Percy Jackson Gave Thalia An Epic (Albeit Early) Introduction, And I’m Getting Emotional Over The Story Behind How She Was Cast

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Okay, so I just finished watching the latest episode of Percy Jackson – Season 2, Episode 4, “Clarisse Blows Up Everything” – and wow, things are really heating up! Just a heads-up though, if you haven’t seen it yet, be warned: I’m about to talk about what happens! It’s brand new this week, streaming on both Disney+ and Hulu, and it’s a wild ride.

We’re at the midpoint of Season 2 of Percy Jackson and the Olympians, and the latest episode introduced a key character: Thalia Grace. Thalia is the daughter of Zeus and a former friend of Annabeth, Grover, and Luke. She sacrificed herself to save them. Now that she’s appeared, let’s discuss how she was cast and why she’s showing up earlier in the series than expected.

How Tamara Smart Was Cast As Thalia In Percy Jackson

Twenty-year-old British actress Tamara Smart is our official Thalia Grace, but how was she chosen for the role? Showrunner Dan Shotz shared how she was picked on Instagram. In his words:

In mid-July 2024, after a global search for someone to play Thalia in the [Percy Jackson] series, I received a call from Stephanie Reddick, the wife of the late Lance Reddick. She recommended a young actress who had played Lance’s daughter on a different show, explaining she was very special to their family and possessed a certain magic. She asked me to simply review her audition tape, but I knew it was unlikely she would be the right fit, and I worried about how to deliver that news to Stephanie.

You’re right, both Tamara Smart and Lance Reddick appeared in the 2022 Netflix series Resident Evil. Sadly, Lance Reddick passed away in 2023 at the age of 60. However, his wife stayed in touch with the team behind the Percy Jackson show and suggested Tamara Smart for a role. Here’s how her audition went, according to Shotz:

We received her audition tape, and it was amazing! Meeting her in person was even better. When she read with Walker Scobell, his immediate reaction was, “We’re casting her, aren’t we?” That really says it all. Tamara Smart is incredibly talented and has a beautiful, soulful presence. She’s truly honoring Lance Reddick’s memory with her performance. We’re so grateful to Stephanie and Lance for bringing Thalia to us.

The team behind Percy Jackson was deeply saddened by the passing of the original actor who played Zeus. It feels especially meaningful that Stephanie Reddick helped cast the actress for his daughter. Courtney B. Vance has taken over the role of Zeus, and he says he was warmly welcomed by the cast and crew, even with the challenging situation. Seeing Thalia and Zeus share scenes together will likely be a moving experience.

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Thalia Was Introduced Earlier Than I Expected, But I’m All In On The Change

In the Percy Jackson series, Thalia doesn’t appear until much later than where we are in Sea of Monsters. However, as a fan, I thought introducing her early in the movie was effective. When TopMob spoke with author Rick Riordan, he said it was a surprise to see Smart play the part, and he liked that Thalia’s story was shown through flashbacks instead of being explained by Annabeth.

After finally meeting Thalia in Percy Jackson and the Olympians, fans are eagerly anticipating Episode 5, “We Check In to C.C.’s Spa & Resort.” The creators have hinted it could be the best episode so far, and it will be available to stream on Disney+ and Hulu on Wednesday, December 31st.

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2025-12-31 00:38