Trinity Jo-Li Bliss shines as the rising star of ‘Avatar: Fire and Ash’

This interview has been edited for clarity and length.

Andre Lawes Menchavez: Take me back to what you can remember of when you first got the call you were about to be in one of the biggest franchises in movie history.
Trinity Jo-Li Bliss: I was on top of the world and was bursting with excitement to just get started. I remember when I got the call, I had my final screen test with James Cameron earlier that same day. I remember how I loved hanging out with James and talking with him in that screen test. When I came out literally five minutes later, while I was still driving away from the premises, I got the call, and they were like, “You booked it! You’re playing Tuk!”

I remember my parents and I went to the Santa Monica Pier afterwards, rode some roller coasters and just celebrated together. And then we went to have hot pot! [Laughs] We were just so excited, and we had no idea the journey that awaited.

ALM: You’ve truly grown up alongside this franchise. Can you tell me more about the unique lessons you’ve learned on set about yourself?
TJB: I’ve learned to always look around for inspiration and connection. I think that's something that's present in the Avatar script, but it’s also something I learned by being around these amazing cast and crew members. I’ve learned to have an open mind to everything and lead with love. One thing that I really loved learning from Tuk specifically is how instinctual and daring she is, always. I think that's something that easily can be lost a bit when you grow up. James Cameron always said to have childlike wonder and childlike curiosity. I think that's something I’d try to take with me in my life forever.

Trinity Jo-Li Bliss made her cinematic debut at just 7 years old in James Cameron’s "Avatar: Way of Water" as Tuk.

Courtesy of Trinity Jo-Li Bliss

ALM: I love how you mentioned the championing of childlike wonder on set, which makes sense given how supportive I’ve read the older cast was for you and your younger castmates. Do you have any memories of this support and how it manifested?
TJB: The OG cast members were so welcoming. Zoe always felt like an amazing set mom, and whether we were in a scene or just on set lingering around, she was always so caring to me. I remember when we FaceTimed her little boys when she would be at work and they would be going to sleep, and she'd be saying good night and she'd have me join in and say good night with her. Or when we were having a later scene and she was having some coffee, and she’d be like, “You want a sip?” [Laughs] Or when I’d want to play her a song I wrote, and I'd knock on her trailer door and be like, “Zoe, can I serenade you?” and she'd always listen. She’s always been very caring and I'm always inspired by her as a creative, and as a person. The way she leads with love in life and how graceful she is, she inspires me endlessly.

ALM: I’m glad it was a safe space, especially considering how much physical acting that you had to do as well. What was that training like for you?
TJB: The physical stuff took some time. We had three months to train before we started filming, but even all throughout filming, which was an almost two-year process, we were still always training every day. But while I felt like the training was a bit hard, I was so down for it. I was just so excited.

It was a bit intimidating, you know, like holding your breath while so deep underwater, and wanting to also let that go so you can still be in the scene. There was parkour, which I was never really good at, at the beginning. But to be able to train and also bond with everyone through that training, and have an amazing crew supporting us, it was the most fun experience. It really helped me get into my character and be able to embody her and then think about what I can add to her.

ALM: With your character, do you think there’s a big shift audiences will see in Tuk from Way of Water to Fire and Ash?
TJB: I do think there's a big shift in Tuk in who she is as a person. Plot-wise, we pick up right where Way of Water left off, but Tuk is not the same person we met at the beginning of the last film. She really wants to step up and defy what she needs to in order to be there for who she loves and stand up for what she believes in. At the same time, there's so much grief and confusion for her to process, which she both doesn't know how to process and doesn't have time to. But she's really the heart of the Sully family. She’s really thinking about their family mottos and always trying to keep that living in her heart, and always reminding her family of it too when it feels like they can't stick together.