There are groundbreaking – or rather Earthbending — News from the world of Avatar: The Last Airbender: One of the franchise’s most popular characters has been cast.
Miya Cech will play Toph, a master earthbending artist who was born blind and trained to sense and feel the world around her, in Season 2. Executive producers Jabbar Raisani and Christine Boylan tell Tudum that there were “thousands and thousands” of auditions for Toph, but both knew immediately that Cech was perfect for the role.
“We make it a point to review submissions separately, and after countless takes, we both had the same reaction… Miya is our Toph!” they explain. “Miya is a brilliant performer who perfectly balances Toph Beifong’s sarcastic sense of humor, stubbornness, and vulnerability. Her physicality and emotional dexterity really put her in a class of her own.”
Who is Toph?
Boylan and Raisani consider Toph one of their favorite characters from the animated series. “We love how her caustic comic energy complements and clashes with the rest of the Gaang, and can’t wait to bring that dynamic to life on set. She’s funny, she’s very knowledgeable about the world around her, and she’s a very accomplished earthbender. Underneath all of that, she has emotional layers that we can’t wait to explore.”
Who is Miya Cech?
Cech, whose full first name is Miyako, is an actor who has appeared in beef, Young RockAnd The Santa Clausesand in the film You are definitely not invited to my Bat MitzvahAlthough Cech has played characters who share Toph’s dry humor and sarcasm, this role feels special because “Toph is a completely unique character,” she tells Tudum. “No one is like her.”
For Cech, portraying Toph is also an opportunity to honor her heritage. “Personally, I am of Chinese and Japanese-American descent and I am very excited to represent my Chinese heritage in Toph Beifong,” she says. “One of the most incredible aspects of this show is the diversity of Asian cultures in the Avatar: The Last Airbender world. Even though the universe is fantasy, it feels like every culture is represented in some way and connected to the history and traditions of that culture or country. Just a few years ago, you might have seen one or two of these actors in a show or a movie, but in this show, we all get to represent this world together and work together. That’s really amazing and a gift as an actor.”
What else should you know about Cech as production begins on Season 2? Here are five behind-the-scenes details you should know Avatar: The Last Airbenderis the newest cast member.
1. Cech is already training for the role of Toph. “I’ve been in boot camp for about a week and a half now and I still have a lot to do, but it’s super fun. I have some martial arts experience,” she tells Tudum, adding, “I have a great trainer who I take private lessons from back home in Northern California and he keeps me in shape when I’m not working. I also have some dance experience from when I was younger, which helped me a lot when I learned Toph’s moves.” She will also be working with a producer and consultant who is blind and from the blind community to ensure the blind community is properly represented.
2. Cech is a long-time fan of the animated series. “I grew up watching the animated series. I’ve always been a huge fan and have probably watched it all the way through 10 times. Toph was always my favorite character, so as soon as I got the casting call, I begged my team to get me an audition,” she says, adding that she also really enjoyed Season 1 of the live-action series. “I have to admit, Gordon’s Aang made me cry several times. Now it’s totally unbelievable that I get to be part of that world too!”
3. Speaking of auditions, Cech had a slightly different experience than some of the first season actors who were not told what role they auditioned for. “Unlike some actors in Season 1, I knew I was auditioning for Toph, even though the audition material contained blind pages with other names and storylines. I had two recorded auditions, one recorded callback, and two in-person auditions with the casting team and producers, including a chemistry read with Gordon.”
4. As always Tradition with this seriesCech was duped when she found out she had been cast in the series. “A few days after the chemistry read with Gordon, casting asked me to do ‘one final’ Zoom callback with the stunt coordinator. I’d never had a stunt callback before, so I asked my martial arts instructor to do Zoom with me the night before to get in shape. Turns out there was no callback. They called and said I booked it. I was so shocked I think I just started crying.”
5. Even Cech doesn’t yet know what Toph’s full aesthetic will look like. “I haven’t seen Toph’s costume yet. I can’t wait to see it and wear it for the first time. However, we have tested a few looks for her iconic hairstyle. Just seeing my ‘Toph outfit’ was surreal.”
Check back later for the latest information. Avatar: The Last Airbender.
