Anna Sawai

Anna Sawai (born June 11, 1992, in Wellington, New Zealand) is a Japanese screen artist whose career bridges pop stardom and prestige television. After relocating to Japan with her family at age 10, she entered entertainment early, earning a breakthrough as the lead in a Japanese production of Annie while still a child.

She soon expanded into film, appearing in the action world with Ninja Assassin as Teenage Kiriko, and later taking on international projects including F9 as Elle. Alongside acting, Sawai became widely known in Japan as a lead vocalist of the girl group FAKY (2013–2018), building a strong cross-media profile.

Returning decisively to acting, she drew global attention through acclaimed series work, including Giri/Haji and Apple TV+’s Pachinko. Her momentum continued with Monarch: Legacy of Monsters and the historical drama Shōgun, the latter earning her major awards recognition and landmark wins for a Japanese actress. In 2024, Time also named her to its 100 Next list.