Anna Sawai is officially a history-maker! At the 76th Primetime Emmy Awards in 2024, the all-around star became the first Japanese actress to bag the prestigious television award, honoring her compelling performance as Mariko Toda in the historical series Shogun.
But before she made a mark in TV history’s books, the Japanese star had already lived an intriguing life and career that transpired across continents. From living in the Philippines as a child to becoming a J-pop star, get to know Anna Sawai in our essential list below!
Who Is Anna Sawai? 10 Facts About the Japanese Actress
1. Anna Sawai is a Gemini.
The actress’ birthday is on June 11, 1992, making her a loud and proud Gemini. They’re known to be intelligent, adaptable, and innovative–traits that Anna has exhibited in both singing and acting!
2. Anna used to live in the Philippines.
While she was born in New Zealand, Anna spent much of her growing years moving between countries, as required by her father’s job in an electronics company. This led her family to Hong Kong for a year, and then to the Philippines for five years.
The actress talks fondly about her time in the Philippines, saying she truly loved the country. “I love the Philippines so much. I remember when we were moving out, I was so sad. I didn’t want to leave,” she said in an interview with Vulture, recalling how she moved to Yokohama, Japan after her stay. “I don’t know if I completely fell in love with Japan in the beginning—it was more that I missed the Philippines so much.”
3. She made her acting debut in the lead role of “Annie.”
After Anna settled in her home country of Japan, the young star set her sights on what would become a fledging career in the entertainment industry. Her debut in acting was already a hallmark of its own, as at 11 years old, Anna beat out 9,000 other children to star as the titular character in Annie for a Japanese stage production of the musical, which was simulcast on Nippon TV.
4. Anna used to be the leader of a J-pop group.
When she was 14 years old, Anna went on to audition for the Japanese management company Avex, where she trained during her high school and college days. She eventually signed on to become a member and leader of the J-pop girl group FAKY (Five Ass-Kicking Youngsters) in 2013.
While she says she “loved” her bandmates, the actress has been vocal about feeling restricted during her time in the group. “For those 10 years, I was taught to listen more than say anything. That made me lose confidence in myself. I’m having to unlearn a lot of the things that I was taught, which is kind of unfortunate, and hard to do when you’re in your 30s,” she said in her cover story with W. “Maybe if I hadn’t had that experience, I would have had a shortcut to being comfortable with the way I am and unapologetically myself.”
Ultimately, the actress says that she wouldn’t recommend the J-pop life to anyone. “I would not want my kids—if I have kids in the future—to do that,” she stated in the same interview. “Now I feel it’s important that I tell the story of my J-pop days. I don’t know if it would be me producing it or just me as an actor, but I’m ready for it.”
5. She turned down an audition for “Suicide Squad.”
Anna has expressed the downside of her J-pop days, and one of them is having to miss out on opportunities to further her acting career. In an article by The Hollywood Reporter, the actress says she was assured by her management that being a member of a successful girl group would help her break into the industry. While she eventually starred in the 2009 martial arts film Ninja Assassin with Korean star Rain, a new opportunity came by way of a Hollywood movie audition–one that she had to miss because of obligations.
The actress recalled when the 2016 Margot Robbie-, Jared Leto-, and Will Smith-starring Suicide Squad opened auditions, looking for a “Japanese girl.” “I was like, ‘This is my chance!’ And then I go to my manager and he’s like, ‘You can’t audition.’ They basically told me that if I’m gone for over a month, the girls [the other members of FAKY] are not going to have anything to do,” she said to The Hollywood Reporter. “It felt like they were really tying me down… and because of my contract, I couldn’t leave until the time that I actually left [in 2018].”
6. She’s part of the “Fast and Furious” franchise.
Anna eventually became a part of another Hollywood franchise after leaving her J-pop management. In 2021, the actress starred in F9, the ninth main installment of the Fast and Furious franchise. There, she portrayed Elle, the adoptive daughter of Sung Kang’s Han Lue, and shared fighting scenes with the franchise’s regulars Michelle Rodriguez and Jordana Brewster.
7. Anna stars in “Pachinko” with Lee Min Ho.
Prior to her role in Shogun, Anna already starred in another critically acclaimed series that centered on an East Asian narrative. The actress appears in the award-winning Apple TV+ adaptation of Min Jin Lee’s Pachinko, which stars K-drama icon Lee Min Ho. In the series, Anna portrays Naomi, a Harvard graduate employed at the finance company of Jin Ha’s Solomon Baek.
In an interview with The New York Times, Anna says that her mother faced a similar situation to her role. “Naomi finds herself in a time when Japan implemented an equal employment opportunity law,” she said. “My mom was actually working around the same time and went through similar things that Naomi did—you know, not being taken seriously and just expected to stay at a company for three or four years until they get married to one of the guys working there.”
8. She was initially turned down for “Shogun.”
While her role as Mariko Toda in the 2024 series Shogun is one of her most notable characters now, Anna revealed that she was originally turned down for the series. “They didn’t like me!” she said to The Standard. “I didn’t get it so I was moving on to the next project.”
However, the actress received a second chance by fate when showrunner Justin Marks asked her to read again for the role, but with a few changes. “I think when I taped I was a bit too modern, aggressive, powerful,” she recalled in the interview. “Whereas they wanted Mariko to have more quiet power within her. That made sense. And I guess they liked my new version.”
9. She’s the first Japanese actress to win a Primetime Emmy.
The second chance was serendipitous, though, as Anna made history at the 76th Primetime Emmy Awards. Anna bagged the award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series for her role in Shogun, making her the first Japanese actress to ever win an Emmy.
“I was crying before my name was announced, I'm a mess today,” she said during her acceptance speech. After thanking the Academy and the team behind the critically acclaimed series, the actress went on to give gratitude to her mother and dedicate her award to women everywhere. “Thank you to my family—Mom, I love you. You are the reason I’m here. You showed me stoicism and that's how I was able to portray Mariko. This is to all the women who expect nothing and continue to be an example for everyone.”
10. You can follow Anna Sawai on Instagram.
Get up to date on all things Anna by following her official Instagram page.
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