There’s groundbreaking — or rather earthbending — news from the world of Avatar: The Last Airbender: One of the franchise’s most beloved characters has been cast.

Miya Cech will star in Season 2 as Toph, a master earthbender who was born blind and trained to feel and sense the world around her. Executive producers Jabbar Raisani and Christine Boylan tell Tudum there were “thousands upon thousands” of auditions submitted for Toph, but they both immediately knew that Cech was a perfect fit. 

“We make a point of reviewing submissions separately and after countless tapes, we both had the same reaction ... Miya is our Toph!” they explain. “Miya is a brilliant performer who knows how to precisely balance the sarcastic sense of humor, stubbornness, and vulnerability that is Toph Beifong. Her physicality and emotional dexterity really put her in a class of one.” 

Who is Toph?

Boylan and Raisani consider Toph one of their favorite characters from the animated series. “We love how her abrasively hilarious energy complements and clashes with the rest of the Gaang and can’t wait to see that dynamic come to life on set. She’s funny, she’s very smart about the world around her, and a very accomplished earthbender. Underneath all that, she’s got emotional layers we can’t wait to explore.”

Who is Miya Cech?

Cech, whose full first name is Miyako, is an actor who has appeared in Beef, Young Rock, and The Santa Clauses, as well as in the movie You Are So Not Invited to My Bat Mitzvah. While Cech has portrayed characters who share Toph’s dry humor and sarcasm, this role feels particularly special because “Toph is a completely unique character,” she tells Tudum. “No one is like her.” 

For Cech, portraying Toph is also an opportunity to honor her heritage. “I personally am of Chinese and Japanese American descent and I’m so excited to represent my Chinese heritage in Toph Beifong,” she says. “One of the most incredible aspects of this show is the diversity of the Asian cultures in the Avatar: The Last Airbender world. Even though the universe is fantasy, it feels like every culture is represented in some way and tied to the history and traditions of that culture or country. Just a few years ago, you might have seen one or two of these actors in a show or movie, but on this show we are all able to represent this world together and work together and collaborate. It’s really amazing and a gift as an actor.”

So, what else should you know about Cech as Season 2 begins production? Here are five behind-the-scenes details you should know about Avatar: The Last Airbender’s newest cast member.

1. Cech is already training for the role of Toph. “I’ve been in boot camp for about a week and a half now and still have a lot of work to do, but it’s super fun. I have some martial arts experience,” she tells Tudum, adding, “I have a great instructor who I take private classes with back home in Northern California, and he keeps me in shape when I’m not working. I also have some dance experience from when I was younger that has been very helpful as I learn about Toph’s movements.” She will also be working with a producer and consultant, who is blind and a professional from the blindness community, to make sure the blindness community is represented appropriately.

2. Cech is a longtime fan of the animated series. “I grew up watching the animated series. I’ve always been such a big fan and probably watched it 10 times all the way through. Toph was always my favorite character, so as soon as the casting notice came out, I begged my team to please get me an audition,” she says, adding that she also loved Season 1 of the live-action series. “I have to admit that Gordon’s Aang made me cry several times. Now it’s completely unbelievable that I get to be part of this world too!”

3. Speaking of auditions, Cech had a slightly different experience than some of Season 1’s cast, who weren’t told which role they were auditioning for. “Unlike some of the actors in Season 1, I did know that I was auditioning for Toph, even though the audition material had dummy sides with different names and storylines. I had two taped auditions, a taped callback, and two in-person auditions with the casting team and producers, including a chemistry read with Gordon.”

4. As is becoming tradition with this series, Cech was tricked when she found out she was cast in the series. “A couple of days after the chemistry read with Gordon, casting asked me to do ‘one last’ Zoom callback with the stunt coordinator. I had never had a stunt callback before, so I actually asked my martial arts instructor to do Zoom with me the night before to get in shape. It turned out that there was no callback. They called to say I had booked it. I was in such shock that I think I just started crying.”

5. Even Cech doesn’t know what Toph’s full aesthetic will look like just yet. “I haven’t actually seen Toph’s costume yet. I truly can’t wait to see it and wear it for the first time. However, we have tested some looks for her iconic hairstyle. Just seeing my ‘Toph do’ was surreal.”

Check back for future updates on Avatar: The Last Airbender.