One Piece's Chopper actor thought it was a voice-only role so initially turned it down, but it ended up being "similar to what I've seen Andy Serkis do"

One Piece's Chopper actor Mikaela Hoover has revealed she originally rejected the role of the iconic reindeer.

“I initially thought it was just a voice audition, so I turned it down," Hoover, who also appeared as Cat Grant in last year's Superman, told The Seattle Times.

After being prompted to re-read the script, Hoover discovered she would be physically embodying the cutesy Straw Hats doctor, who can also transform into a more fearsome, towering figure thanks to eating a Devil Fruit.

"It was similar to what I’ve seen Andy Serkis do," Hoover said of the legendary actor who pioneered performance capture with the likes of Gollum in The Lord of the Rings and Caesar in the Planet of the Apes trilogy. "It was great because I didn't have to worry about makeup or looking pretty, I could just embody the character."

Upon hearing she had landed the part, Hoover recalled, "That was quite the shock when I found out. I was crying. I was so excited. I couldn't believe it."

While anime and manga One Piece fans will be acutely aware of Tony Tony Chopper's popularity, One Piece season 2 marks his first voyage into live-action. There, the Straw Hats learn of his tragic backstory, while he also makes a significant impact on one of the crew's wellbeing after they fall sick midway through the season.

If you've already made it through the journey, be sure to sail over to our spoiler-filled breakdown of the One Piece season 2 ending. Then, take a glimpse at what's next with our guide to One Piece season 3.