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The French Star Who Plays Mantis: 7 Surprising Facts About Pom Klementieff's Journey To The Guardians Of The Galaxy

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The question of "who plays Mantis in the Guardians of the Galaxy" is one of the most common searches for Marvel fans, and the answer is the incredibly talented French actress, Pom Klementieff. As of December 22, 2025, Klementieff has cemented her status as one of the most unique and beloved characters in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), bringing the quirky, emotionally-sensitive alien empath to life across five major films and a beloved holiday special. Her journey from French cinema to a global blockbuster franchise is a story of dedication, martial arts training, and a perfect partnership with director James Gunn. The character of Mantis, with her distinctive antennae and ability to manipulate emotions, has evolved from a sheltered servant of Ego the Living Planet in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 to a fully realized, independent hero in the emotional conclusion of the trilogy, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3. This complex evolution is a testament to Pom Klementieff’s nuanced performance, which blends physical comedy with profound emotional depth, ensuring Mantis remains a fan-favorite long after the Guardians' final flight.

Pom Klementieff: Full Biography and Career Profile

The actress who portrays Mantis is Pom Alexandra Klementieff, a French star whose background is as diverse and unique as her on-screen character. Her professional journey began in France, but her breakout role in Hollywood was a direct result of her physical training and striking screen presence.
  • Full Name: Pom Alexandra Klementieff
  • Date of Birth: May 3, 1986
  • Place of Birth: Quebec City, Quebec, Canada
  • Nationality: French (born in Canada to a Korean mother and a Russian-French father, giving her a multi-continental upbringing)
  • Training: Studied at the prestigious Cours Florent drama school in Paris
  • Early Career Highlights:
    • Loup (2009)
    • Sleepless Night (2011)
    • Hacker's Game (2015)
  • Breakthrough Hollywood Role: Haeng-bok in Spike Lee's 2013 remake of Oldboy, which required her to learn to use a butterfly knife and train in boxing
  • Major Non-MCU Roles:
    • Paris in Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One (2023)
    • Laser in Thunder Force (2021)
    • Martel in the HBO series Westworld (2020)
Klementieff's casting as Mantis was a pivotal moment. Director James Gunn specifically sought an Asian actress for the role and was impressed by Klementieff's audition, which showcased her unique blend of vulnerability and physical capability, a trait she honed through extensive martial arts training.

Mantis's Complete MCU Filmography and Character Evolution

Mantis is an alien empath, a being with the power to sense and manipulate the emotions of others through touch. She was first introduced as a companion to the Celestial, Ego, who used her powers to help him sleep. Her entire existence was initially defined by her servitude, making her initial interactions with the Guardians awkward and endearing. Pom Klementieff has appeared as Mantis in the following Marvel Cinematic Universe projects:
  1. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (2017): Her debut, where she is introduced as Ego’s sidekick and reveals her empathic abilities. She forms a powerful, if often comedic, bond with Drax the Destroyer.
  2. Avengers: Infinity War (2018): Mantis joins Star-Lord, Drax, and Gamora on their mission to stop Thanos. She plays a crucial role in the fight on Titan, using her powers to briefly put Thanos to sleep, nearly allowing the heroes to remove the Infinity Gauntlet.
  3. Avengers: Endgame (2019): After being dusted in the Blip, Mantis returns to join the final battle against Thanos’s forces.
  4. Thor: Love and Thunder (2022): She makes a brief appearance alongside the Guardians before they split from Thor.
  5. The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special (2022): This special highlights her deep bond with Peter Quill (Star-Lord), culminating in the shocking revelation that she is Peter Quill's half-sister, as she is also a daughter of Ego. The special focuses on her quest to bring joy to Peter by kidnapping Kevin Bacon.
  6. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 (2023): This film marks the character's most significant emotional arc, where she gains independence and self-worth.

The Emotional Climax: Mantis's Independence in Vol. 3

The final installment of the trilogy, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, provided the character Mantis with a profound and necessary conclusion to her arc. After years of being defined by her relationships with others—first Ego, then the Guardians—the film sees her make a bold choice for self-discovery.

The Shift from Comic Relief to Emotional Anchor

In earlier films, Mantis was often utilized for comedic effect, particularly through her blunt, unfiltered interactions with Drax. However, Vol. 3 allowed Pom Klementieff to showcase her character's deep-seated trauma and need for self-affirmation. The revelation that she is Peter Quill’s half-sister, a daughter of the Celestial Ego, was a major turning point, confirming her royal and tragic lineage. * Confronting Her Past: Mantis's journey in the final film is about breaking free from the emotional dependence on the group. She realizes that her life has always been about serving others—Ego, and then the Guardians—and she needs to find out who she is outside of those roles. * The Power of Empathy: Her empathic abilities, which allow her to feel the emotions of others, are portrayed as both a gift and a burden. The film explores the emotional toll of carrying everyone else's pain, particularly Peter Quill's grief over Gamora. * A New Path: At the end of Vol. 3, Mantis makes the courageous decision to leave the Guardians. She tells the team she needs to go on her own journey of self-discovery, taking the Abilisk monsters with her. This ending is a powerful statement on the character’s growth, moving her from a sidekick to a leader of her own destiny.

The Future of Mantis in the MCU

While Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 concluded the story for the original team, it left the door open for Mantis's return. Her decision to travel the galaxy solo, accompanied by the Abilisks, suggests she is now an independent space adventurer. Director James Gunn and Pom Klementieff have both hinted that Mantis's story is far from over. Her powers—the ability to induce sleep, manipulate emotions, and her connection to the Celestial lineage—make her a valuable and fascinating character for future MCU narratives. Fans speculate that she could appear in future cosmic projects, perhaps a new iteration of the Guardians, or even a solo Disney+ series focusing on her self-discovery journey across the cosmos. Klementieff's intense commitment to her roles, including the physical training for her action-heavy part in the Mission: Impossible franchise, proves she is ready for any challenge the MCU throws her way. Her unique blend of sincerity, quirkiness, and surprising martial prowess ensures that the Mantis we see next will be even more capable and self-assured than the one who started with the Guardians. The legacy of Mantis is now one of self-acceptance and the search for true belonging, a theme that resonates deeply with audiences worldwide.
The French Star Who Plays Mantis: 7 Surprising Facts About Pom Klementieff's Journey to the Guardians of the Galaxy
who plays mantis in guardians of the galaxy
who plays mantis in guardians of the galaxy

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