Sanada Hiroyuki (Hiroyuki Sanada): biography, filmography and personal life of the actor (photo)

2024 Author: Leah Sherlock | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 05:25

Even if you've never been interested in Japanese cinema, you should still be familiar with this actor's face. Sanada Hiroyuki became popular after starring in famous Hollywood blockbusters. Now his fans are happy to discover the actor's early films made in Japan, and are also looking forward to new work in the cinema. The musical creativity of the actor was also a surprise. It turns out that in Japan he is known as a singer and composer. This is another nice facet of Hiroyuki Sanada's talent.

Biography

Sanada was born in 1960 in Shinagawa, Tokyo. His real name is Shimosawa. There is no information about his parents. It is only known that the actor lost his father at the age of 11.

The boy made his film debut very early. At the age of five, under the name Shimozawa, he appeared in the film "Yagyu Family Intrigues". In the same tape, the main role was played by the well-known Japanese actor Sony Chiba. It is he who will then provide support and assistance to the beginning career of Hiroyuki.

Just at Sonya Chiba's acting studio, 12-year-old Sanada will learn the finer points of acting. And in a year he will become a member of the Japanese actinga club that was supervised by the same Sony Chiba, and Sho Kosugi, popular in Asia.

At the Sanada club, Hiroyuki continued his studies. Here he mastered traditional Japanese dance, riding skills, martial arts, swordsmanship. In addition to traditional disciplines, the future actor practiced jazz music. In addition to his studies at the studio and club, Hiroyuki graduated from Nihon University, Film Department.

Such a comprehensive development allowed him to continue to express himself in a variety of cinematic genres. Sanada plays equally well in action films and in serious films. He is also quite a popular singer and composer in Japan. His CDs are not stale after the release, they are immediately sold out by fans of his work.

Besides cinematography, Hiroyuki Sanada plays on the theater stage. He was even invited to participate in the production of the Royal Shakespeare Theater "King Lear". For the role of the Jester, he was awarded the Order of the British Empire.

As for the actor's personal life, there is not much information about it. It is known that Hiroyuki was married, but then he divorced actress Satomi Tezuka. From this marriage he has two children. There are no more details about the alleged life partners in the press. And Sanada himself does not seek to expand on this topic.

Career start

1978 is the release date of the historical adventure film The Yagui Conspiracy starring Hiroyuki Sanada. From that moment on, the actor's filmography began to be actively replenished with projects directed by Makoto Wada. And althoughThese films are little known to the Western audience, fans of classical Asian cinema appreciate them very much. Yes, and critics are pleased to note the joint work of Sanada and Makoto Wada.

But on the world stage, Sanada began to pave the way in the 80s. Then he began to play in Hong Kong films. "Ninja in the Dragon's Lair", "Royal Wars" - these tapes were also released worldwide.

But the real recognition came to the actor after the release of the trilogy "Twilight Samurai" and two thrillers "Ring" and "Ring-2". It was then that he was noticed in America.

First steps in Hollywood

The film "The Last Samurai" became a high-profile western project of the actor. Films with Hiroyuki Sanada were replenished with a joint project with Hollywood stars Tom Cruise and Ken Watanabe. Director Edward Zwick made a bet on the representative of the classical Asian acting school, and he did not lose. The tape was duly noted by critics and fans. And viewers from many countries learned about the talented Japanese.

Fun fact: On the set of Samurai, Hiroyuki taught Tom Cruise the art of swordsmanship. He also acted as a consultant.

After that, Sanada starred with many famous Western actors. He worked with Anthony Hopkins on the set of Final Destination City. In The White Countess, he played with Ralph Fiennes. The actor also appeared in the third part of Rush Hour. It should be noted that Sanada has been friends with Jackie Chan for a long time.

Wolverine

In 2013, Sanada Hiroyuki lit up morein one loud blockbuster. James Mangold took on the development of the plot about Wolverine. This hero, who became incredibly popular after the release of the first X-Men film, received the right to his own franchise.

Wolverine: Immortal covers Logan's Tokyo period. And the role of crime boss Shingen went to Hiroyuki.

47 Ronin

Sanada's next significant project is the fantasy film 47 Ronin. This is a remake of a famous classic Japanese film based on a true story from the 18th century. In Japan of that period, there was a case when forty-seven samurai, in order to avenge the death of their master, joined the army. Then these events acquired fantastic details and became a myth.

In the film, Hiroyuki plays the head of the Asano clan. Oshishi is very revered in Japan, and the director wanted to see a Japanese actor in his role.

In the film, historical events are heavily stylized and seasoned with fantastic characters in the genre of large-scale Asian epics. The film has a lot of battle scenes, amazing special effects and amazing talented acting.

Sanada Hiroyuki, like his friend Jackie Chan, always does his own stunts. So fans can admire the actor's fitness at the same time.

2014 Projects

In 2014, the film "Retribution" is released. The film is based on an autobiographical book by Eric Lomax. He was in a Japanese prisoner of war camp building a railroad during the Secondworld war. Eric Lomax himself is played by Colin Firth. Hiroyuki embodies the film's second protagonist, the Japanese soldier Nagase. Also, the actor is involved in the series "Spiral". The action-packed project is built around a certain virus that threatens to destroy all of humanity. In the meantime, doctors who arrived at the Arctic station, where the outbreak occurred, are fighting the most dangerous epidemic.

And finally, some more interesting facts about the actor. So, Hiroyuki Sanada's height is about 170 centimeters. He received a Japanese Academy Film Award for his services. Hiroyuki is also considered a unique actor who can do almost anything!