Anna Sawai, a New Zealander by birth, grew up bilingual and with the same ability as her most important character, Toda Mariko, from the Shogun series. Regardless of her character’s fate, which, for those who knew the book or the 1980 series, would be tragic, it was a role that would change the actress’ career forever. And yes, the world is in love and suffering with the farewell of the samurai interpreter in the penultimate episode of the series.

All of Mariko was challenging in every way: inspired by a true story, she navigates the sexist and oppressive universe of feudal Japan, a world of honors and rules that are too harsh for us Westerners. Suffering and submissive because of these rules, Mariko is beautiful and fascinating, an intelligent woman, and vital to the political strategy of Toronaga (Hiroyuki Sanada), the shogun of the title. Additionally, she is the romantic interest of the English protagonist, John Blackthorne (Cosmo Jarvis). “Blackthorne is the only one who sees her as a human being, who truly respects her for who she is. Other men look at her as property, or as someone who is three steps behind,” Anna commented to the NY Times.

But much more than that, the challenge for Anna was to match the legendary performance of actress Yoko Shimada, Mariko from the 1980 version. For the role, Yoko won the Golden Globe for Best Drama Actress, the first for an Asian actress in the US. United States, in addition to being nominated for an Emmy. In 2024, everyone is betting on Anna making history at the TV Oscars, because her nomination is not only taken for granted but many already consider her the winner. I personally agree. We have just over a month until they close the possibility of being considered for the Emmy (in September) and there is no one with a performance like Anna Sawai‘s in Shogun.

Anna surpassed all expectations and made Mariko hers. She shows us all the virtue and complexity of the character, whose final sacrifice seemed even sadder when we dreamed of something better for her. She spent nine episodes suffering: with her family’s past, with an abusive and forced marriage to a man she doesn’t love, with her Catholic faith in conflict with her culture, and her love for a foreign man who is the symbol of what threatens her country. Her journey was one of pain, conflict, and very little hope.

There are several incredible scenes of Anna in Shogun, from her translations adapted to help both parties, her observation of everything, her sadness, and her leadership posture until her last moment of life, when Ishido (Takehiro Hira) coordinates her murder, but Mariko he seems to escape until – to save the others – he sacrifices himself. “She is not only responding to her lord’s needs but also protesting the death of her father – the entire family legacy. Even though all of Japan sees her father as disloyal, she still defends what he did,” she explained.

Anna Sawai has been gaining prominence for a long time. The daughter of a piano teacher, she learned to play and sing from the age of 3. Due to her father’s work, as a technician at an electronics company, her family moved several times while she was still a girl: they left New Zealand, went to Hong Kong, and then to the Philippines, until settled in Japan, when she was already I was 10 years old. Theater was already part of her life and she debuted on stage with the title role in the musical Annie at just 11 years old. Yes, Anna fights, dances, and sings. Very well, in fact. She is famous in Japan as one of the main vocalists of the girl group Faky, of which she was a member for 5 years, leaving in 2018 to dedicate herself to film and TV.

His film debut was in the neo-noir martial arts film Ninja Assassin, by James McTeigue, and, also in a supporting role, he was in the cast of the Japanese series Colors as well as the British series Giri/Haji. She quickly went through Fast and Furious 9, in 2021, until having greater prominence in the Apple series, Pachinko and Monarch.

It was with Monarch, the Godzilla spin-off, that Anna reached a larger audience, but nothing really comparable to the prominence of Shogun, for which we will definitely remember her. Until then, she was always modern, but not even the restrictive and authentic costumes of the time interfered with her bodily agility.

There is no future work announced for Anna Sawai yet, but it is only a matter of time. With her Mariko so unforgettable, she is undoubtedly one of the stars of 2024.

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