Anna Sawai: the groundbreaking Japanese actress from 'Shogun'

Anna Sawai, the heroine of the Disney+ series 'Shogun,' has taken home an Emmy, a Golden Globe, and a SAG Award for Best Actress. As one of the most talked-about international actresses today, let’s take a closer look at her inspiring career journey.

Anna Sawai was born on June 11, 1992, in New Zealand. According to Marie Claire, her early years were spent in Hong Kong and the Philippines due to her father’s work. She moved to Japan when she was 10 years old, growing up as bilingual and with a truly global perspective.

In an interview with NHK, Sawai revealed that her childhood dream was to become a singer. After moving to Japan, she began taking singing lessons. In 2003, she auditioned for the musical 'Annie' but didn’t make the cut. Determined, she practiced every day, and her hard work paid off. The following year, she beat out around 10,000 applicants to land the coveted role of Annie.

At 14, Sawai was scouted through an audition for entertainment giant Avex. She trained under the company and, six years later, became a member of the girl group ARA. In 2013, she was named the leader of FAKY, a five-member dance and vocal group that gained international attention.

While still an Avex trainee, Sawai made her film debut in the 2009 Hollywood movie 'Ninja Assassin.' She later told NHK that, by that point, she had realized acting felt more natural to her than singing.

In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Sawai shared that after appearing in 'Ninja Assassin,' she expressed her desire to pursue acting to her management but was initially discouraged. Ultimately, in 2018, she made the bold decision to leave FAKY to dedicate herself fully to her acting career.

After leaving the group, Sawai relocated overseas. In 2021, she landed a prominent role in the popular franchise’s latest installment, 'F9' ('Fast & Furious 9').

Sawai’s talent continued to shine as she appeared in the 2022 Apple TV+ series 'Pachinko,' earning praise for her performance. In 2023, she starred in another Apple TV+ drama, 'Monarch: Legacy of Monsters,' cementing her status as a leading actress in global productions.

Anna Sawai’s fluency in both Japanese and English proved essential in landing the lead role of Mariko Toda in Disney+’s 'Shogun.' Mariko acts as an interpreter between the protagonist, Yoshi Toranaga (played by Hiroyuki Sanada), and foreign captives. This dual-language requirement made Sawai the perfect choice for the role.

'Shogun' marked Sawai’s first time starring in a historical drama. In an interview with Courrier Japon, she admitted to struggling with how to portray Mariko. Hiroyuki Sanada, both lead actor and producer of the series, offered her a key piece of advice: “Try to hide your emotions.” This reflected how Japanese women of that era carried themselves, and it helped Sawai embody her character with authenticity.

'Shogun' swept the Emmy Awards, winning a record-breaking 18 categories, including Best Actress for Sawai. This achievement made her the first Asian actress to win this prestigious award in the category.

In October 2024, TIME magazine included Sawai in its "Next 100," a list spotlighting young leaders expected to make significant contributions in fields like politics, entertainment, and sports.

On January 5, 2025, Sawai achieved another historic milestone by winning the Golden Globe for Best Actress. According to Vogue, she became the first Japanese actress in 44 years to win the award. The last winner was Yoko Shimada, who portrayed the same character, Mariko, in the 1980 version of 'Shogun.' Notably, this marked the first time in history that two actresses playing the same role have both won major awards.

In an interview with Cinema Today, Sawai reflected on her journey: “I started with very small roles that highlighted the hardships of being Japanese, then moved on to bigger productions where Japanese culture wasn’t fully represented. That path eventually led me to 'Shogun.'”

With her rising global profile, Sawai is reportedly receiving numerous offers. She told Cinema Today, “How the world perceives Japanese people will shift, and I want to carefully choose roles that Japanese audiences can feel proud of and identify with.”

Anna Sawai has firmly established herself as one of Japan’s most celebrated actresses. With her historic achievements and dedication to meaningful roles, there’s no doubt she will continue to captivate audiences worldwide. We can't wait to see what comes next!

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