Anna Sawai, known for her role in Shōgun, is celebrating her debut nomination for a Primetime Emmy Award. On September 15, the 32-year-old Japanese actress, visibly emotional, spoke with E! Live From the Red Carpet host Laverne Cox.
Sawai described the nomination as deeply moving and a testament to how the FX drama has impacted her career. “It’s just very emotional,” she shared, reflecting on her recognition in the leading dramatic actress category for her role as Lady Mariko. “It’s very huge. I am just so happy for the entire team.”
Anna Sawai praises the hard work of the Shōgun team after her Emmy nomination for Lead Actress in a Drama
The FX drama, an adaptation of James Clavell’s novel, has already been renewed for two more seasons and has clinched 14 Emmys at the Creative Arts Emmys, the highest number for any show in a single season.
Sawai praised the collaborative effort behind the show, noting, “Everyone just worked so hard because they wanted the best for the show. There were no egos, and so I am just happy that everyone’s receiving it and everyone’s touched by our story.”
Before gaining fame as Elle in Fast & Furious F9 and Naomi in the Apple TV+ adaptation of Pachinko, Sawai was a prominent figure in the Japanese music scene as the leader of the J-Pop group Faky, known for their single “Better Without You.”
On the Emmys red carpet, Sawai hinted at her shift from music to acting, saying, “I feel like I’m not going to do music,” though she expressed interest in potentially working on a music-themed film. “I think there’s a lot to talk about in that industry.”
Faky’s debut album, The One, came out in 2014. Sawai departed the group in 2018 to focus on acting, and after new members took over, the group disbanded following their final performance on January 13, 2024.
In an April interview on PEOPLE in 10, Sawai confessed that leaving Lady Mariko behind was challenging. “I couldn’t talk about certain scenes or the character without tearing up,” she admitted.
