What 11 Characters From “Avatar” Look Like in Real Life

Avatar is a movie that many of us remember and enjoy, not only because of its amazing story, but also because of the incredible world that it showed. It was such a successful movie that it even ranked as the highest-grossing film ever. It wasn’t until Avengers: Endgame came along in 2019 that Avatar was surpassed. The second part of this saga is scheduled for release in 2022, so we will finally be able to find out how Jake Sully’s journey continues. In the meantime, we’d like to go down memory lane to remember the faces of the actors that brought these beloved characters to our screens.

Bright Side shows you what the actors who played the characters in this famous film look like and tells you what they’ve been up to since Avatar’s release.

1. Zoe Saldana — Neytiri

Zoe Saldana is an American actress of Puerto Rican and Dominican descent. In addition to landing the role of Neytiri, one of the main characters of Avatar, she has been part of the casts of Crossroads, Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl, and Star Trek, among other popular movies. However, being chosen for James Cameron’s visual masterpiece was what gave her career a huge boost.

2. Sigourney Weaver — Dr. Grace Augustine

Sigourney Weaver made her acting debut in Woody Allen’s modern classic Annie Hall. Ever since she delivered that amazing performance, she has had the opportunity to show what a great actress she is in numerous productions. Now, more than 40 years later, her face is familiar for appearing in Alien, The Cabin in the Woods, Ghostbusters, and Abduction, among others.

3. Wes Studi — Eytukan

Actor Wes Studi is another amazing actor that was part of the Avatar cast. He is of Amerindian descent, and this isn’t a minor fun fact. He has actually dedicated himself to playing roles that highlight this heritage. He has worked in The Last of the Mohicans, Geronimo: An American Legend and The New World, among other films. In Avatar, his role is that of a tribal leader, representing the values and resistance of the Na’vi.

4. Sam Worthington — Jake Sully

Sam Worthington was relatively unknown in Hollywood before he rose to fame thanks to his performance in Avatar. Like many other actors, he started off by playing minor roles. However, he came close to being cast as James Bond for Casino Royale and its sequels. Then, in 2010, he played Perseus in Clash of the Titans, which remains his second most remembered role to this day. He also appeared in Everest, The Shack, and Fractured.

5. Michelle Rodríguez — Trudy Chacon

In addition to her role in James Cameron’s Avatar, Michelle Rodriguez has played in several popular films like The Fast and the Furious, as well as in the Resident Evil saga. She jumped to international fame after having played Ana Lucia Cortez in the TV hit Lost. In addition, she’s done voice work for a number of video games including different installments of Call of Duty and Halo, and in the animated film 3D Turbo.

6. Laz Alonso — Tsu’tey

Laz Alonso is mostly known for his work as an actor in Hollywood. However, he also studied marketing and he even started his own fashion products business. You probably remember him from CSI: Miami, Leprechaun: Back 2 tha Hood, and Constantine, among other films and series.

7. Dileep Rao — Dr. Max Patel

In Dileep Rao’s filmography you will, unfortunately, find less than a dozen films listed. So far, he has focused mostly on playing characters in short films and series. However, his performance in Avatar was one of his first in the world of cinema, and probably also his most remembered one. His other work includes Drag Me to Hell, Inception and Beeba Boys. He also appears in all of Avatar’s sequels.

8. C. C. H. Pounder — Mo’at

C. C. H. Pounder’s acting focus is television, having starred in Hill Street Blues, The X-Files, and Through Time, among other popular series of the ’80s and the ’90s. Among some of the films where she has appeared, you’ll find classics like All That Jazz and Bagdad Café, as well as other experimental movies like The Importance of Being Earnest, among others.

9. Stephen Lang — Coronel Miles Quaritch

Due to the amazing performance he delivered as the villain in this renowned film, Stephen Lang won the Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actor. Some of the other movies and series where he appeared include Manhunter, Law & Order, and Public Enemies among many others. When asked about coming back to play in the Avatar sequels, the actor said: “I knew there would be sequels very soon. Then shortly after that, I think in 2010, Cameron put his hand on my shoulder and said, ’You’re coming back, you know that.’”

10. Giovanni Ribisi — Parker Selfridge

Giovanni Ribisi has been part of the casts of 60 Seconds, Ted, Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow, and Saving Private Ryan among others. In an interview, when asked what he thought of James Cameron’s film, he said: “It’s an incredible movie, and there is this indescribable aspect to it.”

11. Joel Moore — Norm Spellman

In addition to his work as an actor, Joel Moore is also a film producer and director. As an actor, he has appeared in Boston Public, Six Feet Under, and Bones, among other popular series and movies. He also collaborated in Katy Perry’s “Waking Up in Vegas” music video.

Who is your favorite character from this film? What do you think the sequel will be like?