Trinity Jo Bliss on Becoming Tuk: Style, Strength, and the Spirit of Avatar: Fire and Ash
Stepping onto the global stage once again, Avatar: Fire and Ash continues to expand the world audiences fell in love with, blending breathtaking visuals, emotional storytelling, and unforgettable characters. Tonight in Paris, we’re joined by Trinity Jo Bliss, who brings the Sully family’s fearless little princess, Tuk, to life. From red carpet looks inspired by fire, ash, and water to the intense training and meaningful moments behind the scenes, Trinity shares how she embodies the spirit of Pandora both on screen and beyond.
Can you walk us through your look tonight? How does it reflect your character or the world of Avatar: Fire and Ash?
I felt like a princess that night and it was a princess look. My castmate Britain, who is a lovely brother from another mother, jokingly referred to me as “Trinerella” that night. He’s the best. With the LA premiere, I wanted to bring the fire of this film and this saga’s vibe through the red, the flower, and the drama. For Milan, I’m going to bring the Ash vibe. For Paris, aka tonight, I wanted to bring back the Avatar blue and “The Way of Water” theme.
Not only is this dress the most perfect shade of blue, but it also makes me think of a waterfall, and really close up it has pretty flower details. Also, my character, Tuk, is the little princess of her Sully family. The necklace and earrings were bowtiful, pun intended, and I had platform heels that made me Na’vi height. I also get to celebrate our EMEA premiere being in Paris and honor the city with an incredibly cool Eiffel Tower bag.
I have two looks tonight, the premiere and the after party. I’m channeling Sig’s signature suit baddie vibe. I feel so cool in this outfit. The detailing makes me think of the woodsprites in Avatar.
How did you prepare for your role in the film? Any specific training, research, or rituals that helped you get into character?
I trained for three months with the whole cast before we even started filming, and the training continued throughout filming. When it came to free diving, we also had some crew members training with us, from the camera team to stunts to the troupe members. I loved training. It was the most awesome way to dive into Tuk emotionally and physically.
I loved learning things like how to move like a Na’vi or how to talk like a Na’vi and then adding who Tuk is to that. We all really got to know each other and bond during training. My research for Tuk was the first Avatar. I submerged myself in that world, their language, and their culture. I loved mimicking Neytiri as I watched the film, just all around my house. I also would improvise and write songs from and for Tuk during training and filming whenever I felt really connected to her.
What’s been the most challenging scene to shoot, and how did it push you as an actor?
Probably when Neytiri and Tuk are sinking with the Sea Dragon near the climactic end of the second film. That one was a challenge. It was intense emotionally and physically. I felt very safe with Zoe, who is the most lovely set mom.
For one part of the scene, we were truly sinking in this contraption they built. I had some issues with equalization and holding my breath during the long segments when we were deep underwater. I remember Jim kneeling down so we could be eye to eye and being so nurturing when I was having trouble. He told me he and the crew were there for me. We talked through everything and figured it out together. I was also excited for the scene because it’s an epic one.
Do you have a favorite moment or memory from filming that fans might be surprised by?
I really loved bonding with Oona while we were filming. When we’re in scenes together, she is a total savage who gives me chills. When we’re on set but not filming, I love hanging out with her. We would chill in front of our trailers and play music on the steps. She had her ukulele and I had my guitar. We taught each other songs, jammed, and sang together.
I also loved that we had a family day on set. All of us, cast and crew, got to show our families around. Bringing my brothers was a lot of fun, and all of a sudden I became the cool sister for the first time.
How does your character’s journey in the film resonate with you personally?
Both Tuk and I are the youngest in our families. We don’t want to be underestimated, and we really care about our family. They’re the most important thing to us. We don’t want to be left behind in safety. Instead, we want to be fighting with and for the people we care about.
Did working on this movie change your approach to acting or the types of roles you want to take in the future?
I’ve learned so much through playing Tuk and being on this journey. Tuk is not always scripted to be doing something specific, and that made me open my mind to all the ways she would or could be in the moment. With performance capture, every take of a scene is a fresh take, which makes the whole process so reactive.
Every day on set was a chance to discover and evolve within Tuk and with Tuk.
How involved were you in shaping your character’s look, from costumes to hairstyles, and how does that translate to your red carpet style tonight?
Since we have our performance capture suits, whether it’s on land or in the volume, we have 101 dots on our faces and a whole process to make us our blue alter egos. I wasn’t that involved in the decision making of my character’s look, but I was always shown what I would be wearing in the finished film and how it applied to Tuk.
Our prop team was so specific and intricate with everything. I loved Tuk’s little knife with all my heart. My performance capture suit was pink, and so was my kuru attached to the head rig that captures my facial performance. All of us had a different color theme for our suits.
Tonight’s look is about representing Tuk and her world with the blue. Of course, she is the Sully family’s little princess, and that theme is represented here too.
If you could share one behind the scenes secret or fun fact about the film, what would it be?
We are actually not blue aliens from above. We aren’t nine feet tall and we aren’t painted blue. We film this beautiful saga using performance capture. I have 101 little dots on my face, a helmet with a tiny camera attached, and a suit with markers on it. My performance from head to toe is captured and later turned blue.
Which co star or crew member made the biggest impact on you during filming, and why?
Probably our amazing director, Jim. I love working with him. He’s incredibly inspiring and created such a nurturing environment for me as a young actor. He brings everybody together as one big, united Avatar family.
He has the most fun, dry, and witty humor that your brain has to run fast to keep up with in the best way possible. He inspires me to always think bigger than what I know and to be an explorer in life, creatively and beyond.
After seeing the film come to life on screen, what emotion or message do you hope audiences walk away with?
I’m so excited for everyone to reunite with the Sully family and go on this crazy emotional ride together. I hope they have a magical time. I hope they enjoy getting to know our characters even more deeply, feel on the edge of their seats, and feel like they’re right there in those intense situations with us.
From immersive performance-capture training and powerful on-set bonds to channeling Pandora’s essence through every premiere look, Trinity Jo Bliss’s journey as Tuk is one defined by heart, courage, and growth. As audiences prepare to reunite with the Sully family and dive deeper into Avatar: Fire and Ash, Trinity hopes viewers walk away feeling the magic, intensity, and emotional depth of this next chapter. Just like Tuk, she reminds us that even the youngest voices can carry the strongest spirit—and this is only the beginning of her journey.
