Bet is set in a world where elite teens from all over the globe vie for enrollment at St. Dominic’s, an exclusive private school where underground gambling determines social hierarchy. So when an exceptionally talented gambler with a shadowy past breezes into the storied academy, her betting prowess and need for revenge threaten to upend the school’s status quo.
From creator Simon Barry, the live-action series Bet is based on the manga Kakegurui. The franchise also has an anime and Japanese live-action series, with Bet explicitly inspired by the manga. The Netflix series touches on many themes other than gambling, such as trauma, social status, and wealth, among others.
The teen drama thriller stars Miku Martineau, Ayo Solanke, and Eve Edwards. CGMagazine was able to have a quick chat with the lead actress, Martineau (Kate, Star Trek: Section 31), to discuss her role as the iconic young gambler Yumeko.
What drew you to the series Bet and Yumeko?
Miku Martineau: Yumeko is such an insane character. She’s crazy, but she’s so charmingly magnetic. And I love that animated side to her, but I also love us discovering the real reason for what truly drives her madness. It can get pretty deep, and we discuss serious topics about power dynamics, social status, and wealth. Our show also has a lot of comedic parts. It’s fun and lighthearted, but also a deep show. It has everything.
What inspirations did you draw upon for Yumeko? Was it from the source material in the manga?
Miku Martineau: She’s so iconic. I felt a responsibility to study the inspiration and then bring her to life in a new way that also continues to have that manga side. I also read the entire manga, and I was always so interested. As an actor, I think when you’re given a character like Yumeko—who’s crazy, animated, and vengeful, and loves to leave it up to chance and lives in the moment—then it’s kind of my job to kind of be like, ‘Okay, but why is she like this?’
I don’t know if you’re going to continue reading the manga, but I’m going to say a spoiler in the 17th volume, it is revealed that she has a very traumatic past, and her parents were murdered. We carry all the crazy themes of Kakegurui into Bet, but Bet is also a completely new universe. So I’m just really excited for Yumeko’s story to continue.
Yes, I enjoyed how much more of Yumeko’s backstory is revealed throughout Bet, compared to the manga.
Miku Martineau: I think it humanizes her more. It’s psychologically interesting what goes on in the mind of someone who is so crazy in that sense, but also out for revenge—throwing in crazy moments where she’s yelling bingo and having the time of her life. The duality is crazy.
We both know how wild the manga can get. Were there any limitations in Bet, as to how far the actors and actresses could go?
Miku Martineau: The manga is really wild, and it’s very flirtatious. But that’s something that I love from the manga. And of course, that was a huge thing where I wanted to bring that flirtatiousness to Yumeko’s character. I couldn’t not make her flirty.
I wanted people watching it to be like, ‘Is she flirting with this person, or is she not? Or what are the vibes? Are they about to kiss or what?’ I liked that energy. We’re really grateful to have intimacy coordinators on set. They’re so needed. They make the space so comfortable and safe. It gave us the freedom to do our work in a professional setting.
As you’re now an expert on playing a crazy character like Yumeko, what goes into an evil or crazy laugh?
Miku Martineau: I’m gonna quote Yumeko, it’s ‘truly living in the moment.’ When I’m in the moment playing Yumiko, it seriously comes out naturally. You have to be locked into that mindset and completely envision the world around you. And I don’t know how, but it comes out for sure.
The way she uses her voice, her laugh. When she’s gambling, she starts off quiet, and it builds and builds and builds. It’s like the pages of the manga. The drawing gets darker and darker, and more intense as the gamble goes on. And I really wanted to bring that to life through her physicality.
Lastly, what’s one thing you hope viewers take away from Bet?
Miku Martineau: It has something for everybody. That’s the beauty of art. Everyone can interpret it in a different way, whether they take away joy, laughter, or connect with a character on a really deep level. The students here come from quite traumatic backgrounds, and it shows throughout the story. So if they can feel seen in a sense, that is amazing. I can’t wait to hear everyone’s response.
All episodes of Bet are currently streaming on Netflix. Check out our review to hear our thoughts.
