The film “Avatar: Fire and Ash” is the third in the franchise that takes us to a different world, the world of “Pandora.” In this installment the protagonists face new challenges, the same ones that have captured the attention of fans, who accompany them on these adventures.
Moreover, new immersive environments, new creatures and new clans appear within that world. One of the new characters is “Varang,” the Na’vi leader of the Mangkwan clan, who dwells in a volcano. This character is portrayed by the talented actress Oona Chaplin, who has a successful career that continues to grow.
The actress worked under the direction of James Cameron, one of the most acclaimed figures in the cinematic world, and in an interview she herself shares the experience of being part of this immense production.
Oona Chaplin: It’s a dream come true of another kind; every day I’m waiting to wake up and realize that all of this was a dream, it’s incredible. The first Avatar movie touched me so deeply, inspired me and gave me a sense of mission, connection, and it affected me greatly. I watched it several times in theaters. I never imagined being part of it, but it happened through the great mystery of life.
LPH: How did you feel about being part of this cast and this successful franchise?
OC: It has been a great pleasure for me to have worked with masters, some of my heroes in the field where creativity, heart and art are so respected. Where they can interweave several parts of my life that shape me, such as nature, cinema, art, indigenous technology, culture, family; there are so many things that matter to me within this film. I liked the movie a lot.
LPH: You were directed by one of the giants of international cinema, James Cameron. How was that experience?
OC: He is a director of such generosity that is almost absurd; he is so curious, like a child with that curiosity about how the world works. He has rigor, discipline, and energy to answer the questions that stir his heart. He is a person of great care. It has been an inspiration; I have learned so much from him and feeling the faith he has had in me has been one of the greatest gifts of my life, really.
LPH: What responsibility does this character place on you?
OC: Telling stories like Avatar is the reason I got into this; they are stories that elevate the human spirit, that inspire us, encourage us, and make us ask important questions about our existence and our responsibility as beings on Earth.
LPH: How did you adapt to doing live action?
OC: Very curious, because at the start of the work on ‘performance capture’, one day I came home and said: ‘This is crazy, we are on the set of the most expensive, most technologically advanced films, and we are doing poor theatre’. Because it is like that, we are in simple clothes and you are focused on imagining a very close relationship with the other actors and the director. There is rigor and a drive to reach the heart of each scene and then seeing it transformed is incredible. See how the technology team has honored its promise to protect the ‘performance’ of the day and they have managed to keep the magic and the spirit of the moment.
LPH: Two actors of Hispanic origin, you and Zoe Zaldaña, are in the lead roles of this film. How was sharing this project with her?
OC: She is a meticulous artist, a very generous person and very disciplined. It was an honor to talk with her and do it in Spanish; for me it was curious, but we must keep open to not close ourselves to anything, nor be racist. It’s all about telling sincere stories and choosing the people who can tell them best.
LPH: You come from a family of artists; your grandfather is the legendary Charlie Chaplin and your mother is the great actress Geraldine Chaplin. What advice has your mother given you in this career and how do you apply your family legacy?
OC: My family has many geniuses; the advice my mother has given me I have ignored (laughs), just like every daughter who ignores her mother’s advice. What I have learned from her is through her example; she has a very deep work ethic. When I was a child I saw her studying, writing, learning and pouring herself into her characters. And that comes from my grandfather [Charlie Chaplin]; he was very hardworking, he took on the responsibility of being a storyteller with care. I learned the responsibility we have as artists who use our bodies, our being and our hearts to tell stories that help us reflect and be better people, have more communication and break the patterns that limit us in our lives.
Oona Chaplin with her mother, the actress Geraldine Chaplin, and film director Patricio Castilla. Photo Oona Chaplin/Facebook
