Argylle is presently being shown in cinemas, and while fans may be curious about the true identity of Agent Argylle, a more pressing question emerges: who is Elly Conway? The latest action-espionage comedy from Matthew Vaughn, director of Kingsman, has been veiled in secrecy since its announcement, revealed to be a film adaptation of a novel that had yet to be published. Moreover, the Argylle book marks the debut novel of its author, a mysterious figure known as Elly Conway. Various intriguing theories have emerged, and now, we’ll dissect the most significant ones.
Why the Mystery Surrounding Elly Conway’s Identity?
Before delving into the leading theories regarding Elly Conway’s true identity, it’s crucial to understand why some believe “Elly Conway” could be a pseudonym for another individual. Early hints suggesting something peculiar about Conway surfaced, notably with a discrepancy in the author’s name. In the official announcement regarding the Argylle film deal, Conway’s name is listed as “Ellie Conway,” and at one point, it was spelled similarly on the Penguin Random House website. Additionally, the author’s official bio on the publisher’s website is exceptionally brief, merely stating, “Elly Conway was born and raised in upstate New York. She wrote her first novel about Agent Argylle while working as a waitress in a late-night diner.”
Conway’s limited social media presence has also raised questions, as both their Instagram and Twitter/X accounts are relatively recent (Instagram started in 2022 and Twitter/X in 2023) and feature very few posts, all of which are rather ambiguous. However, the initial post on Conway’s Instagram has contributed to one of the more substantial theories regarding their identity (more on that later).
The Plot of Argylle Adds to the Mystery
The plot of the movie/novel further fuels speculation about Elly Conway’s identity. According to the movie’s description, in Argylle, Elly Conway, an introverted spy novelist who rarely ventures outside her home, is drawn into the world of espionage when the events in her books mirror the activities of a nefarious underground syndicate. When Aiden, an undercover spy, intervenes to rescue her from potential harm, Elly and her cherished cat Alfie find themselves immersed in a clandestine realm where nothing, and no one, is as they appear.
The sparse nature of Conway’s social media profiles, coupled with the curious misspelling of their first name, and the fact that Elly Conway is a central character in Conway’s own book, have transformed the situation into a mystery nearly as intriguing as the movie itself, leading us to explore various theories.
Theory #1: Taylor Swift is Elly Conway
Perhaps the most widespread theory is that Taylor Swift is covertly posing as Elly Conway. A cursory glance at social media platforms, particularly TikTok, reveals numerous fans outlining reasons why they believe Swift is Conway. However, upon closer examination, these “clues” appear rather circumstantial.
Initially, the name Elly Conway coincides with a fictional character introduced in the long-standing Australian soap opera Neighbors, with the character’s debut aligning with Swift’s birthday, December 13th. Notably, December 13th holds significance for Swift and her fans, as it marks Swift’s birthday and also corresponds to the date of Conway’s first Instagram post on December 13, 2022.
Despite these connections, Conway herself has debunked this theory, stating on November 3rd via Twitter/X, “Hello to my new followers. Today I find myself saying the strangest thing, but here goes. I’m not Taylor Swift! We both love cats and I adore her music. I’m sure that when she writes a book she will use her name and it will be as brilliant as everything she does.” Furthermore, Matthew Vaughn, the director of Argylle, has refuted the theory, asserting that Swift has no involvement with Argylle.
Theory #2: J.K. Rowling is Elly Conway
As doubts regarding the Swift theory surfaced, another theory emerged, suggesting that Elly Conway is actually J.K. Rowling, the author of the Harry Potter series. Although this theory lacks extensive evidence, it remains intriguing. Supporters of the Rowling-as-Conway theory highlight Rowling’s history of writing novels under pseudonyms — she currently pens crime novels under the name Robert Galbraith.
Furthermore, a comment made by Vaughn himself has fueled speculation, with Vaughn previously stating that the film draws inspiration from Harry Potter, albeit with spies. This comment has led some to consider the possibility that Rowling could be Conway, with Argylle serving as her foray into spy thrillers under a different name.
Theory #3: Matthew Vaughn is Elly Conway
In addition to the speculation surrounding Swift and Rowling, there are those who suspect that Argylle may be the creation of Vaughn himself, potentially with the assistance of a ghostwriter. Certain clues lend credence to this theory. For instance, the book’s copyright is attributed to Marv Quinn Holdings Limited, a company registered to Vaughn and his wife, Claudia Schiffer. This suggests that the book may have been commissioned specifically for the film, rather than the film being based on an existing novel.
Furthermore, the acknowledgment section of the book includes Robert Massey, deputy executive director of the Royal Astronomical Society, thanked for his assistance with star charts. Massey confirmed collaborating with “a novelist writing a contracted spy thriller for Penguin Random House,” although the author went by the name Tammy Cohen. Interestingly, Cohen’s literary agent is Felicity Blunt, who is married to Stanley Tucci, an actor in The King’s Man, directed by Vaughn.
Moreover, the cat featured in the Argylle movie belongs to Vaughn himself, adding another layer to the speculation.
As speculation swirls regarding Elly Conway’s true identity, the mystery remains unsolved. Whether Conway is Swift, Rowling, Vaughn, or someone else entirely, the enigma surrounding Argylle and its author continues to captivate audiences. Have you read Argylle? Share your thoughts in the comments!
