Anna Sawai, the talented actress known for her role in Shōgun, recently appeared on Jimmy Kimmel Live for an entertaining interview. Born in New Zealand and raised in Japan, Sawai brought a unique perspective to the talk show. As the interview began, Jimmy Kimmel discussed her performance in Shōgun and asked about a scene where she had to choose between shooting the left or right post. Sawai mentioned that it looked very real, but it was actually just a windy situation where she had to sit still without blinking.
Shōgun, a Hulu series, has been receiving rave reviews, and Sawai expressed her enjoyment of being on the show. As they delved deeper into her character and the historical setting, Kimmel mentioned the iconic Shōgun miniseries from 1980, which was a massive hit at the time. However, Sawai confessed that she was advised not to watch the old episodes so as not to be too influenced by them.
In the show, Sawai portrays an interpreter and revealed that she speaks both English and Japanese fluently. To add authenticity to her character, she had to speak period Japanese while maintaining a British accent. She gave an example of how the language differs by elongating words and phrases. It was fascinating to witness her transformation into an interpreter from a different era.
The conversation then shifted to Sawai’s experience wearing a kimono. Kimmel asked if kimonos are comfortable, as he had been thinking about trying one himself. Sawai quickly responded that they are highly uncomfortable and restrictive. She explained how the layers and tight waist belt, called an Obi, contribute to the discomfort. Sawai shared that women in the past didn’t wear underwear and had to shuffle their legs while walking. She even recalled a time when a concerned girl asked if she needed to use the bathroom because of the way she walked in the kimono.
Despite the challenges of wearing a kimono, Sawai mentioned that the hardest part was performing sword fighting scenes while keeping her knees closed. It seemed ironic to fight for her life in such a restrictive garment. However, after discussing the issue, the production team made adjustments to widen the sleeves for better mobility.
As the interview progressed, the conversation turned to Sawai’s multicultural background. She recalled her upbringing in various countries, including New Zealand, Japan, Hong Kong, and the Philippines. She admitted that it was initially confusing, especially when cultural differences came into play. Sawai amusingly shared an incident where a girl in Japan asked her to go to the bathroom together, a common practice among women in some cultures. The cultural shock and surprises continued as she discussed her move to the United States. Sawai expressed her astonishment at the portion sizes of American food, which she found considerably larger compared to what she was used to. She confessed to rarely finishing a meal due to the overwhelming proportions.
To conclude the interview, Jimmy Kimmel congratulated Sawai on the success of Shōgun and her career overall. He reminded the audience to catch new episodes of Shōgun on Hulu, highlighting Sawai’s incredible talent. With her diverse background and captivating performances, Anna Sawai is undoubtedly an actress to watch out for in the entertainment industry.
