Singer Banig Roberto’s son joins ‘Avatar: The Last Airbender’

Chien makes his first appearance in Episode 2, “A Fight, Once Begun,” where viewers are taken back to the Fire Nation prince’s childhood. His portrayal centers on one of the most defining moments in Zuko’s early life as he witnesses the painful separation from his mother, Ursa – an event that helps explain the emotional

Netflix’s “Avatar: The Last Airbender” introduced a new face to fans, with Filipino Taiwanese child actor Jordan Roberto Chien portraying Young Zuko in the series’ second season. He is the son of Filipina singer and International Star Search champion Josephine “Banig” Roberto. Chien makes his first appearance in Episode 2, “A Fight, Once Begun,” where viewers are taken back to the Fire Nation prince’s childhood.

His portrayal centers on one of the most defining moments in Zuko’s early life as he witnesses the painful separation from his mother, Ursa – an event that helps explain the emotional scars and inner conflict that shape the character’s story. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Josephine Banig Roberto (@josephineroberto)

Although the role marks Chien’s biggest acting project to date, the young performer is no stranger to the entertainment industry. Before joining the live-action adaptation, he had already appeared in campaigns for the Los Angeles Lakers, Disneyland and Mattel. For Chien, however, the journey to becoming Young Zuko was every bit as memorable as appearing on screen.

Reflecting on the experience through Instagram, the child actor described months of auditions, callbacks and anxious waiting before finally receiving the news that changed everything. “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.”

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Jordan Roberto Chien (@jordanrobertochien)

His mother, Josephine Roberto, echoed that excitement in a social media post, saying their family’s involvement in the Avatar universe was something they never imagined would happen. “My excitement level is beyond words right now!” she wrote, describing the project as an experience that “my whole family and me as a mom is something we will forever cherish.”

As a mother, she shared that watching from the sidelines and allowing him to thrive in his passion has been deeply rewarding, noting that while beginning a career at a young age is never easy, “when you love what you do, it becomes your playground!”