You know those characters who just show up and immediately own the screen without even trying? That was Devon Lee. When she first appeared in Season 4, she wasn't just another recruit for Johnny Lawrence’s Eagle Fang dojo. She was a lightning bolt. But for the longest time, everyone was asking the same question: Who is the devon cobra kai actress?
Her name is Oona O'Brien. Honestly, before Cobra Kai, she was pretty much a fresh face in the industry. But she didn't just land a role; she landed a spot in the Miyagi-verse legacy. It’s funny because, in a show filled with legacy characters and kids who have been training for years, Oona’s character had to catch up at warp speed.
And she did.
The Breakthrough of Oona O'Brien
It’s actually kinda wild how Oona got the part. Most people assume these young actors have twenty credits on their IMDb page before hitting a Netflix Top 10 show. Not Oona. This was her first major television role. Can you imagine? Your first big gig and you’re suddenly doing roundhouse kicks next to William Zabka and Ralph Macchio.
Born on September 15, 2006 (though some early reports fluctuated on the year), Oona brought a specific "Type A" energy to the screen that was missing. Devon Lee was introduced as a debate team star. She was sharp, quick-tempered, and didn't take any garbage from Johnny. That dynamic—the grumpy old sensei and the hyper-logical teenage girl—became one of the best parts of the later seasons.
People often mistake her for being just another martial artist hired to act. It's actually the other way around. While she did have some athletic background, including stage combat and swimming, she really had to lean into the intense choreography of the show.
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Why Devon Lee Changed the Game
Devon wasn't just "female Miguel." She represented a different kind of motivation. She wasn't fighting because she was being bullied, and she wasn't fighting for "honor" initially. She was fighting because she liked to win. Period.
Oona has talked about this in interviews, mentioning how she relates to Devon’s competitive streak. She's the kind of person who keeps Google Docs of her goals. Seriously. If that’s not "Devon energy," I don't know what is.
But as we saw in the final season, specifically during the Sekai Taikai arc, that ambition had a dark side. The devon cobra kai actress had to play some really messy emotional beats when Devon cheated to get her spot on the team by spiking Kenny’s drink with laxatives. It was a polarizing move for fans. Some hated it; others saw it as a realistic look at how the "win at all costs" mentality of Cobra Kai (and even Eagle Fang) can corrupt a good kid.
Breaking Down the "Famous Parent" Rumors
Let's clear something up because the internet loves a good conspiracy theory. For a while, there was this massive rumor circulating on Reddit and TikTok that Oona O'Brien was the daughter of Ed O'Brien from Radiohead.
It sounds cool, right? A rock star’s daughter becoming a karate star?
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Yeah, it's not true.
Oona is a Chicagoan through and through. Ed O'Brien lives in the UK. They just happen to share a last name. It’s one of those things that got repeated so many times it basically became "fact" for a subset of the fandom. In reality, Oona’s rise is her own. She grew up doing theatre and commercials in the Chicago area before making the jump to the big leagues.
Life After the Dojo
As Cobra Kai wraps up its sixth and final season in 2026, everyone is looking at where the young cast goes next. Oona is in a unique spot. She’s essentially grown up on this set. She went from a recurring guest star to a series regular who was pivotal to the series finale's emotional payoff.
She’s already showing signs of staying power. Unlike some child stars who burn out, she seems incredibly grounded. Maybe it’s that "Type A" personality she shares with her character.
If you look at her social media or catch her at conventions, she’s basically the opposite of the "angry debate girl" she plays. She's often seen hanging out with Xolo Maridueña or Jacob Bertrand, proving that the behind-the-scenes "found family" vibe of the show is very real.
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What Fans Should Know About Her Training
One thing that doesn't get enough credit is the physical toll. The devon cobra kai actress didn't have the luxury of a three-season head start.
- Martial Arts: She had to learn Shotokan karate and various MMA-style moves specifically for the show’s choreography.
- Athleticism: Her background in soccer and swimming helped, but the "wire work" in the later seasons is a whole different beast.
- Stunts: While stunt doubles are used for the really dangerous stuff, Oona performed a significant portion of her own fight sequences, especially the hand-to-hand exchanges with Tory (Peyton List).
The growth in her physical performance from Season 4 to Season 6 is night and day. You can see her strikes getting tighter and her movement becoming more fluid. It’s a testament to the "Cobra Kai" training camp, which is notorious for being pretty grueling for the actors.
Actionable Next Steps for Fans
If you're a fan of Oona and want to follow her career as she moves past the Valley, here’s how to stay in the loop:
- Check out her early work: If you can find clips of her theatre days in Chicago or her American Girl catalog work, it's a trip to see how far she's come.
- Follow her on Instagram: She’s quite active and shares a lot of "film photography" style shots from the set that give a much better look at the cast's real chemistry.
- Watch her interviews: Specifically look for her "Next Question" segment with Her Campus. It’s probably the most "real" she’s been about her own personality vs. Devon’s.
The journey of the devon cobra kai actress is just getting started. While Devon Lee might be hanging up her gi, Oona O'Brien is clearly just warming up. She took a character that could have been a footnote and turned her into the heart of the show’s final act.
Keep an eye on what she does next. Whether it's another high-octane action series or a quiet indie drama, she has that rare ability to make you pay attention. She’s not just a "karate kid" anymore.