Emily Rudd from One Piece adores Nami's style transformation just as much as you do.

      When Matt Owens informed Emily Rudd that he was going to adapt One Piece, the acclaimed Japanese manga series by Eiichiro Oda, for Netflix, her reaction was one of shock. "I was like, 'Whoa, that one?! That's the scariest one to make into a live-action,'" she revealed during our Zoom call from her apartment in Cape Town, South Africa, where she is currently shooting the third season of the show. Despite being an enthusiastic anime and manga fan since childhood, One Piece always felt like an insurmountable challenge for Rudd. With over 100 volumes and 1155 episodes, starting it was daunting, to say the least. The idea of creating a live-action adaptation seemed impossible to her, but at Owens's encouragement, she finally began watching the series, which transformed her life. Unsurprisingly, One Piece has become a huge hit for Netflix, and for Rudd—who portrays Nami, the fiercely independent, red-haired navigator of the Straw Hat Crew—this journey has been filled with "pinch me" moments. As the eagerly awaited second season garnered significant viewership (16.8 million in its opening weekend, to be exact) and after the addition of popular cast members (including fan-favorite Chopper and David Dastmalchian as Mr. 3), production for season 3 is already underway without signs of stopping.

      How is life in Cape Town?It’s great. This is my third season here, so it really feels like a second home. During season 1, everything was new; we explored and interacted with locals while hiking Lion's Head. Last season, I was pretty exhausted and became quite the hermit. Now, I’ve found a balance, thinking, "What if I just live my normal life here?" I do pottery on weekends and go bouldering at a couple of indoor gyms I enjoy. I also visit the local farmers market. It's very relaxed.Since we didn’t get to talk during season 1, let’s go back to the beginning. I read that you were a fan of the original One Piece manga and anime series. How did you first discover One Piece?I grew up watching anime, influenced by my older brother, Daniel. Whatever he watched, I wanted to watch too, so we enjoyed anime together. We always had shows like Pokémon, Digimon, Sailor Moon, and Dragon Ball Z on. One Piece is massive and legendary; anyone familiar with anime or manga knows about it, but the long length was a barrier for me. I had previously watched Hunter x Hunter, which is about six or seven seasons, but One Piece felt daunting. I was introduced to it by our season 1 showrunner, Matt Owens, who I met through a mutual agency. They connected us, saying, "You guys are nerds; you should chat." He told me, "I'm going to bring One Piece to Netflix," and I was like, "Wow, that one? That's the scariest live-action adaptation." He encouraged me to watch it, and I did—and I loved it. The story is truly remarkable, and it’s clear why it's the longest-running anime and series. I got hooked, and a few years later, auditions rolled out. I was fortunate to have the chance to audition. A few months later, I received a call saying I landed the role, and I don't know how many countries they searched; it was such an extensive audition process. I feel very lucky that they chose me.

      When you were watching the show, did you picture yourself as Nami or other characters?I think it was Nami. In season 1, or the East Blue Saga in the anime and manga, there’s a pivotal moment where she asks for help that really drew me in. I remember watching it for the first time and just crying. That moment felt like, "If I could have a chance, I would love to play Nami."Nami is a character you connect with naturally. How did you relate to her early on?Having a background with the anime and manga helped me understand the story as a whole. Typically, when you receive a script, it’s original, so you have to dissect it and figure out the story and character’s background. However, with Oda’s work, a lot of that information is already provided, which made it easier for me to grasp Nami. With that foundation, it felt like, "Okay, I understand her. I just need to show up and be her." Of course, there’s always room for interpretation, especially when translating from animated manga to live-action. It won’t be a one-to-one, as I also bring my individuality into the role. Our talented writers paid great attention to the source material, so Nami felt authentic on paper, and I just had to deliver the lines.

      What do you recall about wearing Nami's wig