IN CONVERSATION WITH MIYAKO

interview by JANA LETONJA

For nearly two decades, Toph Beifong has been one of the most beloved in the Avatar: The Last Airbender universe. Now, as Netflix’s live-action adaptation entered its second season, Miyako took on the challenge of bringing the iconic earthbender to life for a new generation. Already known for standout roles in BEEF, A Great Divide, and You Are So Not Invited to My Bat Mitzvah, Miyako stepped into what is likely her biggest role yet. 

images courtesy of NETFLIX
photo credit: LENNE CHAI

Toph is arguably one of the most beloved characters in the entire Avatar franchise. What was your reaction when you found out you had been cast?

I think I was mostly shocked. It was such a huge casting and a huge role, so it could've been anyone. Once the initial shock wore off and we were preparing for pre-production, I started feeling honoured, truly. Then it was excitement, and the overall feeling of determination to get this right, for the fans, the communities I was helping represent, and for myself. 

Taking on a character with such a passionate fanbase comes with enormous expectations. How did you approach that responsibility without becoming overwhelmed by it?

I definitely felt overwhelmed in the beginning, but I think the thing that anchored me was knowing that all of our cast and crew were also dedicated to the pressure of "living up" to the greatness of the original animated series, while also acknowledging and being open to making this version of the show their own. I held a lot of trust in our executives and writers, led by Christine Boylan, who were all major fans of the original, just like the cast.

Toph is fearless, sarcastic, fiercely independent, and often the funniest person in the room. What aspects of her personality did you connect with most?

I've always resonated with her sass and spunk. I feel like I've always been sassy, ever since I was a kid. Growing up, Toph taught me that my sass was strength. During filming, I think I grew into her self-assurance, and through playing Toph, I learned that I shouldn't apologise for being myself.  

You worked with a blindness consultant throughout production. Can you talk about that process and what you learned from it?

I worked with Joe Stretchay and Cara Lee Hrdlitschka, who were amazing. We trained for 6 weeks before filming, which included stunts and rehearsals. Joe was so focused on giving me an education on the blind and low vision community. He showed up every day on set to be with me and make sure I was comfortable. I truly appreciate his teaching and time because I am not blind, and I will never know what it's like to be blind. 

What were the most important conversations you had about representing blindness authentically and respectfully on screen?

Joe and I spoke extensively about the blind and low vision community. A lot of my worry and anxiety came from not knowing how to portray blindness accurately, and I wanted to ensure that I was being thoughtful and respectful in both the way that I performed and the way that I spoke about the character. Joe was always there to save the day and provided me with writing notes, mock interviews, and everything that I needed to feel comfortable and confident. I truly would not have been able to portray Toph properly without him and Cara Lee.

The animated version of Toph is incredibly expressive and larger than life. How did you find the balance between honouring the original character and making her your own?

With any adaptation, especially one with such amazing source material and a dedicated fan base, I wanted to bridge the gap between the expectation and reality. Sara Arrington, our acting coach extraordinaire, spent so many sessions with me throughout filming to really lock in what our version of Toph would look like. I will say, the one thing I really wanted to keep was elements of her voice, because Michaela Jill Murphy laid down such an iconic voice for Toph. I think I spent the most time finding a place where her voice and mine could live together. 

The Avatar universe has always been celebrated for its themes of identity, belonging, and resilience. Why do you think those themes continue to resonate with audiences today?

I think us as humans are always in search of community, and, especially when we’re young, in constant pursuit of finding who we are. Avatar: The Last Airbender has always been a story of friendship, found family, and finding who you are with people who are doing the same. It's ultimately been a story of love, which is a timeless thing. 

Without giving away spoilers, what do you think audiences will discover about Toph that they may not be expecting?

I hope they find a side of her that's a bit more tied to the idea of family, and what that can mean. I think one of her biggest struggles in the animated series is her understanding of her family, and when she decides to break away and run off with the “Gaang,” we see her grappling and understand the world isn't so black and white. That family can be anyone she chooses. Anyone who loves her. 

Representation matters deeply to many fans. What does it mean to you to be part of a story that can open conversations about disability, strength, and independence?

Unlike Zuko, honour came over me quickly once I got the part of Toph. I feel like Avatar: The Last Airbender has always had such an open dialogue about the mature themes that they had within the show. I think all of us in the cast feel an immense responsibility to uphold and uplift that standard the original series set. 

You've been acting since a young age. What first made you fall in love with performing?

I think it was the act of standing in someone else's shoes, and getting to be anyone I could imagine, even for a day. I could be a superhero, an astronaut, literally anyone. As I got older, my love for performing morphed into a love for the people I worked with. Getting to create and engage with people from all over, all different lives, but who were all working towards a common goal. It became a love for the community. 

What's a dream role or franchise you'd love to tackle in the future?

Ooh, that's hard. I would love to try voice-over. I feel like with Toph I got really interested in the art of that world. They would never do this because that show is perfection, but I would love to play Jinx from Arcane/League of Legends. I feel like she's so layered and complex, yet has the fun, "manic pixie" energy that can be fun to play with as an actor.  

Right now, in this chapter of your life, what excites you most about the future?

This is going to sound a little silly, but I feel like in this stage of life, I'm really invested in growth, finding myself, nurturing my relationships, and building my own community and identity. I want to find people that I care about and cherish as they are, and who do the same for me.

Outside of acting, what keeps you creatively fulfilled?

I've recently dabbled in writing. I used to write little, short stories as a kid and have only now had time to re-engage with it. Other than that, I've been getting back into art, i.e traditional art, and I've been thinking about learning an instrument of some kind.