Biography of Anna Sawai
Anna Sawai's career skyrocketed from day one. In 2004, at just 12 years old, the Japanese actress lit up the screen in a TV musical, and within a few years, she'd broken into Hollywood. Then Anna decided to chase her childhood dream of becoming a successful singer. The girl group 'Faky,' with Anna as lead vocalist, captivated fans with hits for five years. But in 2018, at the peak of their success, Anna realized acting was her true calling and left the group.The gamble paid off: a year later, she starred in "Fast & Furious 9" alongside Hollywood A-listers. By 2024, Sawai had become a star in her own right thanks to her role as Mariko in the hit series "Shogun."
Early Years
Anna Sawai was born on June 11, 1992. Both her parents are Japanese. Her mother was an opera singer who later started teaching piano lessons. Her father worked at an electronics manufacturing company. Because of his work, the family moved around a lot. Anna was born in Wellington, New Zealand's capital, where she spent her first few years. Later, they lived in Hong Kong and the Philippines.In 1995, her mother began teaching Anna and her older sister Reina how to play the piano and sing. Reina always preferred dancing and eventually became a ballerina. Anna, however, gravitated toward music. From age seven, she was obsessed with Britney Spears: "I remember watching Britney's concert videos. That was my dream – I wanted to be like Britney Spears."
In 2002, the Sawai family settled in Yokohama, Japan. Back in her parents' home country, Anna made her acting debut. In 2004, the 12-year-old landed the lead role in Tokyo's production of "Annie," beating out 9,000 other kids at auditions. The show was broadcast by Japan's most prestigious TV channel, Nippon TV.
Two years later, Anna made it into the 'J-pop' project, a kind of boot camp for musically gifted teens run by production company Avex.
In 2007, Sawai played a minor role in the Japanese drama "Our Song of Love". Two years later, the young actress made her Hollywood debut, playing Kiriko, a supporting character in the thriller "Ninja Assassin." Meanwhile, Anna juggled high school with vocal and dance lessons. "At one point, I was taking lessons every single day – tap dance, dancing, walking, singing, you name it," Anna later recalled.
Music Career
In 2010, Anna enrolled in university. During her studies, Anna began collaborating with the record label Avex Trax. In March 2012, Anna performed the United States national anthem at the Tokyo Dome stadium. This performance marked the beginning of a new baseball league season.In April, Sawai joined the female pop group "Avex Rising Angels" (ARA). By the end of the year, the group released the single "Make My Dreams Come True" and filmed a music video for the song. Without achieving breakthrough success, the group disbanded in early 2013.
The group's name had several interpretations: an acronym for "(FA)ntastic" and "To(KY)o," short for "(F)ive (A)ss (K)icking (Y)oungsters," and a play on the word "Fake," suggesting the group would bring authenticity to the Japanese music scene, unlike countless other J-pop acts.
The group's first single was "Better Without You." In July 2014, they released their first album "The One," before announcing a career hiatus.
They returned the following fall with a slightly altered lineup. In May 2016, the group released their second album "Candy." Their next album "Unwrapped" was released in June 2017.
During this time, Anna also took part in solo projects. In October 2015, she landed a role in the music video for Elliott Yamin's song "Katy." In April 2017, the singer was a featured performer on the artist Yamato's single "Shining."
At the end of 2018, Sawai announced her departure from the group, ending her music career to focus on acting.
Acting Career
In 2018, Anna played a supporting role in the multi-part thriller "Colors." A year later, she appeared in the British series "Giri/Haji," landing the role of a Yakuza boss's daughter. Critics praised her performance.Anna then scored her Hollywood breakthrough. In 2019, she joined the cast of the action film "Fast & Furious 9." She played Elle, a young girl who'd lost her parents and was harboring a crucial secret. Her character helped the protagonists in Tokyo.
The film premiered in May 2021 and received mixed reviews. Critics did recognize Sawai though, noting that she held her own onscreen alongside the franchise veterans.
In 2022, the actress landed the role of Naomi in the Apple TV+ series "Pachinko." Based on Min Jin Lee's novel, the project featured Anna's character as an original creation for the adaptation:
The series premiered in March 2022 and was subsequently renewed for a second season. The cast received the Independent Spirit Award.My character Naomi is one of the few who doesn't appear in the book, but when I read her description, I just knew that this was what I wanted to do. She worked at a time when women didn't have the same opportunities as men and weren't taken seriously by society.
In the summer of 2022, Anna joined the cast of the TV series "Monarch: Legacy of Monsters," a spin-off of the 2014 film "Godzilla." The actress was cast in the lead role of teacher Cate Randa, who survived a monster attack and set out to uncover the truth about her family and a secret organization. The series premiered in November 2023.
Anna Savai's Personal Life
The actress keeps her personal life extremely private and doesn't publicize her romantic relationships. In interviews, Anna has emphasized that she is focused on her career.Still, she's often been linked romantically to her co-stars – like Jin Ha, who also starred in the drama "One Thousand Miles."
Anna Sawai Now
In the fall of 2021, it was announced that Sawai had joined the cast of the miniseries "Shogun." The series premiered in February 2024. The actress played a Japanese woman named Mariko. This complex character had more depth than initially appeared.She's assigned as interpreter to John Blackthorne, played by Cosmo Jarvis. Speaking both Japanese and Portuguese fluently, she helps the navigator communicate with Lord Toranaga (Hiroyuki Sanada). Romance gradually blossoms between their characters.
Anna wasn't immediately locked in for the role. Her first audition was unsuccessful. But when showrunners couldn't find their Mariko, they circled back to Sawai. "I think I came off too aggressive and modern the first time. They wanted to see more 'quiet strength' in Mariko. I guess they liked my new take," the actress explained.I want to play only such characters because they are so important to me and make me think as an individual. I believe she helped me grow as a person.
In April 2024, it was announced that the series "Monarch: Legacy of the Monsters" would be renewed for a second season. Anna's expected to return for the new season.
Interesting Facts
- In 2017, the actress lent her voice to Angelique Noir in the video game "Style Savvy: Styling Star". She also recorded a soundtrack for the game "Girls Be Ambitious".
- The story of Mariko's character in "Shogun", played by Sawai, is based on the life of a real woman named Hosokawa Gracia. She was an aristocrat historically known as both a female samurai and Christian martyr.