5 Jewish Connections in the Queen’s Gambit

The Queen’s Gambit is Netflix’s latest smash-hit, garnering critical acclaim and a rabid fanbase. Whether it’s the chess-themed mini-series’ stunning cinematography, its breathtaking costumes, or its impeccable acting by lead actress Anya-Taylor Joy, it’s no surprise why many agree The Queen’s Gambit is something truly special. But although there wasn’t a chess prodigy named Beth Harmon in real life, the film was inspired by a Jewish player and has many other Jewish connections you may not know about. The following are 5 Jewish connections in The Queen’s Gambit. 1. The Show’s Co-Creator is Jewish Director Scott Frank Scott Frank made a masterful adaptation of the novel of the same name and is also Jewish. Before making The Queen’s Gambit, Scott Frank has seen a successful career as a Hollywood screenwriter and sometimes director. His previous projects include the Oscar-nominated screenplay for Out of Sight and the Steven Spielberg sci-fi classic, Minority Report. It wasn’t until recently where he started to cut his teeth as a director for television, and The Queen’s Gambit is no doubt his biggest project ever. 2. The Chess Move “The Queen’s Gambit” Was Popularised by 2 Jewish Chess Players There are many prominent Jewish figures in the chess world but the move that the show got its name from was popularised by Jewish players, Wilhelm Steinitz and Siegbert Tarrasch. They helped develop chess theory for positional play and were a key reason why the move came back into fashion in the chess world. 3. The Actress Who Play Beth Harmon’s Adoptive Mother is Jewish Anya-Taylor Joy wasn’t the only actor to receive critical praise in the show. Marielle Heller, who plays Alma, has a Jewish father. As emotive and nuanced as her performance was, Marielle has actually become more prominent as a director in recent years, with The Queen’s Gambit being her first major return to acting in some time. Her most recent project was A Beautiful Day in the Neighbourhood, an emotional biopic about one of America’s most beloved figures, ‘Mister Rogers’ (Fred Rogers), and stars Tom Hanks. The film was both a critical and commercial success. 4. Beth Harmon Was Partly Inspired By Jewish Chessmaster Bobby Fischer By far the most famous chess player to ever live, Bobby Fischer lived a complex, and often self-destructive life - something which mirror’s Beth Harmon’s character in the show. The novel’s creator Walter Tevis admitted that the character was loosely inspired by Robert Fischer. Robert’s reclusiveness, paranoia, and controversies would mostly happen later in life and added to his near-mythic status. This included racist, misogynistic, and even anti-semitic remarks, despite being Jewish on his mother’s side. 5. The Closest Thing to a Real-Life Beth Harmon is Jewish Player Judit Polgar Hungarian Jewish player, Judit Polgar is considered one of the all-time great female Jewish chess players, having broken Bobby Fischer’s Grandmaster Record at 15. She’s also considered the closest thing to Beth Harmon’s character in the popular show. When asked about the show, Polar admitted that she got a sense of deja vu. Polgar first learned chess at home with her two sisters, who in their own right became incredibly talented at the game. So there you have it: 5 Jewish connections in The Queen’s Gambit. These were only a few, if you keep looking, I’m sure you’ll find many more!