Originally published in IN Digital Cover, FW 2025

Photography: David Higgs (@higgsy_photography)

Interview: Isis Nicole (@theisisnicole)

Styling: Enrique Melendez (@mrenriquemelendez)

Makeup: Ruby Ro

Not too long ago, Trinity Jo-Li Bliss was a wee one, playing pretend and singing Disney soundtracks. Now, at just 16, the Scorpio who loves french fries is lighting up the screen with major roles in two films this year, Avatar: Fire and Ash and Mike Flanagan’s The Life of Chuck, the way she always dreamed she would.

We catch up with the rising actress and songwriter ahead of her latest single launching Nov 21, about her love of storytelling, trusting her voice, and what is was like stretching her creativity at the Berklee Summer Conservatory.

💖 Hometown = I’m an LA girl and I’ve been here all my life! I’m in the suburbia side that takes a drive to get into the city.

✨ Zodiac = I’m a Scorpio! I’ve seen and heard quite a bit over the years about scorpios being mean and funny things like, “they forgive and never forget. Don’t cross a Scorpio because their revenge is slow and painful…”I guess that tracks ;p (tehe I’m the opposite.. kind of).

📚 Favorite Book = I’ll always have a soft spot for Harry Potter. I read those books 6 or 7 times and was a huge Potter head!! I love the world-building. I love how expansive and rich all the arcs, details, and characters are!! No matter how many times I’ve read it, it’s still such a page turner and I continue to discover things.

My favorite book right now is We Were Liars. I became obsessed with the show, so now I’m obsessed with the book. I love how full of metaphor this book is, and I really enjoy reading from Cady’s point of view.

🎭 Favorite Play = I got to watch the Jamie Lloyd production of "Romeo and Juliet" summer of 2024. Tom Holland plays Romeo in it!! I was on the edge of my seat!! I’d read “Romeo and Juliet” in school that year. The production of the play felt so intimate. The historic and beautiful Duke Of York’s Theatre contributed to the intimate feeling, and when the cast were taking bows, it felt like the cast looked each of us in the eyes. There were so many fun and interesting things to take in, like the way they mixed cinematography into the play format and the modern dissonant music paired with the 16th century setting. They didn't use any set pieces or props, well…except for blood haha!! They really relied on the acting and music to tell the story and build the world. The cast is amazing to go through those emotional rollercoasters so many times a week and sometimes a couple times a day!! It was an exciting and inspiring play to watch, and like nothing I’d ever experienced before!!

Isis Nicole: How was your experience attending Berklee Summer Conservatory this summer?

Trinity Jo-Li Bliss: I learned so much!! It was an all-week intensive songwriting sessions boot camp type thing. I was inspired by my peers and mentors there. Songwriting is everything to me. It’s how I process thoughts and feelings. I started improvising my own little jingles when I was around 6, found songwriting soon after, just kept doing it, and really fell in love with it.

So far, all my writing has been on my own, so the best part about this conservatory was getting to experience the fun of collaboration. One of my favorite parts was when some professional songwriters came and spoke of their experiences.

Most of all, I loved the open mics every night, and that we got to do a final performance at the end of the week. We were given a few hours to collaborate on writing and producing a song for the final performance.
Additionally, as a homeschooled gal, it was so much fun to be in a school-like environment. There was definitely interesting drama unfolding.

IN: At what age did you know that you wanted to be an entertainer, and how did your parents nurture your drive?

TB: It was fate!! Thinking back…I feel like I was just like a lot of other little girls out there. Do any of you remember? When Frozen came out, so many of us were jumping up and down on the bed, belting out “Let It Go”. Both of my parents worked, so I was in daycare with all the kids since I was 2. We’d all be playing pretend and singing our Disney soundtracks. I guess I just latched onto it so hard and loved it!! My parents nurtured that by getting me lessons because they saw how much I loved it. I loved singing, dancing, making up stories, playing pretend, playing the toy instruments, putting on a show in the living room, and we had a piano and guitar in the house (my brother played as a kid), which led me to immediately wanting to play them both and figure them out. I loved local musical theatre camps. I just loved anything to do with creating and performing, a.k.a. acting and music. My parents work in life sciences, so we’ve just been figuring out this world together everyday.

IN: What’s the coolest thing you've learned about yourself this year?

TB: That I can really grow when I put myself in situations that intimidate me.

IN: So real. And how about the most frustrating?

TB: I keep crying for no reason and so much this year hahaha. :D Oh, and also, I’m never gonna grow taller any more is a sad one.

IN: When do you feel most inspired or most connected to your craft?

TB: When doing it tehe [and] when getting inspiration from the people I’m inspired by - documentaries get the adrenaline coursing through my veins!!

IN: Who’s your role model or guiding example in your life?

TB: My mom — Taylor Swift — James Cameron — Eywa — myself hahaha

IN: If you had three wishes to be granted in 2026, what would you ask for?

TB: Number 1 = That we start working on Avatar 4 + Avatar 5 ;p tehe. I’m so excited at the idea of getting to bring to life teenage Tuk!!

Number 2 = I hope I can drive then! Although I quite like being passenger princess cause then I’m the DJ.

Number 3 = It’s funny, acting is a hard thing to wish specific career checkpoints for because I can mostly just put the best work I can into it, but not always plan where I’ll be at an exact time…For music, I wish that I’ll release some songs next year and you all will love it!!!

IN: Now that your dreams of working on Avatar: Fire and Ash have come true, what's the next goal you're dreaming up?

TB: I’m working on new music and I’m soooo excited to share sooner rather than later!! I hope you all will love it. I also really wanna do a rom com and something in the horror realm!! I wanna keep challenging myself, doing the stuff I love, and I want to write!

“ I can mostly just put the best work I can into it, but not always plan where I’ll be at an exact time”

— Trinity Jo-Li Bliss

Follow @misstrinitybliss on Instagram

Building Her Own Universe, Trinity Jo-Li Bliss