Why Faye From Netflix's Cowboy Bebop Looks So Familiar
The original "Cowboy Bebop" is widely regarded as an all-time classic anime series. Despite only producing 26 episodes in its one and only season, the show has stood the test of time and left its mark on pop culture in a big way, which is why Netflix decided to give it a big-budget live-action makeover. Whether or not the streaming service's live-action "Cowboy Bebop" series will go on to enjoy a longer lifespan than the original remains unclear right now, though, showrunner André Nemec has already teased his plans for Season 2.
The new series sees "Star Trek" actor John Cho trying his hand at another space adventure. In "Cowboy Bebop," he portrays Spike Spiegel, a bounty hunter tasked with rounding up the most wanted outlaws in the galaxy. Of course, it wouldn't be a space western without a rag-tag group of characters who join Cho's Spike along the way.
One member of the show's central gang is none other than Faye Valentine (Daniella Pineda), an amnesia-stricken bounty hunter and con artist who's prone to lying and stealing in order to survive. "Cowboy Bebop" gives Pineda one of her most high-profile roles to date, but she has already appeared in some other notable projects over the years as well. Let's take a look at some of them.
Daniella Pineda rose to prominence in The Originals
Daniella Pineda appeared in a few television shows prior to being cast as Sophie Devereaux in "The Vampire Diaries," but those gigs mostly saw her tackling smaller roles or supporting characters. While her role in "The Vampire Diaries" certainly wasn't a starring one either, it did put her on the map and led to some important opportunities for the actor.
First appearing in the Season 4 episode titled "The Originals," Pineda is introduced as a witch named Sophie from New Orleans. Despite being one of the rare witches who doesn't enjoy the lifestyle, her circumstances force Sophie to dabble in the dark arts all the same.
Her introductory episode is essentially a backdoor pilot for a spin-off series of the same name, which sees Pineda reprise her part as the bewitching character over the course of just nine episodes. Unfortunately, Sophie meets her unexpected demise in Season 1 of "The Originals," and some fans of the show are still not happy about that. The good news is that, as she moved on to other notable projects, Pineda's fans got to see a lot more of her after her time on "The Originals" came to an end.
Daniella Pineda played an assassin in American Odyssey
Despite having a substantial part in "American Odyssey," the series was ultimately another short-lived opportunity for Daniella Pineda, as it was canceled by NBC after just one season (via Variety). However, the "Homeland"-esque thriller did allow her to not only flex some of her action chops but also portray a compelling character who took up plenty of screen time over the course of the show's limited run.
Created by Peter Horton and starring Anna Friel as its lead protagonist, "American Odyssey" follows an American Special Forces soldier (played by Friel) who accepts a deadly assignment in North Africa. Eventually, Friel's character discovers computer files that prove a major American corporation is funding terrorists who threaten the safety of the country. Following the revelation, her unit is targeted by the corporation's hired mercenaries — forcing the character to set out on a mission to try and expose the truth to the world.
For her part, Pineda's Ruby Simms isn't exactly an ally of Friel's on the show. Indeed, "American Odyssey" sees the "Cowboy Bebop" actor playing a freelance journalist who moonlights as an assassin for the bad guys. The character isn't completely stone-cold, however, as she ends up falling in love with one of her victims' sons and expresses guilt over her actions.
Daniella Pineda got to be funny in The Detour
It goes without saying that Daniella Pineda has played some tragic characters in her time, but "The Detour" bucked that trend by allowing her to showcase her talents as a lighthearted screen performer. That's not to say "The Detour" isn't without its uncomfortable moments, but the TBS sitcom largely plays them for laughs.
Coming from the minds of comedians Jason Jones and Samantha Bee, "The Detour" is a family comedy that adopts the tried-and-true "vacation that goes terribly wrong" premise, putting it in the same subgenre as "National Lampoon's Vacation" and other similar movies and shows. The series' story centers around a couple who decide to take their kids on the adventure of a lifetime only to encounter one unfortunate delay after another, all of which lead to moments of child endangerment, surprising physical comedy, and some general parental negligence.
Pineda isn't one of the main family members in "The Detour," but she does regularly appear in the show's first three seasons as Robin Randall's (Natalie Zea) raunchy younger sister, Vanessa. Meanwhile, Season 4 of "The Detour" sees the rising star relegated to a voice-only role.
Daniella Pineda fought dinosaurs in Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom
No one was more surprised by Daniella Pineda's "Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom" casting than the actor herself. As she told CineMovie in 2018, she didn't expect to hear back from the film's creative team after submitting her audition tape. However, "Fallen Kingdom" director J.A. Bayona reportedly convinced the producers to "take a chance" on the relative newcomer and the rest is, as they say, history.
In "Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom," Pineda plays Dr. Zia Rodriguez, a gutsy, no-nonsense paleo-veterinarian who works with Claire Dearing (Bryce Dallas Howard) at the Dinosaur Protection Group. Pineda's presence in the hit sci-fi franchise is significant for reasons that go beyond her contributions to its dinosaur conflicts too. As ESPN points out, Zia is the first Latinx character to appear in a major capacity in the franchise. Notably, Pineda is set to reprise her role as the character in the highly anticipated "Fallen Kingdom" sequel, "Jurassic World: Dominion."
Now, viewers can watch Pineda turn in another memorable screen performance as Faye Valentine in Netflix's live-action adaptation of "Cowboy Bebop."