Ever since Avatar: The Last Airbender was renewed by Netflix for seasons 2 and 3, fans have been excited about the role of powerful little Earthbender Toph Beifong, with some calling the casting decision a make-or-break for the series. Toph is considered one of the franchise's most important, beloved characters.
To find a young Asian actor for the blind teenage character, Netflix launched an Open Casting Call in June, encouraging blind and visually impaired performers to submit.
Miya Cech
Here is how the Toph character was described in the Casting Call: “She is sassy, confident and unfiltered. For most of her life her strength and formidable earthbending skills have been suppressed, but now on the run as the Avatar’s earthbending master she is uninhibited to become the fierce warrior she believes she is inside.”
Avatar: The Last Airbender takes place in a world divided into four nations: the Water Tribes, the Earth Kingdom, the Fire Nation, and the Air Nomads. “Benders” are people who have the ability to telekinetically manipulate and control the element corresponding to their nation, using gestures based on Chinese martial arts. The “Avatar” is the only individual with the ability to bend all four elements.
The rest of the cast also includes Gordon Cormier as Avatar Aang, Kiawentiio as Katara, Ian Ousley as Sokka, Dallas Liu as Prince Zuko, Paul Sun-Hyung Lee as Uncle Iroh, Ken Leung as Commander Zhao and Daniel Dae Kim as Fire Lord Ozai.
