O.C. native Thalia Tran stars as Mai on the live-action series Avatar: The Last Airbender, which just released its second season on Netflix.
Stylist: Estelle Aporongao
Make-up Artist: Sylvia Wheeler
Hair Stylist: Kendal Fedail
Tran grew up as a fan of the original animated series Avatar: The Last Airbender, which became a global phenomenon, receiving widespread acclaim and launching various spinoffs and adaptations. Little did she know that she’d one day land a role in one of those adaptations, Netflix’s live-action version of the series, which premiered in 2024. Tran plays Mai, the sharp, stoic knife-wielding Fire Nation warrior who starts off as an antagonist to the show’s main character.
“My friends and I all grew up on that show. When I got the part and finally got to tell them about it, they freaked out. And I did too. Even now, having filmed three seasons and the second season having just come out, it’s just really crazy. And it’s been so fun. I highly recommend for anyone to try playing a villain at least once in your life.”
Though she had studied martial arts prior to auditioning, Tran says the role required her to learn knife throwing and special tricks designed specifically for her character.
“What really helped was having great chemistry with the other actors. We got along so well, and that really helped when we had to fight together and pick up that choreography. There was a sense of trust.”
The series is known for having philosophical depth and exploring mature themes while also being generally deemed appropriate for kids as young as 7. For Tran, the theme that resonated most for her while filming was that of connection.
“I am often working within my trio of girls, and the connection is what drives our characters. At the end of the day, that’s what it’s all about. Empathy and caring for one another and connecting on a deep level.”
Prior to Avatar: The Last Airbender, Tran appeared on several TV shows, including the NBC drama Council of Dads. She also voiced a major character in the 2021 animated Disney film Raya and the Last Dragon—Little Noi, a 2-year-old con artist.
“It’s kind of funny because with a character like that, people would never know it was me voicing it. But it was so fun to record all her little sounds. And when they showed me the design concept, I thought she kind of reminded me of my little sister.”
Having attended Orange County School of the Arts before leaving early to film out of state, Tran says she had her heart set on performing from an early age.
“I think some passions just choose you. I always had an affinity for music. I studied singing, and then different instruments, and from there, acting and dancing and all these different types of art. At a certain point, I realized maybe this is something I can actually do with my future. It would not have been possible without the support of my lovely parents. They’re my biggest supporters along with my sister. They were refugees from Vietnam, and they told me at a young age, ‘We built this life so that you could have the freedom to choose your own path.’”
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