One Piece spoilers follow.
Nami's emotional arc in the new live-action One Piece has been addressed by one of the series' directors.
The new Netflix adaptation of the manga series made its debut this week, and focuses on the adventures of the Straw Hat Pirates as they search for the fabled One Piece treasure.
Nami (played by Emily Rudd) is one of the principal players in the series, who hides a deceitful nature even while she lets loose with Monkey D Luffy (Iñaki Godoy) and Roronoa Zoro (Mackenyu).
Speaking exclusively to Digital Spy, Emma Sullivan – who directed a handful of episodes – praised star Rudd, especially in showing Nami's juxtaposing feelings, noting it is "a difficult job to kind of play".
"It’s the subtext. Emily’s good at subtext," she said. "There’s always something going on in her eyes. She’s a really good actress. She can’t do too much, because you don’t want to give anything away. But she’s always got to be thinking about something else.
"The camera sees what you’re thinking, weirdly. It does. So as long as they’re thinking something, you can pick up this sense of conflict in a character."
Sullivan also spoke of Nami's dynamic with Kaya (Celeste Loots), adding: "What was lovely as well with Emily and Kaya – and we all sat down and went, 'Oh, we’re passing the Bechdel Test here, aren’t we ladies?' – it’s just that softening of Nami.
"That she meets Kaya, and Kaya is just really gentle with her. She’s like, 'You can relax, you can be friends with me, and you can trust me.'
"That was a really nice arc for Emily to trace, as well," Sullivan added. "I think that’s always a pleasure for an actor, when they’ve got an arc, and they can change through it – just to show that she’s softening through those scenes."
One Piece is available to stream now on Netflix.
Sam is a freelance reporter and sub-editor who has a particular interest in movies, TV and music. After completing a journalism Masters at City University, London, Sam joined Digital Spy as a reporter, and has also freelanced for publications such as NME and Screen International. Sam, who also has a degree in Film, can wax lyrical about everything from Lord of the Rings to Love Is Blind, and is equally in his element crossing every 't' and dotting every 'i' as a sub-editor.
TV writer, Digital Spy Janet completed her Masters degree in Magazine Journalism in 2013 and has continued to grow professionally within the industry ever since. For six years she honed her analytical reviewing skills at the Good Housekeeping institute eventually becoming Acting Head of Food testing. She also freelanced in the field of film and TV journalism from 2013-2020, when she interviewed A-List stars such as Samuel L Jackson, Colin Firth and Scarlett Johansson. In 2021 she joined Digital Spy as TV writer where she gets to delve into more of what she loves, watching copious amounts of telly all in the name of work. Since taking on the role she has conducted red carpet interviews with the cast of Bridgerton, covered the BAFTAs and been interviewed by BBC Radio and London Live. In her spare time she also moonlights as a published author, the book Gothic Angel.
