Mackenyu Arata, although famous, has gained more international followers for his portrayal of Roronoa Zoro in Netflix’s live-action adaptation of One Piece. The Japanese-American actor’s performance as the green-haired swordsman has revealed that his sword-wielding characters extend beyond his recent success.
His career as an actor perched in two distinct entertainment industries. Mackenyu’s adventure back to American screens with One Piece marks a significant milestone in his professional life. The casting choices that he has shaped his career. Thus far provides valuable context for understanding the actor’s versatility.
Mackenyu Arata’s Journey Through Sword-Weilding Roles
Mackenyu Arata‘s portrayal of Zoro in Netflix’s One Piece has brought him global praise. In an interview via Cosmopolitan, he fondly recalled his role as Enishi in Rurouni Kenshin, describing the character as “a badass swordsman, too“. His earlier version as a swordsman laid the foundation for Mackenyu’s ability to bring sword-wielding characters to life on screen.
His experience with these roles extends beyond just Enishi and Zoro. He’s also taken on the role of Scar in Fullmetal Alchemist. Mackenyu’s roles developed his understanding of how to embody characters who are often morally vague but undeniably irresistible.
Interestingly, his attraction to these roles seems to stem from the contrast they provide to his real-life personality.
He explained:
Bad boys, they’re cool. You get drawn to them more than lead characters sometimes and they’re fun to play as well… I don’t know, people cast me as bad boys.
With his repeated casting in these roles, he maintains a sense of curiosity about the trend. Even though he enjoys these parts, he’s also open to exploring other character types.
Mackenyu’s Off-Screen Persona
Being born in America, he built his career in Japan with the intention of returning to the States once he had honed his acting skills. The strategy seems to have paid off, with One Piece marking a homecoming for the actor.
Mackenyu is also set to showcase his skills in two new projects. First, he’ll be starring in House of the Owl, a drama about a fixer in Japan. Second is Dragons of Wonderhatch, a fantasy series where he takes on a heroic role.
In the same interview, he shared his passion for One Piece trading cards. He admits to being a ‘hardcore’ player who even participates in tournaments, showing he’s not afraid to embrace his competitive side off-screen.
Mackenyu’s fans can look forward to seeing more of his performances, whether he’s wielding a sword or not. His role as a ‘bad boy’ actor is set for a bright future in the spotlight.
One Piece Live-action is available to stream on Netflix.
