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Fresh from her stunning performance in FX’s historical epicShōgunas Toda Mariko, which catapulted her into the race, Anna Sawai sat down with Tom Hiddleston for Variety’s Actor on Actors segment. Experiencing the awards season rush and excitement for the first time, Sawai spoke about her onscreen character and her 2024 series.
Further, sharing her thoughts on portraying a character that resonates deeply with her heritage, Anna Sawai broke down in tears during the interview. Addressing the role that might take her career to new heights, Sawai further recalled the response she garnered from Japanese and Asian women in general.
Anna Sawai Got Emotional Talking About Her Journey withShōgun
In the realm of historical dramas, only a few performances have captivated audiences as profoundly as Anna Sawai’s portrayal of Toda Mariko in the epic series,Shōgun. Stepping into the shoes of a complex character, the actress significantly delivered a deep understanding of Japanese history and culture.
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Thereafter, her phenomenal performance in the 2024 series not only stole hearts but even catapulted Anna Sawai into the entertainment industry. Despite being an outsider in Hollywood, Sawai now rubs shoulders with A-listers and even appeared for an interview with MCU’sTom HiddlestonforVariety’sActor On Actorssegment.
Anna Sawai gets emotional when sharing about the response to#Shogun: “Multiple young girls came up to me being like, ‘This is the first time I’m seeing a real Japanese character that I can really relate to.'"#ActorsOnActorshttps://t.co/Y38z2OfkKdpic.twitter.com/BoWhBtDrUj
— Variety (@Variety)June 13, 2025
Discussing her role inShōgunand her work experience, Anna Sawai was asked about the responses she received from fans and the Asian community at large. Getting emotional about the positive reviews and the heartfelt responses she received from Japanese women, Sawai shared her thoughts on representing Japanese culture accurately.
I’m trying not to get emotional. We were on the press tour in Washington, D.C., and we showed our first two episodes to a Japanese community. After the screening, multiple young girls came up to me being like, “This is the first time I’m seeing a real Japanese character that I can really relate to.”
They were getting emotional as well, because it was something that they had internalized — not being able to speak, having to behave — and they thought that’s the way that they should be.
Breaking down as she discussed how the mainstream media had defined Japanese people throughout history, Anna Sawai admitted garnering heartfelt responses from Japanese women, for finally breaking the stereotypes and redefining perceptions.
Anna Sawai Reflects onShōgun’sRedefinition of Japanese Women
For Anna Sawai, the opportunity todelve into herShōguncharacter‘s journey goes beyond mere acting; for it came as a chance to reclaim narratives and redefine the representation of Japanese women in mainstream media. Further, considering the positive reception of the show, and Sawai’s role,Shōgunmight pave the way for more diverse portrayals of different cultures in entertainment, ushering in a new era of inclusivity and respect.
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After sharing her emotional response to the positive reception of her character and the show, Anna Sawai went on to differentiatecharacter depictions of Japanesewomen in Asia and in Western projects. Explaining how people from different cultures have been conditioned by Western media to feel sidelined, Sawai stated whatShōgundid differently, that led Japanese women to shower her with praise.
In Japan, we see characters like that; but in Western media, it was my first time reading a script that felt like she was not sidelined. We were seeing that vulnerability but also the strength within her.
We see her find her voice. I feel like if I had seen characters like Mariko on-screen growing up, that would’ve formed me in a different way. I wouldn’t have internalized all those expectations.
Breaking barriers and stereotypes with her show, Anna Sawai undoubtedlydelivered a heartfelt portrayalof her character. After sharing her thoughts onShōgunand her character, Sawai steered the conversation towards Tom Hiddleston’s Loki and drew a connection between Toda Mariko and the God of Mischief.
Shōgunis available on FX.
Krittika Mukherjee
Senior Writer
Articles Published :3217
Krittika Mukherjee is a Senior Entertainment Writer at FandomWire, majorly focusing on films, TV shows, and celebrity news with over 3,000 articles published. With an educational background in Journalism, and a keen interest in filmmaking, Krittika blends factual precision with creative flair, when crafting her editorials, or dissecting fan theories.Her coverage often includes news and analyses of critically acclaimed films, celebrity news, and franchises like the Wizarding World, LOTR, DC, and MCU—particularly Harry Potter, Fantastic Beasts, Superheroes, and fan theories. As a Wizarding World aficionado, Krittika has spent countless hours exploring hidden backstories, unadapted book moments, spells, and trivias surrounding J.K. Rowling’s lore.An imaginative writer with a way with words, Krittika has worked as an entertainment journalist for the past two years and a web content writer for a year. She brought her experience and expertise to FandomWire to pursue her desire for sipping coffee while dissecting films and tracking celebrity drama.
