‘Avatar: Fire and Ash’ Star Oona Chaplin Nearly Changed Name to Distance Herself From Charlie Chaplin

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The new movie, Avatar: Fire and Ash, is out now, and it features what might be the most compelling villain in the entire series. Oona Chaplin delivers a standout performance as Varang, a new character who’s quickly becoming a fan favorite. The actress recently discussed how her famous family name connects to her role and personal background.

Oona Chaplin, who is the granddaughter of Charlie Chaplin, recently told The Times (as reported by Variety) that she once thought about changing her name to avoid being defined by her famous family connection. Before landing a role in Avatar: Fire and Ash, she was known for playing Talisa Maegyr on HBO’s Game of Thrones and Zilpha Geary in Tom Hardy’s FX series Taboo. Chaplin admitted that while her name may have initially helped her get opportunities, she’s had to work hard to feel she earned her success in Hollywood.

It’s taken time to feel like I truly deserve my success, especially knowing that being connected to a very successful person has likely created opportunities for me that wouldn’t have existed otherwise. It’s a strange feeling to question whether you’ve earned your position.

Charlie Chaplin, perhaps the most well-known actor from the days of silent films, was famous for his incredible physical comedy in movies like Modern Times, The Gold Rush, and The Kid. His granddaughter, Oona Chaplin, initially considered changing her name to distance herself from his fame, but she later came to terms with – and even appreciate – the weight of his legacy, realizing it was a part of who she was.

I’ve moved past feeling guilty about not living up to my grandfather’s legacy by dedicating myself to hard work. Even if all I achieve is reminding people of his brilliance – if my main purpose is simply to encourage them to discover or revisit his films – that would be enough for me, because he was a true genius.

‘Avatar: Fire and Ash’ Star Stephen Lang Talks Quaritch & Varang in Sequel


20th Century Pictures

More to come.

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2025-12-23 18:32