The Story of Japanese Actress Anna Sawai Making History

“I was crying until they announced my name for the award. Today, I’m feeling a bit disoriented, overwhelmed with emotions.” If you’ve followed this year’s Emmy Awards, you’d have already guessed the speaker’s name by now – Anna Sawai. This Japanese singer-actress has made history at the Emmys. She won Best Actress in a Drama Series for her role in the highly talked-about series Shōgun. She is the first Japanese, and the first Asian actress, to win this award in the category. She claimed the award by surpassing stars like Jennifer Aniston and Reese Witherspoon. It’s no surprise that Anna is overwhelmed with emotion.

For those who watch international series, the name Anna Sawai is not unfamiliar. She gained worldwide recognition after appearing in Fast & Furious 9 in 2021.

However, she truly caught the attention of critics the following year with her performance in the Apple TV+ drama series Pachinko. Her fame continued to spread further with the American series Monarch: Legacy of Monsters. This paved the way for her role in Shōgun, where she went on to make history.

Anna Sawai was born in New Zealand and moved back to Japan with her family when she was 10. She started acting at the age of 11 and made her big-screen debut in the 2009 martial arts film Ninja Assassin.

In a recent interview with W Magazine, Anna talked about Shōgun. She said, “While filming, I wasn’t thinking about my performance. The script was so captivating that I felt like I was in a trance, unsure of how well I was performing. Even when the filming ended, I still wasn’t certain.”

Alongside acting, Anna is also a talented singer. She was a key member of the Japanese girl group FAKY, which debuted in 2013. However, she is no longer part of the band and now sings on her own terms. Anna explained that she left the band to focus more on acting, and the goal she set back then is now mostly achieved.

Since the success of Shōgun, the 32-year-old singer-actress has been receiving offers for various international projects.