Share and Follow
Before stepping into the role of the orange-haired navigator Nami in Netflix’s One Piece live-action series, Emily Rudd had already amassed a diverse portfolio of roles. Interestingly, she has ties to a major pop culture event. Emily Rudd appeared in the music video for “Let Me Love You,” a collaboration between Justin Bieber and DJ Snake that became a significant cultural phenomenon.
The “Let Me Love You” music video was a resounding success, featuring Emily Rudd in a non-speaking role where her presence was palpable. While her name might not have been widely recognized at the time, her participation in the video was a pivotal moment, hinting at her future success as the cherished Nami.
In 2016, Justin Bieber and DJ Snake joined forces to create “Let Me Love You,” a track that quickly resonated with audiences, especially teenagers and young adults. Released with a music video in 2017, the song garnered numerous awards and became a staple in pop culture. Among the surprising elements of the video was the inclusion of Emily Rudd, who was then an emerging talent and would later captivate audiences as Nami in the One Piece series on Netflix.
Before One Piece Live-Action, Emily Rudd Appeared in a Global Hit Music Video
2016 marked a huge collaboration between pop culture phenomena Justin Bieber and DJ Snake as they co-wrote and released a song named “Let Me Love You.” The song received a music video and became a cult hit amongst teenagers and young adults in 2017, and won several awards. One of the most surprising facts about the music video is that it featured Emily Rudd, a rising talent at the time, who later became the actress for Nami in Netflix’s One Piece live-action.
“Let Me Love You” was a worldwide success, and its narrative was liked by many. Within the storyline of the music video, Emily Rudd played a thief who robbed convenience stores. In the music video, Rudd held the attention of the audience without any dialogue, relying solely on expressions and body language.
Although Rudd’s role was nameless, it was far from minor. The actress’s appearances in the video proved he had talent in the early phases of building her career. Looking back, “Let Me Love You” became an important stepping stone for Emily Rudd’s career as the project foreshadowed her eventual participation in the beloved One Piece franchise.
Emily Rudd Has Found Stardom as Nami in Netflix’s One Piece Live-Action
Playing the live-action version of characters from a highly popular anime like One Piece is a risky task, but it’s one that Emily Rudd has done incredibly well so far. Nami, the navigator of the Straw Hats, is a creative, fiery, and deeply loyal crew member who also acts as the voice of reason amongst the pirates. The role had a lot of expectations, but Emily Rudd naturally bridged both the live-action and anime versions of the character.
Emily Rudd perfectly understood the many sides of Nami — a girl who is a survivor, a strategist, as well as someone whose life has been shaped by trauma. Emily Rudd made sure that Nami’s character looked confident while also betraying her past through the cracks of her facade. The balance made the character come to life, all thanks to Rudd’s winning performance, which elevated Nami’s personality.
Although the One Piece anime loves to exaggerate characters due to the requirements of the source material itself, translating it into a live-action version can be tricky. Movements or actions that feel natural in anime can come out as too awkward in real life, but Emily Rudd perfectly avoided the trap and portrayed a believable Nami. The interactions of Nami with other characters, her snarky comments, and her reactions during sudden battles feel grounded instead of relying on exaggeration.
Emily Rudd understood Nami, and the character resonated with her, which is why the role turned out so natural and perfectly honored the spirit of the anime. Emily Rudd brought Nami to life in a way that resonated with not just new fans of the One Piece live-action, but also staunch viewers of the One Piece anime. Emily Rudd’s performance as Nami has been praised by fans and critics alike as she won over even the toughest of skeptics.
While Emily Rudd is a successful actress now, her brief appearance in Justin Bieber’s “Let Me Love You” is a reminder of how unpredictable a creative career can be. The actress is not only navigating the Grand Line as Nami but also has experience with highly stylized music videos. The Justin Bieber and DJ Snake collaboration provided an early glimpse into the future of Emily Rudd.
- Release Date
-
August 31, 2023
- Network
-
Netflix
- Showrunner
-
Matt Owens, Steven Maeda, Joe Tracz
-
Iñaki Godoy
Monkey D. Luffy
-
