Charithra Chandran is no stranger to epic worlds: The actor has played a part in both the sweeping romance of Bridgerton and the political power plays of Dune: Prophecy. Yet she was still delightfully surprised by the limitless opportunities afforded her when entering the world of ONE PIECE. 

“Anything is possible,” says Chandran, who joins the pirate adventure’s second season. “In the ONE PIECE world and in this show, I don’t think you could ever say, ‘No, that’s too much,’ or, ‘That’s too crazy.’ Anything goes. And as a creative person, to have no restrictions and no limitations on what you could possibly do or suggest or offer is really liberating.”

Chandran enters Season 2, titled ONE PIECE: Into the Grand Line, as Miss Wednesday, a dangerous assassin working for Baroque Works whose dancing can induce vertigo in her victims. She first crosses paths with the Straw Hats when they’re all trapped inside a giant whale named Laboon.

“Miss Wednesday is a baddie, literally and figuratively,” says Chandran. “I think her skill is that she can stay super calm under pressure. Any environment that she’s in, she can just scan and come up with a plan that will deliver the outcome that she wants.”

Luffy (Iñaki Godoy) and his crew soon discover that Miss Wednesday is actually Nefertari Vivi, Princess of Alabasta — and that she’s secretly working undercover as a Baroque Works agent to save her kingdom. Alabasta is on the verge of civil war due to Baroque Works’ subversive efforts. This mission, however, has tested her diplomacy skills. 

“Vivi is very sweet, and compassionate, and selfless, and … to infiltrate Baroque Works, she has to shed all of those [qualities] and become a totally new person,” Chandran says on ONE PIECE: Into the Grand Line: The Official Podcast. “I mean, when you’re undercover, you have to be incredibly convincing. And even the way that they speak is very different. As Miss Wednesday, she’s very aggressive.”

Thankfully, Vivi isn’t working alone. At the end of the season, the Straw Hats vow to help her save her kingdom. So you can definitely expect to see Vivi in Season 3.

Below, Chandran opens up about preparing for the role, her dual identity, and joining this “lovely” cast. 

PHOTO BY PIP

Did you know what role you were auditioning for when you first went in?

Charithra Chandran: So, it did have a code name, and so did my character. And the scenes weren’t actual scenes from the show. I think they were written specifically for the audition process. But yeah, I think my agents told me, wink-wink, nudge-nudge, ‘This is for ONE PIECE. Watch the show, familiarize yourself with the manga and the anime.’ They told me that this is one of the nicest productions ever and that the cast is lovely. And they weren’t wrong, which is great.

Did you feel any pressure playing a character like Miss Wednesday/Vivi? 

Chandran: I think truthfully, because this world was unknown to me before I auditioned, I didn’t have any pressure coming into it. And now, familiarizing myself [with] the world, I know how much ONE PIECE means to people and how much comfort it provides. So I feel such an obligation to work my hardest and make sure this is the best it can be. But in terms of pressure [around playing] Vivi, I don’t think I feel it as much, because I trust [manga creator Eiichiro] Oda. I trust [the showrunners]. They picked me because they thought I was right for the role.

PHOTO BY CASEY CRAFFORD

Miss Wednesday and Vivi’s weapons of choice are peacock slashers. What was it like filming with them?

Chandran: I think they’re very elegant. They’re a nod to her culture, obviously. They’re badass and obviously very dangerous, but also really feminine and kind of sleek and sexy. But I have to say, filming with them [is] tricky because they kept getting twisted and wound round so much of the time that I would just be untangling these knots. So, if you ever need a knot untangled, I’m your girl. But yeah, it was interesting to film with them.

PHOTO BY PIP

How would you describe Vivi’s relationship with the Straw Hats?

Chandran: When you’re undercover like Vivi is as Miss Wednesday, it’s an incredibly lonely life. You’re completely disassociating from your life and from your family, so Vivi is a loner. She really struggles to trust people and let them in because she’s always had to do it by herself. In part, I think she mistakenly thinks that’s what rulers should do: take it all on by themselves. The Straw Hats force her to accept their help, and it teaches her that it’s OK to depend on people. It’s OK to want help and to need help.

The Straw Hats become the friends that she’s really never had. I think she plays such a sweet role within the crew. She is the diplomat. She is the person who knows how to negotiate and strategize, and I think that’s something that’s missing from the crew. She fulfills a really important purpose.

What was it like for you, as an actor, to join this cast?

Chandran: The Straw Hats are so lovely. Much like the Straw Hats in ONE PIECE, they are all so different with such different interests, and yet it’s so cohesive and complementary. Because they all have such different interests, there’s always one person to do something with. So, if it’s a music-related thing that I want to do, I’d hit up Jakey [Romero]. If it’s about fine dining and food, it’s Kiki [Godoy]. If it’s arts and crafts, Emily [Rudd] and I love to do girly dates together. And with Taz [Skylar], we’ll go boxing. For Mackenyu, it’s the gym. It’s really lovely, and they’ve been amazing. They’ve welcomed me with open arms from day one.

PHOTO BY SOPHY HOLLAND

What do you think makes ONE PIECE so special?

Chandran: I think ONE PIECE is a story that’s meaningful to everybody at some point in their lives. It’s about people who are outcasts coming together and creating this new chosen family. And with such an expansive world, I think there’s a character that fits everybody. You’ll always be able to connect and associate with someone. And for people who feel like they don’t belong, ONE PIECE is incredibly hopeful. And it’s an adventure.

All eight episodes of ONE PIECE Season 2 are available to stream on Netflix — where you can also watch ONE PIECE: Into the Grand Line: The Official Podcast.