Karen Fukuhara Biography
Karen Fukuhara is an American actress of Japanese descent who shot to fame playing the deadly assassin Katana in the blockbuster "Suicide Squad." Mystery and thriller fans raved about her performance in "Stray," where she completely transformed into lead character Nori.But it's her role as Kimiko Miyashiro, the most enigmatic character in the hit series "The Boys," that really launched Fukuhara into the spotlight. Even before the fourth season dropped in 2024, fans learned they'd be seeing her in season five as well.
Childhood, Adolescence, Family
Karen was born in winter 1992 to Japanese immigrant parents Katsumi and Hidemi Fukuhara, who had settled in Los Angeles. Her mother taught piano, her father ran his own business, and Karen's younger brother earned the nickname "the troublemaker."Karen knew she wanted to be an actress from an early age, but her parents didn't have the resources or connections to break into Hollywood. Still, the actress speaks with deep respect about how they raised her:
Karen was a total geek growing up—she loved Pokémon anime and had been playing video games since childhood. In middle school, she joined the karate club and stuck with it through college, earning her brown belt.I grew up in this unique environment where I was completely immersed in both Japanese and American cultures. At home, I felt as if I was living in Japan. We spoke Japanese, ate Japanese food, and celebrated Japanese traditions and holidays. Japanese was my first language. But outside the house, I was just like any other American kid. I went to regular school Monday through Friday like everyone else, but I also attended Japanese school on Saturdays. I did this for 11 years! Looking back, I'm so grateful my parents chose this dual education because being fluent in two languages and understanding both cultures has opened so many doors for me.
With her fluency in both English and Japanese, Karen landed a gig as a TV journalist for Disney's Movie Surfers, a show that aired in Japan featuring interviews with Disney movie stars.
One of her first interviews was with Keira Knightley, Orlando Bloom, and Johnny Depp about "Pirates of the Caribbean." Karen was in eighth grade and totally nervous. She remembered that Johnny had this special aura about him—he looked like a pirate even without his costume, wearing a hat, cool thick-framed glasses, and tons of bracelets: "He was the kindest person and so patient with me, even when I was struggling to come up with questions for the interview."
After this job, Fukuhara hosted a Japanese-language sports radio show, interviewing athletes such as baseball players Matt Kemp and Andre Ethier from the Dodgers.
Acting Career
After graduating from UCLA with a bachelor's degree in sociology, Karen worked as a translator, subtitle editor, and waitress in a reggae-themed sushi restaurant.She soon decided to pursue acting and signed with manager Sally Hinata, who landed her an audition for "Suicide Squad." Her years of karate and kendo training gave her an edge during the audition and led to impressive results.
The action film about supervillains given a chance for redemption by the government starred Will Smith, and Margot Robbie. Speaking about her character, Karen noted that Katana has her own comic and fans know her backstory. This made working on the role even more interesting:I practiced martial arts with David's old friend Richard Mesquita. And I had to work with Guy Norris, the second unit director, and Richard Norton, the fight coordinator—they worked on 'Mad Max: Fury Road.' They are the best in the industry for stunt work. By the end, I could do everything except one dive into the water. We all rehearsed and trained together. The rehearsals were more about emotional connection, sharing stories, and opening up to each other. But I think the physical training also brought us together because you're hitting each other; you're crossing personal space and boundaries. These days, people don't have such interactions, especially with technology – everyone's behind a screen.
Three years after "Suicide Squad," Fukuhara landed the lead role in the mystical action film "Stray." Her character Nori, blessed with supernatural strength, helped a police detective investigate her mother's strange murder.I was drawn to her connection with her sword (Soul Taker) and her husband, who is trapped inside it. She has a dark past, but she continues to fight for global justice. I'm curious to see how the writers will develop her story. I like that she's strong not just physically but also morally. Katana is very independent and doesn't need a savior. I respect such strong women.
The film wasn't a huge hit, but the actress caught attention and landed a role in the series "The Boys," featuring Karl Urban, Jack Quaid, and Tomer Capone. Karen took on the role of the mysterious Kimiko, a superhero who gained her powers during tragic events.
Discussing the filming, the actress recalled how upset she was when her scene with a mouse was cut from the series:
In 2022, Fukuhara starred in the American-Japanese crime action film "Bullet Train" directed by David Leitch, featuring Brad Pitt and Aaron Taylor-Johnson.There were so many shocking moments, especially with the whale and the boat, but I also remember one cut scene. I had a scene with a mouse; I worked with a real animal, and it was actually a real mouse, which really shocked me. This scene was related to my past; the mouse was just supposed to appear in the Boys' hideout. Kimiko would have seen something familiar in it. But it totally upstaged me! That's why the mouse didn't make it into the second season but showed up in the third.
Fukuhara made her video game debut in 2022 with "The Callisto Protocol," developed by Glen Schofield, CEO of Striking Distance Studios. It is a survival horror game set in the Black Iron prison on one of Jupiter's moons, Callisto.
Karen just brings energy to everything she does. She just jumps off the screen. We knew we needed a strong and resilient character but also complex and human. Karen provides that in abundance. There's so much variety in her acting skills, and she's very creative on her own.
Karen Fukuhara's Personal Life
Rising thriller star Karen Fukuhara has often been rumored to be dating her co-stars. Jai Courtney, who played Captain Boomerang in "Suicide Squad," and Tomer Capon, also known as Frenchie from "The Boys," with whom her character Kimiko develops a romance in the storyline, were among those reported to be her boyfriends. But Karen never actually dated either of them.To shut down media speculation, Fukuhara revealed in 2019 that she was dating renowned photographer and model Keith Tio. Karen has thanked her partner for "warming her during the cold winters."
Karen is also a loving daughter and sister and has repeatedly expressed her love for her family, especially her mother. The actress says her mother Hidemi taught her to enjoy each day and not dwell on failures.
Karen Fukuhara Now
2024 brought the actress another season of Eric Kripke's superhero series "The Boys," where she returned as Kimiko. Plot details were kept under wraps, but even before the fourth season's release, the series had already been renewed for a fifth season.Critics have praised the script and plot, highlighting the humor and talented acting, while fans eagerly await new stories featuring their favorite characters. In addition to that, Fukuhara has lent her voice to new animated series: "Pokémon Concierge" (Haru) and "Alice's Wonderland Bakery" (Sakura).
Interesting Facts
- Fukuhara will never forget the moment "Suicide Squad" director David Ayer decided to cast her in the film:
At my second audition, David was in the room. They were being super secretive about the script, so I hadn't read anything from the actual screenplay. ...I remember the room was quite small, and there were these big photo lamps on either side of me. During the sword-fighting audition, I was trying to figure out the reach of my arm and sword so I wouldn't hit anything. But it was really tight in there, and when you're in the zone, you can't hold back because you're giving it everything. I smashed one of the lights and remember hearing the casting director and David gasp. But I just kept going, and I think David liked that I didn't stop halfway through.
- Fukuhara was so dedicated to the "Suicide Squad" franchise that she once suggested to the crew at dinner that they all get matching tattoos to commemorate filming. Margot Robbie supported her, bringing her tattoo gun to the trailer one day. Everyone gathered and tattooed the acronym SKWAD on different parts of their bodies. Karen got hers on her ankle.
- Fukuhara was thrilled when she first boarded a private jet with the cast to fly to the location for shooting. Growing up in a family of modest means, the actress admitted she'd never even dreamed of such an experience.
- Karen dreams of working with director Christopher Nolan in the future.