Why Avatar: Fire And Ash’s Oona Chaplin Was Scared About Sharing Last Name With Hollywood Legend Charlie Chaplin

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Oona Chaplin, the star of the new sci-fi movie, discussed how it feels to share a family name with her famous grandfather, Charlie Chaplin.

I recently read an interview with the actress, and she talked about how tough it was early in her career being a Chaplin. She admitted feeling a lot of pressure and even guilt, worrying people thought she was only getting opportunities because of her grandfather, the legendary silent film star. But she eventually came to terms with her family name and now embraces it. She actually shared some really insightful thoughts – you can read what she said below!

I definitely used to question whether I truly earned my place at drama school. I worried that my family name was opening doors for me unfairly, and I ended up holding myself back. But around my mid-twenties, I realized how much time I was wasting on those thoughts. I understood that it doesn’t matter why opportunities come my way – what matters is how I approach them. I need to be responsible, work hard, treat people well, and focus on the work itself. Now, I’m very proud of the Chaplin name and happy to carry that legacy.

Chaplin’s role as Varang in James Cameron’s Fire and Ash is his most significant to date. Varang is a central villain, leading a new group of Na’vi enemies called the Ash People. While the Sully family deals with loss following the events of Avatar: The Way of Water (2022), both the Ash People and the RDA pose serious dangers to them and to the world of Pandora.

Before she became part of the Avatar world, most people probably knew Nathalie Emmanuel from her amazing role as Talisa Maegyr in Game of Thrones. I was really invested in her character and how she became Robb Stark’s wife – it was such a pivotal part of the show! And I just finished watching her in the miniseries Treason with Charlie Cox, which was fantastic too. She’s a really talented actress and I’m excited to see what she does next!

Charlie Chaplin (1889-1977) was a groundbreaking comedian and a key figure in the early days of cinema. He’s famous for classic silent films like The Kid, City Lights, Modern Times, and The Great Dictator. Chaplin didn’t just act; he also wrote and directed most of the films he appeared in. He’s also well-known for creating the iconic “Tramp” character, easily recognized by his bowler hat and little mustache.

Oona Chaplin initially found it challenging to navigate the legacy of her famous family, but she now seems to have fully accepted it, and her recent work is proving she deserves the Chaplin name. While reviews for Avatar: Fire and Ash haven’t been overwhelmingly positive overall, critics consistently praise Chaplin’s performance and her character, Varang.

It’s currently unknown if the character Varang will return in future Avatar films. While scripts for the fourth and fifth movies already exist, James Cameron has stated he will only produce them if the newest film, Fire and Ash, is successful. Since the movie just came out, it’s too soon to know what will happen.

While Zoe Chaplin doesn’t currently have any other upcoming films planned, you can now see her playing Varang in Avatar: Fire and Ash, which is now showing in cinemas around the world.

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2025-12-23 20:58