Aria Mia Loberti is the breakout star of Netflix's All The Light We Cannot See. An adaptation of the bestselling Anthony Doerr novel by the same name, the four-episode miniseries hit Netflix on November 2.
The series follows two teenage characters—Marie-Laure and Werner—as they survive the devastation of World War II in their prospective countries—Nazi-occupied France and Germany.
The show also includes prominent actors such as House's Hugh Laurie and Academy Award winner Mark Ruffalo. However, the central stars of the cast are much lesser known. Louis Hoffman, who plays Werner, has had some minor roles in bigger projects, but this is Aria Mia Loberti's acting debut. And, like her character, she is also legally blind.
If you just finished reading All The Light We Cannot See and can't wait for the live-action version, or are just itching to know more about its incredible lead, here's everything to know about Aria Mia Loberti.
Where is Aria Mia Loberti from?
Aria Mia Loberti is from Rhode Island originally. The breakout star attended University of Rhode Island for her undergraduate degree, and later received the prestigious Fulbright scholarship to attend the Royal Holloway University of London.
Watch 'All The Light We Cannot See'
She received her role for All The Light We Cannot See around 2021, when she had just returned from her year in England on Fulbright.
At the moment, it seems like she lives in Pennsylvania, as she is currently a graduate fellow at Penn State University in University Park, Pennsylvania. She is studying rhetoric at the university's school of communication arts and sciences.
How did Aria start acting?
Aria literally got her start on All The Light We Cannot See. She first learned of the Netflix show when a childhood teacher sent her the casting call, per DEADLINE. Aria has never had any formal acting training, and was plucked out of thousands of auditions, the publication reported. "It was a jaw-drop moment when we first saw Aria Mia Loberti, who is both a natural performer and an advocate for disability equity and representation," series producer Shawn Levy told DEADLINE of casting Aria. "I can’t wait to tell this beautiful story with her at the center.”
As for how Aria feels about her first acting gig? "I am so privileged and so lucky and so grateful to be able to do this," the star told CBS News in October.
The actress also said that she never saw a place for a blind woman on the big screen, so she veered toward academics (where she clearly excelled, too!). "You just become used to people telling you what’s possible for you, and you accept it," the actress told Netflix of never attempting to act prior to this role.
Is Aria Mia Loberti legally blind?
Yes. Aria was born with achromatopsia, a rare genetic eye condition that causes one to be unable to visualize color, according to the University of Rhode Island. This condition lead her to be legally blind, which means she has no vision in some environments, and has minimal residual vision in others.
Who are Aria Mia Loberti's parents?
Aria's parents are Audrey and Paul Loberti. Disappointed with their daughter's options in their school district, the couple actually decided to homeschool their daughter from third grade until she finished high school, per a local outlet called The Johnston Sunrise.
"My parents taught me how to advocate for myself. They taught me the laws that protected me. And that is my power," Aria told the outlet.
She has a guide dog named Ingrid.
And she posts about her on her Instagram quite a lot! The two truly seem inseparable, and Aria told Vanity Fair that, "I probably would’ve never even gone on that goddamn audition if not for that dog."
She has had Ingrid, a Black Lab, since college, and the two seem to have a lot of fun traveling around together.
Here they are together in Rome:
Who else is in the cast for All The Light We Cannot See?
The Netflix miniseries is full of experienced actors, all of whom were blown away by Aria's talent on set, per Netflix. Here's a rundown of who's who in the main cast, per IMDb.
- Aria Mia Lorberti—Marie-Laure LeBlanc
- Louis Hofmann—Werner
- Lars Eidinger—Sergeant Major Reinhold von Rumpel
- Hugh Laurie—Etienne LeBlanc
- Mark Ruffalo—Daniel LeBlanc
You can watch All The Light We Cannot See on Netflix now.
Olivia Evans
News Editorial Assistant
Olivia Evans (she/her) is an editorial assistant at Women’s Health. Her work has previously appeared in The Cut and Teen Vogue. She loves covering topics where culture and wellness intersect. In her free time, she enjoys cooking, running, and watching rom-coms.
