Emmy-winning actor Sawai among Time's 100 next-generation leaders

Sawaii is one of the few New Zealanders to win an Emmy.

She was born in NZ to Japanese parents and spent her first 10 years there. That’s cool and all, but I’m not sure even she considers herself a New Zealander.

Sawaii is one of the few New Zealanders to win an Emmy.

Congratulations to her and to New Zealand!

assuming Time's judgement of her here actually matters,

It doesn’t.

A talented Kiwi born Japanese actress. The English she learned as a native of New Zealand got her this English/Japanese role and it was played to perfection. Showing not only talent but range, she can comfortably and convincingly speak both Japanese and English making her future in film a rosy one whether in Japan, Hollywood or elsewhere.

kohakuebisuToday  10:19 am JST

For Anna Sawai to be a leader in Japan, assuming Time's judgement of her here actually matters, I think she needs to appear in something more people in Japan will see, something at the movies or on Netflix or Amazon Prime.

Agree. Rinko Kikuchi has been in Hollywood movies as well as Japanese movies and TV. To a lesser degree Shioli Kutsuna has done the same.

She's definitely smart, graceful, and very beautiful. Good for her, I hope to see more of her.

Good luck to her. Fifteen years ago, another big budget historical English language film about Japan was made, Memoirs of a Geisha, but the big roles went to Michelle Yeoh and Gon Li, not Japanese actresses. Kudou Yuki, who's cool and had worked with Jarmusch etc, got a role but not such a big one. Koyuki was in Last Samurai, but not in an English speaking role that would lead to other roles in international productions. Its good that Sawai was in this as a Japanese and I hope it can propel her to more success.

I've seen Shogun but only thanks to a naughty download. Hardly anyone in Japan has Disney Plus. I'm sure Japanese people will be very proud of her winning the award, but very few will have seen the show. For Anna Sawai to be a leader in Japan, assuming Time's judgement of her here actually matters, I think she needs to appear in something more people in Japan will see, something at the movies or on Netflix or Amazon Prime.

Just a little while ago she was always billed as 沢井安奈. Now it's always アンナ サワイ.

Agree she has talent and has come a long way from Fakey. Good luck to her and hope to see her in more productions.

Shogun was very enjoyable.

I must be the only person who knows her from Giri/Haji.

She seems like a very nice young lady.

Hiroyuki Sanada, producer of the drama who also won best lead actor at the awards, said in a tribute in the magazine that Sawai "could play any role on this earth, or in space. Period pieces or far-future films -- she is so talented that she can do anything."

She’s already done lesbian school teacher, vengeful daughter, and ambitious business woman in Monarch, Shogun, and Pachinko respectively, so I think she’s definitely got some talent.

Definitely she has a great future ahead of her.