Anna Sawai

Name:

Anna Sawai

Native name:

アンナサワイ

Also known as:

澤井杏奈

Stage name:

Anna Sawai

Native stage name:

アンナサワイ

Date of birth:

June 11, 1992

Birthplace:

Wellington, New Zealand

Country:

New Zealand, Japan

Debut date:

2004

Years active:

2004-present

Agency:

Endeavor (2019-present)
United Agents
Zero Gravity Management
avex (2006-2018)
Rhythm Zone (2013-2018)

Group:

FAKY (2013-2018)
ARA (2012)

Education:

Sophia University, Tokyo

SNS:

Description

Anna Sawai (アンナサワイ) is a Japanese actress and singer. Born in New Zealand, she moved to Japan with her family at age 10. She made her acting debut in the 2004 Nippon Television production of Annie. In 2006 she auditioned for the entertainment conglomerate Avex Inc. and signed a management contract with them. She made her debut as a singer in the girl group ARA in November 2012 with their first and only single "Make My Dreams Come True". The group disbanded in early 2013 after less than a year of promotions. She re-debuted in the girl group FAKY under the Rhythm Zone, a record label of Avex, with the single "Better Without You" on July 29, 2013. On November 16, 2018, FAKY announced Sawai's departure from the group, citing her desire to focus on her acting career. She performed with the group for the last time on December 20, 2018 as part of their Four headline tour.

Filmography
Shōgun (2024) as Toda Mariko

Awards
2022 Pena de Prata
Best Ensemble in a Drama Series	Pachinko	Nominated
2023 38th Independent Spirit Awards
Best Ensemble Cast in a New Scripted Series	Pachinko	Won
2024 4th Astra TV Awards
Best Actress in a Streaming Drama Series	Shōgun	Won
2024 Cooler Awards
Lead Actress in a Drama Series	Shōgun	Won
2024 Dorian Awards
Best Television Performance - Drama	Shōgun	Nominated
2024 Gold Derby Awards
Best Drama Actress - Television	Shōgun	Won
Ensemble of the Year	Shōgun	Nominated
Performer of the Year	Anna Sawai	Nominated
Breakthrough Performer of the Year	Anna Sawai	Won
2024 1st Gotham TV Awards
Outstanding Performance in a Limited Series	Shōgun	Nominated
2024 76th Primetime Emmy Awards
Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series	Shōgun	Won
2024 40th Television Critics Association Awards
Individual Achievement in Drama	Shōgun	Won
2025 14th AACTA International Awards
Best Actress in a Series	Shōgun	Nominated
2025 30th Critics' Choice Awards
Best Actress in a Drama Series	Shōgun	Nominated
Best Supporting Actress in a Drama Series	Pachinko	Nominated
2025 82nd Golden Globe Awards
Best Actress in a Television Series - Drama	Shōgun	Won
2025 40th Independent Spirit Awards
Best Lead Performance in a New Scripted Series	Shōgun	Nominated
2025 29th Satellite Awards
Best Actress - Television Series Drama	Shōgun	Nominated
2025 52nd Saturn Awards
Best Supporting Actress in a Television Series	Monarch: Legacy of Monsters	Nominated
2025 31st Screen Actors Guild Awards
Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series	Shōgun	Won
Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series	Shōgun	Won

Photos