When I sat down with Taz Skylar, I thought I was getting a charming little chat with the One Piece star. What I got instead was a masterclass in mind games. We played a classic round of Two Truths, One Lie, and I’ll be honest; I was confident. Smug, even. “I’ve got this,” I thought. “No one’s pulling the wool over my eyes.” But Taz came prepared to throw me off completely, and by the end, I felt like I needed a lie-down. Or at the very least, a cup of the fancy tea he keeps giving people.

Now, the rules of Two Truths, One Lie are simple. But Taz? He played it like a psychological thriller. He started by saying he performed all of his own stunts during filming. And I believed him. Look at the man. But then he got all philosophical on me. He started explaining that even the biggest action stars technically don’t do all of their stunts. Sometimes it’s about whether the insurance company will let you backflip through a window or swan-dive onto a table. “It’s not about whether you can do the stunt,” he said. “It’s about whether you can convince everyone else to let you do it.” And just like that, he planted a seed of doubt in my brain that completely derailed my logic.

Then came the stories. He told me he once forgot every single one of his lines in his very first scene with Clive Owen, which, let’s be honest, would melt anyone’s brain. He said he’d given Clive a cup of tea as a wrap gift (which I mocked him for, obviously), and that he’d spent his birthday with Casino Royale director Martin Campbell and his wife. Oh, and then, casually, he mentioned he got food poisoning on set and spent the shoot vomiting between takes. Classy, right?

Now, that last one? That felt real. He had too much detail. He even said he had a bucket off-camera ready for mid-scene spewing. I mean, there was pain in his voice.

But no. I was wrong. Taz Skylar did throw up on a set… Just not that set. That little technicality made the entire stomach-turning anecdote the lie. That’s how sneaky he is. Meanwhile, the daft-sounding gift of posh tea to Clive Owen? Absolutely true. And the birthday celebration with Martin Campbell and his wife? That happened too. As for forgetting his lines with Clive? Nope. He insists he’s not that kind of actor. He did forget his first line, but not the whole thing. Still, I felt betrayed. I said he gave rubbish presents and couldn’t act. Not my best moment.

Taz Skylar Cleans Up in Cleaner

All of this glorious chaos came while Taz was promoting his latest film, Cleaner, a gritty crime thriller from legendary director Martin Campbell.

Taz brings a raw intensity to the lead role, sharing the screen with the ever-cool Clive Owen and the ever-brilliant Daisy Ridley. Their dynamic crackles… Even if one of them almost lost their lunch mid-scene. Under Campbell’s direction, Cleaner is taut, stylish, and packed with that old-school, no-nonsense action he does so well.

It’s a darker turn for Taz, but one that firmly proves he’s got more range than just Sanji-style spin-kicks.

From Straw Hat Pirate to Rising Star

Of course, most people were first introduced to Taz Skylar through his scene-stealing turn as Sanji in Netflix’s live-action One Piece. The live-action adaptation was always going to be a challenge; the anime has one of the most passionate fanbases on the planet, but Taz brought heart, humour, and high kicks to the role of the Straw Hats’ resident chef. He trained for months in martial arts and cooking to get it right, and the result? A Sanji even die-hard fans could get behind.

The show became a breakout hit, quickly earning a second season and catapulting its cast into stardom. And now, with Cleaner proving he can carry serious drama, it’s safe to say Taz Skylar is just getting started.

Whether he’s dodging punches, forgetting lines (or not), throwing up (or not), or handing out niche tea blends to A-listers, one thing’s for certain… Taz is a menace. And I mean that in the best way.