Japanese Actress Anna Sawai sat down to talk about how she found out she was nominated for an Emmy for her role as Today Mariko in Shōgun, the horseback riding training she did for the series and having the freedom to make her character her own in Pachinko.
Anna is a talented actress, singer, and dancer from New Zealand with a diverse and interesting background. Here are some fun facts about her: She began her career in entertainment at a young age. At 10 years old, she won an audition to play the role of “Little Cosette” in the Tokyo production of “Les Misérables.”
Although she was born in New Zealand, Anna has worked extensively in Japan and the United States, making her an international star. Anna was a member of the J-pop girl group FAKY from 2013 to 2018. FAKY is known for blending various musical styles and has a significant following in Japan.
She made her film debut in the 2009 martial arts film “Ninja Assassin,” which starred Rain, a popular South Korean singer and actor. Anna gained widespread recognition for her role as Naomi in the 2021 film “F9,” the ninth installment of the “Fast & Furious” franchise.
She has received extensive training in various performing arts, including ballet, jazz dance, and vocal performance. Anna is fluent in English and Japanese, which has helped her navigate her international career. She stars in the Apple TV+ series “Pachinko,” based on the novel by Min Jin Lee, which explores the lives of a Korean family living in Japan over several generations. See more inside and a video clip…
(Photos by: Lloyd Bishop/NBC)
