One Piece was already a long-reigning series based on the manga by Eiichiro Oda and his year has a lot in store for it. Carrying heavy expectations, Netflix blessed anime fans with the trailer of the live-action adaptation.  But before the streamer takes you on an exciting journey with the Straw Hat pirates on the 31st of August, it has brought forth the stars of the show to talk about their journey with anime and its magic.

One of the most beloved characters of One Piece, Nami, is an expert navigator. But for Emily Rudd, who is taking the mantle of bringing her to life, this quality of Nami’s is not just restricted to the sea.

Emily Rudd and her love affair with anime

Rudd recently shared her deep-standing love for anime. In an interview with Netflix Geeked, The Romanoffs actress confessed that she is what she is because of anime. She said, “…all of the anime stuff, that made me into who I am, 100%.” And not just one anime, but a bunch of it. Emily Rudd believed she was a bouquet of all the films and movies she had watched, and not just anyone in particular. Some of them included Dragon Ball and Demon Slayer. The shows helped her become her authentic self.

From a very young age, watching anime proved to be an escape for the Electric Dreams actress who found her female role models in anime. Sailor Moon and Ghibli Studio’s Spirited Away showed her that women had endless capabilities.

Her passion for anime translated into her dedication to work. And not just passion, but destiny.

Rudd was born to play Nami

The young Straw Hat pirates were the ultimate definition of a chosen family, as most of the pirates in the group had never met their biological parents. While each character was molded in accordance with Eiichiro Oda’s two demands, Emily Rudd’s casting of the show was like destiny for her.

In an interview with Games Radar almost a month ago, she said that she was born to play Nami. Apart from the general love of the character, Rudd felt a connection with her. Her self-tape audition depicted exactly that. The red hair and green top Nami is all set to bring her freshness and love for the character on screen.

What do you think about Rudd’s love for anime? Comment below and let us know.