Arzen Rose Dulzura

Meet the Half-Filipino actor melting hearts as Young Zuko in ‘Avatar: The Last Airbender’

Article (news)

Alyana De Guzman

Push Team

<p>Filipino-Taiwanese child actor Jordan Roberto Chien brings Young Zuko to life in the second season of Netflix&#x27;s <em>Avatar: The Last Airbender. </em></p><p>Jordan is the son of Filipina International Star Search champion Josephine &quot;Banig&quot; Roberto.</p><p><span style="background-color:transparent">The young actor appears in the second episode titled </span><em style="background-color:transparent">A Fight, Once Begun,</em><span style="background-color:transparent"> where he plays the younger version of the skilled firebender and the exiled Crown Prince of the Fire Nation who is now wandering the Earth Kingdom.</span> His emotional performance depicts the heartbreaking moment when Zuko recalls his tragic childhood and his forced separation from his mother, Ursa.  </p><iframe class="instagram-media" id="instagram-embed-6" src="https://www.instagram.com/p/DaVpykhEzzr/embed/?cr=1&amp;v=14&amp;wp=768&amp;rd=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&amp;rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A6%2C%22os%22%3A3256610.1999999285%2C%22ls%22%3A168752.59999990463%2C%22le%22%3A168759.69999992847%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="0" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-6" scrolling="no" style="background:white;max-width:540px;width:calc(100% - 2px);border-radius:3px;border:1px solid rgb(219, 219, 219);box-shadow:none;display:block;margin:0px;min-width:326px;padding:0px;position:absolute"></iframe><blockquote class=" instagram-media-registered" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/DaVpykhEzzr/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14" id="instagram-media-payload-6" style="background:#FFF;border:0;border-radius:3px;box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15);margin:1px;max-width:540px;min-width:326px;padding:0;width:calc(100% - 2px)"><div style="padding:16px"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DaVpykhEzzr/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style="background:#FFFFFF;line-height:0;padding:0 0;text-align:center;text-decoration:none;width:100%" target="_blank"><div style="display:flex;flex-direction:row;align-items:center"><div style="background-color:#F4F4F4;border-radius:50%;flex-grow:0;height:40px;margin-right:14px;width:40px"><br/></div><div style="display:flex;flex-direction:column;flex-grow:1;justify-content:center"><div style="background-color:#F4F4F4;border-radius:4px;flex-grow:0;height:14px;margin-bottom:6px;width:100px"><br/></div><div style="background-color:#F4F4F4;border-radius:4px;flex-grow:0;height:14px;width:60px"><br/></div></div></div><div style="padding:19% 0"><br/></div><div style="display:block;height:50px;margin:0 auto 12px;width:50px"><br/></div><div style="padding-top:8px"><div style="color:#3897f0;line-height:18px">View this post on Instagram</div></div><div style="padding:12.5% 0"><br/></div><div style="display:flex;flex-direction:row;margin-bottom:14px;align-items:center"><div><div style="background-color:#F4F4F4;border-radius:50%;height:12.5px;width:12.5px;transform:translateX(0px) translateY(7px)"><br/></div><div style="background-color:#F4F4F4;height:12.5px;transform:rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px);width:12.5px;flex-grow:0;margin-right:14px;margin-left:2px"><br/></div><div style="background-color:#F4F4F4;border-radius:50%;height:12.5px;width:12.5px;transform:translateX(9px) translateY(-18px)"><br/></div></div><div style="margin-left:8px"><div style="background-color:#F4F4F4;border-radius:50%;flex-grow:0;height:20px;width:20px"><br/></div><div style="width:0;height:0;border-top:2px solid transparent;border-left:6px solid #f4f4f4;border-bottom:2px solid transparent;transform:translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg)"><br/></div></div><div style="margin-left:auto"><div style="width:0px;border-top:8px solid #F4F4F4;border-right:8px solid transparent;transform:translateY(16px)"><br/></div><div style="background-color:#F4F4F4;flex-grow:0;height:12px;width:16px;transform:translateY(-4px)"><br/></div><div style="width:0;height:0;border-top:8px solid #F4F4F4;border-left:8px solid transparent;transform:translateY(-4px) translateX(8px)"><br/></div></div></div><div style="display:flex;flex-direction:column;flex-grow:1;justify-content:center;margin-bottom:24px"><div style="background-color:#F4F4F4;border-radius:4px;flex-grow:0;height:14px;margin-bottom:6px;width:224px"><br/></div><div style="background-color:#F4F4F4;border-radius:4px;flex-grow:0;height:14px;width:144px"><br/></div></div></a><div style="color:#c9c8cd;line-height:17px;margin-bottom:0;margin-top:8px;overflow:hidden;padding:8px 0 7px;text-align:center;text-overflow:ellipsis;white-space:nowrap"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DaVpykhEzzr/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style="color:#c9c8cd;line-height:17px;text-decoration:none" target="_blank">A post shared by Avatar: The Last Airbender (@avatarnetflix)</a></div></div></blockquote><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><p>Following the release of the newest season, Jordan took to Instagram to express his gratitude for being part of the hit Netflix series. </p><p>&quot;I can’t even begin to tell you how incredible this journey was for me to be able to play Young Zuko. From the very first audition, to the callbacks, to the director’s session and the nerve racking anticipation…but to finally receive the news that afternoon from my agent, it was hands-down one of the best days of my life,&quot; he wrote. </p><p>&quot;A dream come true is an understatement. ❤️🔥,” Jordan added.  </p><div><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-4" src="https://www.instagram.com/p/DaCKNfrh6cZ/embed/?cr=1&amp;v=14&amp;wp=768&amp;rd=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&amp;rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A4%2C%22os%22%3A3233297.899999976%2C%22ls%22%3A168752.59999990463%2C%22le%22%3A168759.69999992847%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="719" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-4" scrolling="no" style="background:white;max-width:540px;width:calc(100% - 2px);border-radius:3px;border:1px solid rgb(219, 219, 219);box-shadow:none;display:block;margin:0px 0px 12px;min-width:326px;padding:0px"></iframe></div><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><p>Jordan&#x27;s mother also shared how proud she is of her son for becoming part of one of the world&#x27;s biggest fantasy franchises. Alongside photos and clips of Jordan as Young Zuko, Josephine reflected on the family&#x27;s unforgettable experience. </p><p>“My excitement level is beyond words right now! 🥹😍This experience for Jordan, my whole family and me as a mom is something we will forever cherish! To be a part of the <em>Avatar The Last Airbender </em>franchise was never in our wildest dreams.” </p><p>She continued: &quot;Seeing Jordan on TV playing Young Zuko felt so incredible; it gave us all goosies! Such a proud moment for me. Watching him as his mom from the sidelines, allowing him to be in his element is so satisfying because I know starting out at a young age is not easy…but when you love what you do, it becomes your playground!&quot; </p><div><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-2" src="https://www.instagram.com/p/DaCbMl7laqe/embed/?cr=1&amp;v=14&amp;wp=768&amp;rd=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&amp;rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A2%2C%22os%22%3A3210317.399999976%2C%22ls%22%3A168752.59999990463%2C%22le%22%3A168759.69999992847%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="544" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-2" scrolling="no" style="background:white;max-width:540px;width:calc(100% - 2px);border-radius:3px;border:1px solid rgb(219, 219, 219);box-shadow:none;display:block;margin:0px 0px 12px;min-width:326px;padding:0px"></iframe></div><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><p>Many Filipinos also took to social media to congratulate the young actor following his appearance in the series. </p><p>&quot;Philippines represent ❤️😍 galing galing ❤️❤️❤️,” one Instagram user commented.  </p><p>&quot;Congratulations to Jordan 👏🙌 He&#x27;s really good po nakaka proud... can&#x27;t wait to see More of him sa season 3! ❤,” another wrote.  </p><p>&quot;He had me tearbending the whole time!! He has a bright future if he continues acting or whichever industry he finds himself in in the future,&quot; another netizen added. </p><p>Even before landing the role of Young Zuko, Jordan had already started building his entertainment career following in the footsteps of his mom. He has appeared in campaigns for the Los Angeles Lakers, Disneyland, and other major brands, and was also part of the Disney+ documentary <em>Pets</em>. He likewise voiced young characters in productions<span style="margin:0px;padding:0px">, including <em>Yo Gabba GabbaLand!</em>, as early as age 6</span>. </p><p>With <em>Avatar: The Last Airbender</em> now added to his growing list of projects, Jordan continues to establish himself as one of the rising Filipino talents making waves in Hollywood.  </p><p>Apart from Jordan, veteran actress Dolly de Leon also joins the second season of the franchise, portraying the Fire Nation twins Lo and Li, the advisers to Princess Azula.</p>

<p>Filipino-Taiwanese child actor Jordan Roberto Chien brings Young Zuko to life in the second season of Netflix's 'Avatar: The Last Airbender.'</p>

Filipino-Taiwanese child actor Jordan Roberto Chien brings Young Zuko to life in the second season of Netflix's 'Avatar: The Last Airbender.'