EMOCIONATE! ATRIZ de NICO ROBIN em ONE PIECE REVELA como a SÉRIE SALVOU SUA VIDA - LERA ABOVA

Lera Abova on One Piece and the Backlash

Lera Abova discusses the backlash she faced after being cast as Nico Robin in One Piece. When Russia invaded Ukraine, she received death threats and was accused online of supporting Putin, despite having left Russia years earlier.

She says she understands the anger and pain people feel, especially those directly affected, but avoids making sweeping political statements because the situation is complex. She also describes the painful loss of friendships and expresses gratitude for the Ukrainian friends who stayed by her.

Getting the Role

Abova recalls being in Albuquerque, broke and in a very dark place, while hoping for a call about One Piece. When the opportunity came, she felt that the difficult experiences in her life had finally led somewhere.

She says the series “saved” her in many ways, though she doesn’t want to share the details. She is moved by fans who tell her how much Nico Robin means to them. Some share deeply traumatic experiences, which gives Abova a sense of both responsibility and joy in bringing an iconic character to life.

Advice to Her Younger Self and to Fans

Asked what she would tell her younger self—the girl in a pink Pokémon shirt trying to fit into a new country—Abova jokes that the girl was “crazy.” She then reflects that she tried to be kind and stand up for people who were lonely.

Her advice to fans facing bullying is to recognize that the bullies are the ones behaving badly and to focus on their own lives.

A Message for the Future

As the interview wraps up, the host jokes that everyone will die someday and asks what message Abova would leave for people watching 200 years in the future. She hopes humanity will understand life and time better, and that the terrible things happening now won’t happen again.

People Featured

• Lera Abova
• Rogério Vilela (host)