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Anna Sawai may become the first Japanese actress to take home an Emmy win for her role as Lady Toda Mariko on FX’sShōgun. The actress, who found fame in J-Pop before transitioning to acting, still tries to wrap her head around the fact that she’s made it to Hollywood.
Based on James Clavell’s best-selling novel, the series takes place in Feudal Japan where Hiroyuki Sanada’s Lord Yoshii Toranaga uncovers the secrets behind the mysterious European ship found in a nearby village. As for her possible Lead Dramatic Actress win, Sawai immediately shoved the praises to the side, perhaps out of disbelief or genuine humility.
Anna Sawai Still Criticizes Her Performance In FX’sShōgun
After appearing on 2009’sNinja Assassinand 2021’sF9: The Fast Saga, New Zealand-born Japanese actressAnna Sawaistill finds it hard to believe she starred in a critically acclaimed series. Apart from being a rookie in the business, she also deals with harsh self-criticism.
In her interview withW Magazine, she detailed how she felt unsure about her performance inShōgun. She constantly found herself contemplating if she had “given enough to the character because she was so beautifully written”.
“I wasn’t laughing from my heart”: Anna Sawai Had Extreme Trouble Switching Off Mariko in Shōgun That Crept Into Her Personal Life
Playing Lady Toda Mariko was quite a challenge for the 32-year-old actress. Her storyline started with an undetermined fate, but it changed after the arrival of the Protestant English maritime pilot John Blackthorne on the Japanese shore.
Sawai was lauded for her performance, but she felt like she didn’t do enough. “When I finally watched Shōgun, I could see all the things that I wished I could fix,” she lamented, eventually admitting not having the slightest idea how to rectify them.
Now that she has been nominated for theEmmy Awards, she played it modestly by responding to people, “Shut up, that’s so silly,” in her most down-to-earth manner. Until now, Sawai still cannot comprehend how she has become a part of that conversation.
“I started to lose my purpose”: Anna Sawai’s Dreams of Becoming the Next Britney Spears Backfired Badly Before Shogun Put Her Back on Track
In fact,Shōgundominated the Emmys with 25 nominations. As soon as the news erupted, Sawai instantly became the next big star. She was contacted for interviews and job offers. “I’m still trying to take it all in,” she stated referring to the sudden trajectory movement of her career, which is certainly heading straight to the top.
Anna Sawai On Getting An Emmy Nomination
Sawai called her Emmy nod a “surreal moment” in her interview withGood Morning America. She recalled watching the video in her hotel room and people were already suggesting to her that she might have her name on the list, but she didn’t believe it until it happened.
The actress also considered her role mentally challenging, but all the struggles she faced while filming the show were all worth it and meaningful becauseShōgunwas a success and had a massive impact on the audience.
Perhaps Sawai will have more confidence now that she’s earned herself a prestigious award that celebrates not only her acting prowess but the show’s unique storytelling as well.
Shōgunis currently available to watch on Hulu.
Ariane Cruz
Senior Writer
Articles Published :3533
Ariane Cruz is a Senior Writer at FandomWire, majorly focusing on TV shows with over 3,000 articles published. Her love for pop culture and the creative arts fuels her passion to deliver engaging and informative stories. Her daily consumption of films, shows, and books keeps her energized for the day, along with her mission to serve as the bridge between fans and their favorite franchises.
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Anna SawaiEmmy AwardsFX on HuluShogun
