The Emmy nominee talks to PEOPLE about her excitement for the upcoming in-person reunion of the Queen’s Gambit cast and crew, as well as her recently diminished chess abilities.

The Witch (2015) was Anya Taylor-breakthrough Joy’s, but her breakout role in last year’s critically acclaimed Netflix original series The Queen’s Gambit catapulted her to stardom.

Having won a SAG and a Golden Globe for her portrayal of Beth Harmon, Gambit is orphaned chess prodigy, the 25-year-old actress is excited to attend the Emmys in person. She was born in Miami but spent her childhood in Argentina and the United Kingdom.

“I have not done an awards show really ever,” Taylor-Joy tells PEOPLE in the latest issue. She is nominated for outstanding actress in a limited series or a movie. My entire awards run this year has been done on a computer, so I am both excited and slightly worried about it. Then I go into my bedroom, mute myself, and act completely insane.

Just being in the same room as her cast and crew is enough to make Taylor-Joy happy.

The Queen’s Gambit crew has never been in the same room. “We have never been able to celebrate in the same room,” she explains. “So Emmy night will be the first time that we are actually in the same room and [hopefully] get to hug each other.”

Taylor-Joy gushes over the experience of filming the series, saying, “It was such a beautiful group of people that treated each other with such kindness.” “I have never played a character that was that close to me before that I had to give so many of my mannerisms to.”

According to the actress, she and her co-stars have maintained communication through an exciting group text chain where “so much crazy stuff happens that I cannot possibly keep on top of it.”

Without my friends’ constant updates, I would be completely in the dark. For that, I am truly thankful. I am not someone who lurks around on the internet. “Hey, Drake just name-dropped Beth Harmon [in a song],” my co-star and fellow Emmy nominee Moses Ingram would text me. “I appreciate you letting me know that,” I responded. Thank you for that. That is insane.

After some time away from the character (and the hard chess matches that occurred while filming), how is Taylor-Joy’s chess game?

During filming, I felt very fine. She concedes that they played a lot during the breaks between takes. After that point, all you can do is focus on becoming an expert at your job’s demands. I am now feeling rather self-conscious, so I am looking forward to picking up chess again when the time is perfect. It has been some time since I last played.

On Sunday, September 19th, CBS will air a live coverage of the 73rd Primetime Emmys.