Thalia Tran has quietly built an impressive acting career across Disney animation, network television, and Netflix’s blockbuster series. The Vietnamese-American actress, now 19 years old, caught Hollywood’s attention through her voice work as Little Noi in Disney’s “Raya and the Last Dragon” (2021) before landing a recurring role as the knife-wielding Mai in Netflix’s live-action “Avatar: The Last Airbender” adaptation.
Born on May 20, 2006, in Newport Beach, California, Tran’s went from childhood music lessons to major streaming productions thanks to both her versatility and the industry’s growing embrace of Asian-American talent.
Biography
Thalia Tran was born to Vietnamese immigrant parents in Newport Beach, California. She’s of Vietnamese-American heritage, and while she maintains a relatively private family life, she’s shared that her younger sister is her biggest supporter. Growing up in California, Tran’s artistic career began with music rather than acting.
As a baby, she’d hum herself to sleep and make up random songs. Her parents enrolled her in vocal lessons at age six, and she also began learning piano around the same time. She later picked up guitar and developed into a classically trained pianist with a passion for composing pop music with classical influences.
The shift to acting came through an unexpected suggestion from her vocal coach, who saw additional potential in her performance abilities. The coach recommended acting lessons to enhance her overall stage presence, and Tran fell in love with the craft immediately. She said she watched Natalie Portman in “The Professional” (1994) as a pivotal moment that solidified her desire to pursue acting seriously.
Her inspiration received another boost from “Crazy Rich Asians” (2018), which showed her that doors were opening for Asian performers in Hollywood. This representation mattered, giving her tangible proof that Vietnamese-American actresses could succeed in mainstream entertainment.
Career
Tran’s professional acting debut came at just 10 years old in 2016 with “Tiny Feminists,” a web series featuring young girls discussing feminism. She played Linda across three episodes, marking her entry into the industry. However, success didn’t come easily. In a candid interview with Shoutout Atlanta, she revealed the reality of early career struggles. “I did not book my first audition, nor my second, nor the many after that, but I kept showing up,” she said.
Her persistence paid off with steady work. In 2018, she appeared in the web series “Hotel Du Loone” as Sadie. The following year brought her feature film debut in Universal Pictures’ “Little” (2019), where she played Raina, a socially ostracized student in the “Friend Zone.” Starring alongside Regina Hall, Issa Rae, and Marsai Martin, the comedy filmed in Atlanta gave the then-12-year-old valuable experience in major theatrical productions.
Television work soon followed. Tran landed a guest spot as Suzi Harrison on Disney Channel’s “Sydney to the Max” in 2020. That same year, she secured her first series regular role on NBC’s “Council of Dads,” portraying Charlotte Perry, an adopted daughter of Chinese ancestry struggling with identity and belonging. Though the drama was cancelled after one season and 10 episodes, she got the opportunity to act alongside veteran actors like Sarah Wayne Callies.
Disney’s “Raya and the Last Dragon” (2021) marked Tran’s breakthrough into voice acting and brought her widespread recognition. She voiced Little Noi, a two-year-old toddler con artist from the land of Talon who communicates through sounds rather than words. The role placed her in a Disney animated feature inspired by Southeast Asian cultures, working alongside Kelly Marie Tran, Awkwafina, and Sandra Oh. The film earned an Academy Award nomination for Best Animated Feature and significantly raised Tran’s profile.
In 2022, she made a guest appearance on ABC’s “Station 19” as Maddy, continuing to build her television resume.
Her highest-profile role arrived in 2024 with Netflix’s live-action adaptation of “Avatar: The Last Airbender.” Cast as Mai in August 2022, Tran portrays the stoic, knife-throwing Fire Nation noblewoman and Azula’s closest ally. She appeared in three episodes of Season 1: “Omashu,” “Spirited Away,” and “The North.” The series premiered on February 22, 2024, and became a massive hit, garnering 41.1 million views in its first 11 days and reaching number one in 76 countries.
Critics praised her performance, noting that she “skillfully embodies the dark, brooding, and gloomy persona that defines live-action Mai.” Her prior Kung Fu training proved invaluable for the role’s martial arts sequences and knife combat scenes. Netflix renewed the series for Seasons 2 and 3 in March 2024, with Tran confirmed to return in an expanded role. Season 2 production wrapped in May 2025, and Season 3 filming completed in November 2025. Season 2 is expected to premiere in early 2026, with a December 2025 teaser showcasing Mai and Ty Lee facing off against Sokka and Suki in the Earth Kingdom storyline.
Personal Life
Beyond acting, Tran maintains strong connections to her musical roots. She’s classically trained in piano and plays guitar, with particular interest in composing pop music that incorporates classical influences. “I’ll compose classical influence on pop,” she’s explained. During the 2023 SAG strike, she devoted significant time to music composition and has expressed interest in potentially releasing music professionally.
Her hobbies extend beyond music and acting. She’s trained in Kung Fu for years, which directly benefited her “Avatar” role. She also enjoys paddle boarding, ice skating, and taking dance classes. Tran serves as co-president of her local Project Linus chapter, where she collects and distributes blankets to children in hospitals, shelters, and social service agencies.
Regarding education, Tran has kept details largely private. She balanced schoolwork with her acting career throughout her California-based childhood and teenage years. In a 2023 podcast interview with “The Vietnamese with Kenneth Nguyen,” she discussed her senior year of high school and expressed interest in attending college, though no public announcements about college plans have been made as of early 2025.
In interviews, Tran has cited Lana Condor and Cate Blanchett as role models. She’s shared insights about the challenges of finding Mai’s precise voice and demeanor for “Avatar,” the specialized training in knife combat, and her close bonding with co-stars Elizabeth Yu (Azula) and Momona Tamada (Ty Lee). Looking ahead, she’s expressed dreams of playing a superhero character in a fantasy or magic project.
Tran credits her family as the foundation of her success. “Apart from the amount of sheer luck I have been blessed with, my family has played a huge part in my accomplishments,” she reflected in a 2021 interview. “Being a parent to an actress takes a whole different level of commitment.”
Net Worth
The completion of “Avatar” Seasons 2 and 3 through 2026 will likely boost her earnings significantly. But so far her net worth is estimated around $100,000.
Her income sources include voice work for Disney’s animated feature “Raya and the Last Dragon,” her series regular role on NBC’s “Council of Dads,” her feature film appearance in Universal’s “Little,” various guest television spots, and her ongoing work on Netflix’s “Avatar: The Last Airbender” series. Given her age and emerging career status, the mid-range estimates appear reasonable for an 18-year-old actress with nearly a decade of professional credits.
Netflix’s substantial investment in the series (reportedly $15 million per episode) suggests competitive compensation for its recurring cast members. With two more seasons secured and her role expanding in the Earth Kingdom storyline, Tran’s financial position should strengthen considerably over the next few years.
No specific endorsement deals have been publicly confirmed, though her growing social media following and association with major franchises like Disney and Netflix position her well for potential brand partnerships as her career progresses.