Iñaki Godoy says everyone wants to be a little bit like Luffy in ‘One Piece,’ including him

by

A 3D model of a T. rex appears to be growing out of Iñaki Godoy’s head, and he’s holding a stuffed toy of Monkey D. Luffy, the character who had a major impact on his life.

The first thing I noticed when Godoy walked in was this plastic dinosaur clipped to his hat – the head was at the front, and the tail stuck out the back! But he didn’t seem to even realize it was unusual. He actually thinks it’s really cool, especially because his dad gave it to him, and he said he wears it all the time, whether it’s just a normal day or something like this interview.

Iñaki Godoy, a Mexican actor, became the star of Netflix’s live-action “One Piece” when he was just 17, playing the lead character Luffy. He began filming the first season at 18, and now, at 22, he’s promoting the upcoming second season (releasing Tuesday). He’s taking a break from filming the third season in South Africa, where all of the show has been filmed so far.

I was so moved by what Iñaki Godoy shared with me. He said playing Luffy has genuinely allowed him to pursue his dream of becoming a professional actor and fully embrace his creativity. He feels immense gratitude for the opportunity, and honestly, it’s incredibly heartwarming to hear.

Godoy has a natural and appealing charm – a genuine, open quality that’s both innocent and captivating. It’s easy to imagine wanting to be friends with someone who confidently rocks a hat decorated with dinosaurs! That playful energy likely contributed to him landing the role of Luffy, a relaxed, yet deeply honest character who dreams of becoming a pirate. “One Piece” takes place in a unique world blending elements of the past and future, with pirates, fantasy, and advanced technology all existing together. For instance, Luffy gains the ability to stretch like rubber after consuming a magical fruit.

Producer Becky Clements of Tomorrow Studios, which makes the series for Netflix, explains that Iñaki has a huge heart, just like the character Luffy. However, she also emphasizes Iñaki’s acting talent. He’s a skilled performer who can quickly shift between emotions and portray complex, multi-layered characters, even within a single scene.

Eiichiro Oda, the creator of “One Piece,” originally envisioned Luffy as being from Brazil. Because of this, the show’s casting team looked to Latin America for the perfect actor. In his audition, filmed while working on a different project in Canada, Iñaki Godoy performed the scene from the first episode where Luffy meets Koby as their former ship burns in the background.

Godoy remembers being told his audition was good, but they asked him to re-record it. The directors explained that Luffy wouldn’t be worried by a burning ship – he’d be totally calm and collected. Godoy took their advice, emphasizing Luffy’s carefree attitude, and was thrilled to find out his performance actually made the creator, Oda, laugh.

Television

The team responsible for the show’s action and special effects described how they brought the fight scenes from the original manga and anime to life. They used props like fake swords and stick extensions to create the action.

Luffy is central to the entire feel and energy of this manga series, and finding the right actor to portray him was our biggest challenge. According to Clements, when they saw Iñaki, they knew their search was over – he was the perfect Luffy, and they could finally relax.

I’ve always been captivated by Godoy’s energy! What many people don’t know is that she’s a performer at heart, born and raised in Mexico City, and she started performing years and years before she ever even thought about ‘One Piece’. It’s amazing to see how far she’s come!

Godoy began acting at age four, jokingly admitting it was a better path than soccer for him. He’d always enjoyed performing, and his parents encouraged this by signing him up for musical theater classes. His first role was Flounder in a production of “The Little Mermaid,” which was a unique adaptation created by his teachers with a focus on the importance of recycling.

He says he’s not sure what he was thinking at the time, but standing on stage in front of an audience, he realized he could see himself doing it forever. He’s been acting for as long as he can remember, and always knew he wanted to be a storyteller.

Godoy started his professional acting career at age nine. He landed his first regular role at eleven in the Telemundo Spanish-language drama, “La querida del Centauro,” a show he remembers fondly. He says the production team always valued his input, even as a young child.

Growing up, Godoy seriously pursued acting, taking classes that included training with the renowned Mexican actor Silverio Palacios. From ages nine to sixteen, he spent every summer at a California camp focused on acting. While he admits the camp wasn’t a highly formal education, he valued the experience. He learned a great deal by creating and performing material for diverse young audiences with varied interests.

Summer camp gave Godoy a chance to improve his English, which he’d been learning since he was young. He feels fortunate that his parents sent him to a bilingual school, and he’s very thankful for that opportunity. Being fluent in English proved to be a major benefit when he was cast in “One Piece.”

Growing up, Godoy’s parents – his father an accountant and his mother a homemaker – instilled in him a love for creativity. He’s the first in his family to work in the entertainment industry, and he credits their early support for his success. No matter where his work takes him, he makes sure to call his parents every day.

Before landing the role in “One Piece,” Godoy wasn’t sure if acting was the right long-term career for him. He questioned whether he could handle the challenges of being an actor, but the show ultimately inspired him to pursue a lasting and successful career in the field.

Godoy also considered film school as a way to continue acting. He explains he initially lacked confidence in landing the roles he desired, so he planned to become a director. His thinking was that if he wanted to play meaningful parts, he’d need to create the projects himself.

Godoy confesses he wasn’t familiar with anime before taking on the role in “One Piece.” To truly understand Luffy, he dove into the manga and anime, studying the character until he felt prepared to portray him.

As a huge fan of ‘One Piece’ myself, I purposely hadn’t finished the entire series before we started filming. I really think when you’re adapting something, you’ve got to walk a tightrope. You absolutely need to honor the source material – the fans have a clear idea of who these characters are, and you can’t let them down! But, at the same time, you have to be brave enough to bring your own creative ideas to the project and contribute something fresh.

When reading the One Piece manga, Godoy would photograph Luffy’s most expressive faces, hoping to use them as inspiration for his acting. He explains, “As an actor, your body is one of your greatest tools, and the manga provides a fantastic visual reference for physically recreating those expressions.”

After finishing the first season, Godoy continued to enjoy the “One Piece” anime and then explored other popular series like “Attack on Titan,” “Death Note,” and “My Hero Academia.” He also began learning Japanese after wrapping up the initial installment.

Television

‘One Piece’ is a long-running anime series, with over 1,000 episodes since it began in 1999. It’s based on a popular manga by Eiichiro Oda, and we asked the English voice actors to share their favorite episodes.

He says ‘One Piece’ has meant so much to him and he’s incredibly thankful for it, so he decided to show his gratitude to the Japanese people by learning their language. He felt it was the most natural way to express his appreciation.

Godoy has spent the last two years diligently learning Japanese, taking classes and studying independently. Now, when he travels to Japan to promote his work, he confidently participates in events and interviews in Japanese.

Godoy admits they aren’t a flawless speaker, but they’re able to clearly discuss any topic and get their point across. They might speak a bit slowly and use straightforward language, but they’re confident in their ability to communicate effectively.

By Season 2, Godoy felt he understood Luffy well enough to really make the character his own. He explains that while the first season was about figuring out how to play the role, he had a clear idea of who Luffy was and what he wanted to achieve starting with the second season.

You know, it took me a while to really get Luffy. Iñaki Godoy, who plays him, told me he finally understood it right before we started filming Season 2. He realized he couldn’t approach Luffy as just a person, but as this idea, this symbol that motivates everyone around him. It completely changed how he played the role, and honestly, it makes so much sense when you watch it.

Luffy represents a perfect ideal – he embodies the qualities many of us admire and aspire to have. We all wish we could be as self-assured and courageous as he is, as well as being able to forgive easily and connect with others. While no one can truly be Luffy, we all want a little of his spirit, or to have friends like him.

Godoy appreciates people thinking he’s as relaxed and confident as Luffy, but he’s still striving to become closer to him.

Godoy shares that he looks up to Luffy, but acknowledges he’s not quite as fearless. He admits to having doubts and getting anxious, but finds motivation by asking himself how Luffy would handle things, which helps him stay positive and persevere.

Iñaki Godoy found the physical requirements of playing Luffy to be the hardest part of making the show. He did manage to learn a backflip, but he knows his limits and happily acknowledges his stunt double, Cameron Groep, who he feels embodies Luffy just as much as he does. Godoy also put in extra work to get in shape for a shirtless scene this season, joking that he wanted to look good since that clip would be replayed forever.

Iñaki Godoy is incredibly passionate about video games. He believes they’re a truly amazing art form, and he particularly enjoys Nintendo games like “The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask” and “Super Mario Galaxy.”

He chuckled and explained, “I consider myself a dedicated gamer. A lot of people call themselves gamers, but they mostly just play FIFA. I’m glad you brought that up!”

Talking to Godoy reveals a down-to-earth young artist who understands that fame doesn’t last. He’s also confident that the people who care about him will support him regardless of his success.

Being an actor is full of highs and lows. One moment you’re popular and in demand, the next you’re not. It’s uncertain what the future holds – I might not be doing interviews like this in a few years. So, I’m really appreciating this moment and the chance to talk about a character I care about a lot.

Read More

2026-03-10 13:34