Anna Sawai (アンナ サワイ, 澤井杏奈, Sawai Anna, born June 11, 1992)[1][2] is a New Zealand actress, dancer and singer of Japanese descent. She began her film career in 2009 in a supporting role in the martial arts film Ninja Assassin, and debuted as a professional singer in 2013 as one of the lead vocalists in the J-pop girl group FAKY (2013-2018), singing in both Japanese and English.[3] She co-starred in Justin Lin's Fast & Furious sequel, F9.
Anna Sawai | |
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Born | (1992-06-11) June 11, 1992 (age 30) New Zealand |
Occupation |
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Years active | 2004–present |
Musical career | |
Genres |
|
Instrument(s) | Vocals |
Musical artist |
In 2004, shortly after moving to Japan, Sawai was chosen out of 10,000 applicants to play the title role in the stage musical Annie.[4]
In 2006, she entered the Avex Audition and won a management contract with the Japanese entertainment conglomerate Avex Inc.[5]
In 2009, Sawai made her professional film debut in the Warner Bros. film Ninja Assassin,[6] directed by James McTeigue, playing the rebellious teenage female ninja Kiriko.
In March 2012, she was selected to sing the American national anthem at a pre-season Major League Baseball game at the Tokyo Dome.[7] Shortly thereafter, she began to work as a professional singer with the Japanese girl group ARA (Avex Rising Angels), which released their first official music video "Make My Dreams Come True" in November 2012.[8]
In 2013, she left ARA to join Avex's new dance/R&B group FAKY. She performed as one of the group's lead vocalists until her final show with the group on December 20, 2018. Her departure from the group was announced via FAKY's social media, citing her dream of pursuing her acting career.[9][10]
In 2019, Sawai co-starred in the BBC crime drama Giri/Haji.[11][12] She was then cast in the action film F9, directed by Justin Lin.[13][14] Sawai chose the role of Elle in F9 because she grew up watching the Fast & Furious films and appreciated the diversity of the film's cast.[15]
In November 2019, it was announced that Sawai was signed by U.S. talent agency WME.[16] In October 2020, Sawai was announced to play savvy career woman Naomi in Apple's adaptation of Pachinko, based on the novel by Min Jin Lee, in a role created for the series.[17][18]
In September 2021, Sawai was announced as part of the cast of the FX limited series Shōgun, adapted from the James Clavell novel, playing the part of Lady Mariko.[19]
Sawai grew up in New Zealand, Hong Kong, and the Philippines, before moving to Japan at the age of 10 due to her father's electronics job.[20][21] During her childhood, she was influenced by her father to listen to The Beatles and The Carpenters.[22] Her mother, who studied opera, gave her singing lessons.[21]
Release | Title | Role | Country | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
2009 | Ninja Assassin | Teenage Kiriko | United States / Germany | Supporting role |
2021 | F9 | Elle | United States | |
2023 | Fast X |
Airdate | Title | Type | Role | Country | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
2007 | Our Love Song! [23] (愛のうた!) | TV series - 1 episode [Ep. 8] | Natsu | Japan | Supporting role [24] |
2018-2019 | Colors [25] (青と僕) | TV series - 2 episodes [Ep. 1,4] | Train station accuser | Japan | Supporting role [26][27] |
2019 | Giri/Haji | TV series - 6 episodes [Ep. 3-8] | Eiko | United Kingdom | Supporting role |
2022 | Pachinko | TV series | Naomi | United States | Supporting role |
TBA | Shōgun | TV miniseries | Lady Mariko | United States | Main role[19] |
TBA | Godzilla and the Titans | TV series | Cate | United States | Main role[28] |
Release | Song title | Artist | Country | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
2012.11 | "Make My Dreams Come True" | ARA | Japan | Singer/Performer |
2013.07.29 | "Better Without You" [29] | FAKY | Japan | Singer/Performer |
2013.11.25 | "Girl Digger" [30] | FAKY | Japan | Singer/Performer |
2015.10.29 | "Katy" [31] | Elliott Yamin | Japan | Lead role |
2015.12.07 | "Afterglow" [32] | FAKY | Japan | Singer/Performer |
2016.01.27 | "You" [33] | FAKY | Japan | Singer/Performer |
2016.04.25 | "Candy" [34] | FAKY | Japan | Singer/Performer |
2016.04.27 | "circle" [35] | FAMM'IN | Japan | Singer/Performer |
2016.05.25 | "circle" (Radical Hardcore Remix) [36] | FAMM'IN | Japan | Singer/Performer |
2017.02.22 | "Surrender" [37] | FAKY | Japan | Singer/Performer |
2017.03.23 | "animus" [38] | FAMM'IN | Japan | Singer/Performer |
2017.05.23 | "Someday We'll Know" [39] | FAKY | Japan | Singer/Performer |
2017.09.27 | "Suga Sweet" [40] | FAKY | Japan | Singer/Performer |
2018.04.10 | "Who We Are" [41] | FAKY | Japan | Singer/Performer |
2018.08.13 | "Bad Things" (English Version) [42] | FAKY | Japan | Singer/Performer |
Dates | Title | Role | Country | Theater | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
2004.04.24 - 2004.05.09 | Annie | Annie | Japan | Aoyama Theatre | Lead role |
With FAKY