Anna Sawai defined why her preliminary audition for Shōgun left her feeling lower than optimistic in regards to the challenge.
Anna’s efficiency as Toda Mariko within the FX restricted collection has been critically acclaimed. The actor beforehand had roles in F9, the Apple TV+ collection Pachinko, and Monarch: Legacy of Monsters, in addition to a five-year stint within the J-pop woman group Faky.
As a part of the Hollywood Reporter’s drama actresses’ roundtable, Anna was requested about her fears that Shōgun could be one other instance of media sexualizing Japanese ladies with white males. Anna replied, “It wasn’t simply Japanese ladies being sexualized. It was that they have been outlined by the connection that they’d with the male character, or we didn’t actually perceive their story sufficient, they have been at all times similar to the sub-character.”
“And oftentimes while you hear Japanese ladies, you assume, ‘Oh, they’re obedient, they’re attractive or they will do exactly motion by some means.’ And that’s not who we’re — we’re a lot extra advanced. And even when we seem obedient, it’s as a result of society has made us that manner and there’s a lot that’s bottled inside. And in Western media, I’d by no means seen a fancy girl who had their very own story,” she continued.
Certainly, Anna’s preliminary ideas on the Shōgun script meant that she initially gave a lackluster audition. She defined, “After I first learn the edges, it was my character going into a shower with the white pilot. I used to be like, ‘OK, that is going to be the identical factor.’ I performed it in that manner and so they didn’t name me again.”
A dialog with showrunner Justin Marks modified issues. She recalled, “He defined it wasn’t that sort of scene. He wished it to be only a dialog. So, I taped once more and performed it like she wasn’t actually taking off her kimono and so they have been simply [equals].”
“They preferred me. So, as soon as that occurred, I used to be like, ‘OK, that is the kind of ladies that we haven’t been in a position to see, that I’m positive Japanese ladies after they watch it is going to see themselves mirrored in,'” Anna added.
What we noticed on display was subsequently completely different to what was within the authentic script. “With that bathtub scene, we truly had Blackthorne within the sizzling spring, however my character simply walked in and sat down and gazed outwards. And it’s much more intimate as a result of you recognize that there’s nothing bodily about it. I’m fortunate that we’re lastly with the ability to give a portrayal of actual Japanese ladies,” she concluded.
You’ll be able to learn the complete interview here.
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