by her peers due to the colour of her skin. The family struggled financially and were constantly on the move, uprooting their homes sixteen times to follow her father's profession. Russell revealed that despite this hardship, Russell said that she was always creative in her early years. She hoped to be an actress and ballet dancer. She also wanted to be an artist. Russell was just 18 when she took her first acting class. She saved money from work to purchase a car and drove to Los Angeles to audition. When the money ran out she would work until she had enough money to be able to go back for another audition. This continued for four consecutive years, until she finally got her first major television role.