Miya Cech (born Miyako Cech on March 4, 2007) is an American actress of Chinese and Japanese descent, recognized for her versatile performances across film and television as a rising young talent.
She gained attention for roles such as Zu in The Darkest Minds (2018), ZhenZhen in Rim of the World (2019), and appearances in Always Be My Maybe, Marvelous and the Black Hole.
Miya is set to play Toph Beifong in Netflix’s live-action Avatar: The Last Airbender Season 2 (2026 onward), highlighting her rising status in major franchises and advocacy for authentic Asian American representation.
Essential Data
- Full Name: Miyako Cech
- Stage Name: Miya Cech
- Born: March 4, 2007
- Age: 19 years old
- Birthplace: Tokyo, Japan
- Nationality: American
- Ethnicity: Chinese and Japanese
- Occupation: Actress
- Height: 4’ 11” (1.50 m)
- Religion: Unknown
- Parents: Mr. Cech and Mrs. Cech
- Siblings: Kai Cech
- Spouse: Unknown
- Children: None
- Relationship: Single
- Net Worth: $350,000 – $1 million USD
Early Life and Education
Miyako Cech was born on March 4, 2007, in Tokyo, Japan. She was raised by her adoptive parents, Mr. Cech and Mrs. Cech, in Davis, Northern California, after being adopted at five weeks old.
She grew up as the third of four adopted children from Japan and Kazakhstan, including her younger sister Kai Cech, who is also an actress.
Her ethnicity is Chinese and Japanese. She began print modeling as a toddler, which sparked an interest in acting, and landed her first TV role at age 8.
She pursued acting professionally while balancing on-set education with tutors and teachers provided during productions, maintaining her studies amid a busy career, with little public information on formal schooling beyond high school-level support.
Career
Miya Cech began her career as a child print model before transitioning to acting at around age eight. She made her television debut in 2015 playing the young version of Kono Kalakaua on Hawaii Five-0.
She quickly followed with guest roles on popular shows, including The Thundermans, Hand of God, American Horror Story, and American Housewife, building a solid foundation in the industry.
Her feature-film breakthrough came in 2018 with the role of Zu in The Darkest Minds, alongside Amandla Stenberg and Harris Dickinson, followed by The ZhenZhen in Netflix’s adventure film Rim of the World, and the younger version of Sasha in the hit comedy Always Be My Maybe.
In 2020, Cech landed a lead television role as Samantha “Samy” Sawyer-Wei in Nickelodeon’s sci-fi series The Astronauts. She then starred as Jade in the Apple TV+ series Surfside Girls (2022).
Her first major film lead came with the indie dramedy Marvelous and the Black Hole (2021), which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival and earned praise for her nuanced performance as a young girl navigating grief and magic.
Cech’s career reached a major milestone in 2024 when she was cast as the iconic earthbender Toph Beifong in Season 2 of Netflix’s live-action Avatar: The Last Airbender (premiering in 2026).
Social Media
- Instagram: @miyacech
- X(Twitter): @miyacech
Personal Life
Miya resides in Los Angeles while pursuing her acting career. She keeps her personal life private, and there is no confirmed public information about her boyfriend or past relationships. Instead, she focuses on her craft, advocacy work, and spending time with family and friends in the industry.
She has no children and enjoys hobbies like art, cooking, and gardening in her free time. Her family, including parents who manage her early social media, supports her journey, and she often highlights sibling bonds, particularly with her actress sister Kai Cech.
Net Worth
Miya Cech’s net worth is estimated at around $350,000 to $1 million USD as of 2026. Her income primarily comes from her acting work in film and television. She has earned from lead and supporting roles in movies such as The Darkest Minds, Rim of the World, Marvelous and the Black Hole.
Her earnings are expected to grow significantly with her upcoming major role as Toph Beifong in Netflix’s live-action Avatar: The Last Airbender, starting from Season 2.
Filmography
- The Darkest Minds
- Rim of the World
- Marvelous and the Black Hole
- Dealing with Dad
- A Great Divide
- American Girl: Corinne Tan
- Marshmallow
Television
- Hawaii Five-0
- The Thundermans
- Hand of God
- American Housewife
- Arrow
- Are You Afraid of the Dark
- The Astronauts
- Surside Girls
- Young Rocj
- Avatar: The Last Airbender(2026-)