Anna Sawai

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Anna Sawai (アンナ サワイ)
Born (1992-06-11) June 11, 1992 (age 29)
New Zealand
Occupation
  • Actress
  • dancer
  • singer
Years active2004–present
Musical career
Genres
InstrumentsVocals
Associated actsFaky (2013-2018)

Anna Sawai (アンナ サワイ, 澤井杏奈, Sawai Anna, born June 11, 1992)[1][2] is a Japanese–New Zealander actress, dancer and singer. 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.

Career[]

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 who is executed for attempting to escape the Ozunu ninja clan.

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]

Personal life[]

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.[19][20] During her childhood, she was influenced by her father to listen to The Beatles and The Carpenters.[21] Her mother, who studied opera, gave her singing lessons.[20]

Filmography[]

Film[]

Release Title Role Country Notes
2009.11.25 Ninja Assassin Teenage Kiriko United States / Germany Supporting role
2021.06.25 F9 Elle United States Supporting role

Television[]

Airdate Title Type Role Country Notes
2007.11.07 Our Love Song! [22]
(愛のうた!)		 TV series - 1 episode
[Ep. 8]		 Natsu Japan Supporting role [23]
2018.03.30 -
2019.03.31		 Colors [24]
(青と僕)		 TV series - 2 episodes
[Ep. 1,4]		 Train station accuser Japan Supporting role [25][26]
2019.10.31 -
2019.12.05
 Giri/Haji TV series - 6 episodes
[Ep. 3-8]		 Eiko United Kingdom Supporting role
2021 Pachinko TV series Naomi United States

Music videos[]

Release Song title Artist Country Notes
2012.11 "Make My Dreams Come True" ARA Japan Singer/Performer
2013.07.29 "Better Without You" [27] FAKY Japan Singer/Performer
2013.11.25 "Girl Digger" [28] FAKY Japan Singer/Performer
2015.10.29 "Katy" [29] Elliot Yamin Japan Lead role
2015.12.07 "Afterglow" [30] FAKY Japan Singer/Performer
2016.01.27 "You" [31] FAKY Japan Singer/Performer
2016.04.25 "Candy" [32] FAKY Japan Singer/Performer
2016.04.27 "circle" [33] FAMM'IN Japan Singer/Performer
2016.05.25 "circle" (Radical Hardcore Remix) [34] FAMM'IN Japan Singer/Performer
2017.02.22 "Surrender" [35] FAKY Japan Singer/Performer
2017.03.23 "animus" [36] FAMM'IN Japan Singer/Performer
2017.05.23 "Someday We'll Know" [37] FAKY Japan Singer/Performer
2017.09.27 "Suga Sweet" [38] FAKY Japan Singer/Performer
2018.04.10 "Who We Are" [39] FAKY Japan Singer/Performer
2018.08.13 "Bad Things" (English Version) [40] FAKY Japan Singer/Performer

Theater[]

Dates Title Role Country Theater Notes
2004.04.24 -
2004.05.09		 Annie Annie Japan Aoyama Theatre Lead role

Discography[]

With FAKY

  • see FAKY discography

References[]

  1. ^ "国際派新人、ティナ・ジョンソン、澤井杏奈がMLB開幕戦プレシーズンゲームで国歌を独唱". UTAMAP NEWS. March 27, 2012. Retrieved July 29, 2021.
  2. ^ "アンナサワイ、日本人初のワイスピファミリー 堂々とブラックカーペットに登場". ORICON NEWS. Retrieved July 10, 2021.
  3. ^ "Check Out Member Profiles of Avex's Brand New Girls Group "FAKY"". Japanese kawaii idol music culture news | Tokyo Girls Update. Retrieved November 23, 2019.
  4. ^ "FAKY's Leader Anna had History as Hollywood Actress". SYNC NETWORK JAPAN. December 18, 2013. Retrieved November 23, 2019.
  5. ^ "FAKYの新曲「P.O.V.」がTOKYO GIRLS AUDITIONの公式イメージソングに決定！". avexnet.jp. March 1, 2014. Retrieved September 9, 2021.
  6. ^ Ninja Assassin (IMDB), retrieved November 23, 2019
  7. ^ "国際派新人、ティナ・ジョンソン、澤井杏奈がMLB開幕戦プレシーズンゲームで国歌を独唱". UTAMAP NEWS. March 27, 2012. Retrieved September 9, 2021.
  8. ^ "avexライジングエンジェルズ☆クリスマスライブ". event-navi.ne.jp. Retrieved September 9, 2021.
  9. ^ "FAKY". www.facebook.com. Retrieved November 23, 2019.
  10. ^ "FAKY's Anna Announces Departure From Group". MACG Magazine. November 19, 2018. Retrieved November 23, 2019.
  11. ^ "BBC Two - Giri/Haji, Series 1, Episode 3". BBC. Retrieved November 23, 2019.
  12. ^ Giri/Haji (IMDB), retrieved November 23, 2019
  13. ^ D'Alessandro, Anthony (July 2, 2019). "'Fast & Furious 9' Adds Trio: Finn Cole, Anna Sawai & Vinnie Bennett". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved July 2, 2019.
  14. ^ "Vin Diesel on Instagram: "Day 14! Grateful, Blessed and Inspired... All love. @nathalieemmanuel @annasawai #Fast92020"". Instagram. Retrieved November 27, 2019.
  15. ^ "Anna Sawai Brought the Glamour to the Fast & Furious 9 Premiere". Vogue. June 20, 2021. Retrieved June 25, 2021.
  16. ^ Hipes, Patrick (November 11, 2019). "'Fast 9' Newcomer Anna Sawai Inks With WME". Deadline. Retrieved November 23, 2019.
  17. ^ Porter, Rick (October 22, 2020). "Apple's 'Pachinko' Sets Cast, Directors for International Production | Hollywood Reporter". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved October 23, 2020.
  18. ^ "Since joining the Fast & Furious family, Anna Sawai is good at keeping secrets". Vogue Australia. June 18, 2021. Retrieved June 25, 2021.
  19. ^ "FAKY - Interview (2013)". J-Generation. September 13, 2013. Retrieved November 23, 2019.
  20. ^ Jump up to: a b "Anna Sawai Wants to Eliminate Stereotypes for Asian Female Characters". ELLE. June 23, 2021. Retrieved June 25, 2021.
  21. ^ "Exclusive: Interview with J-pop girl group FAKY". CelebMix. January 14, 2018. Retrieved November 23, 2019.
  22. ^ "Our Love Song! 愛のうた！ 사랑의 노래！ 愛之歌".
  23. ^ "REI's Days: Official site of actress Rei Saito". Retrieved July 29, 2021.
  24. ^ "Anna is cast in "colors", a FOD original drama, aired on FOD from Mar. 30th!".
  25. ^ "[新]　青と僕　第1話　ブレイクマンデー24　井之脇海、寛一郎、池田エライザ". Retrieved September 8, 2021.
  26. ^ "青と僕　第4話　ブレイクマンデー24　井之脇海、寛一郎、池田エライザ". Retrieved September 8, 2021.
  27. ^ FAKY / Better Without You, retrieved September 8, 2021
  28. ^ FAKY / Girl Digger, retrieved September 8, 2021
  29. ^ エリオット・ヤミン / 「Katy」MV映像, retrieved September 8, 2021
  30. ^ FAKY / Afterglow, retrieved September 8, 2021
  31. ^ FAKY / You, retrieved September 8, 2021
  32. ^ FAKY / Candy, retrieved September 8, 2021
  33. ^ FAMM'IN / circle, retrieved September 8, 2021
  34. ^ FAMM'IN / circle (Radical Hardcore Remix), retrieved September 8, 2021
  35. ^ FAKY / Surrender, retrieved September 8, 2021
  36. ^ FAMM'IN "animus" – Official Music Video, retrieved September 8, 2021
  37. ^ FAKY / Someday We'll Know, retrieved September 8, 2021
  38. ^ FAKY / SUGA SWEET, retrieved September 8, 2021
  39. ^ FAKY / Who We Are, retrieved September 8, 2021
  40. ^ FAKY / Bad Things (English Version), retrieved September 8, 2021

External links[]

Retrieved from ""