Canadian actress and singer Kiawentiio Tarbell who recently appeared in the Netflix live-action adaptation Avatar: The Last Airbender alongside Ian Ousley, sat for an interview to discuss her character. Previously appearing in the Netflix show Anne With An E, and the 2020 drama Beans, the actress seemingly spoke from experience during the interview.
Speaking with Harper’s Bazaar, Kiawentiio Tarbell initially began by explaining how the animated Avatar the Last Airbender was an integral part of her childhood. Therefore, when Netflix announced developing a live-action adaptation, the actress auditioned for Katara. In a way during the interview, Tarbell explained the importance of her character and even proved Katara to be more significant than Aang.
Kiawentiio Tarbell Expressed Her Appreciation for Katara
17-year-old Canadian actress and singer Kiawentiio Tarbell, who found her industry break with the Netflix show Anne With An E, further marked her prominence with her appearance in the 2020 documentary drama Beans. Currently, Tarbell is all over the news for her appearance in the Netflix live-action adaptation Avatar: The Last Airbender.
Growing up with the original animated show Avatar the Last Airbender, Kiawentiio Tarbell revealed having a special place in her heart for it, during her telephonic interview with Harper’s Bazaar. Revealing how she always looked up to the character of Katara from the Nickelodeon show, Tarbell mentioned specifically auditioning for Katara.
“By the time they actually did start casting, I got the call from my manager that was like, ‘Don’t freak out, but we think we have the Avatar audition.’ And obviously, I freaked out… Katara was one of the only people that I could really see myself in. With the role model that she is for young Indigenous women, it’s hard not to be drawn to her, especially when the representation is so scarce.”
Of all the roles Kiawentiio Tarbell had auditioned for, Katara was at the top of her bucket list. Therefore, undergoing an intensive audition process, followed by seemingly never-ending Zoom calls and chemistry reads, Tarbell finally made her dream come true. Eventually, when she got the role in the spring of 2021, it had a great impact on her.
Kiawentiio Tarbell Claimed Katara to Be the Soul of the Avatars
From looking up to the character of Katara in the animated show Avatar the Last Airbender (2005), to playing the character in Netflix’s Avatar: The Last Airbender, Kiawentiio Tarbell turned her dream into reality. Claiming to have grown up watching the show, the actress eventually began narrating the significance of each Avatar.
However, when it came to Katara, Kiawentiio Tarbell seemed simply spellbound. Overpowered by the charisma of Katara, the actress implied that she is way more significant than even the lead character of the show – Aang. While according to the storyline, Aang turns into the destined Avatar, set to bring peace among the elemental nations, Tarbell believes Katara is way more important than Aang in one aspect.
“I think the core factors that make Katara [who she is] are her hopefulness and her optimism, and she’s the person in the group that can keep them moving forward in a positive direction, and I think without that, team Avatar wouldn’t be able to see the light,”
Having a devotional sort of outlook towards Katara, Kiawentiio Tarbell later explained how her affection towards the character is mainly a result of looking up to her from the perspective of a young Indigenous woman. Further, the actress proceeded to discuss the preparation process that went into filming.
Avatar: The Last Airbender is available on Netflix.
