Actress Rinko Kikuchi: biography and the most famous films with her participation

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

Rinko Kikuchi is the girl's acting name. Her real name is Yuriko Kikuchi.

Short biography of Rinko Kikuchi

The future actress was born on January 6, 1981 in the city of Hadano. She has shown interest in cinema since childhood. Greatly impressed by Hollywood films, and especially by the films of John Cassavetes, she decides to connect her life with cinema. As the actress herself admits, she received much more information from the cinema than in the classroom at school. Everything Rinko wanted to know about history, relationships, music, and so on, she learned from the movies.

The Japanese actress began her career in the film industry at the age of 14 with a modeling business. However, she quickly realized that the work of the model did not suit her. She felt that it was time to leave there and do something more important. The girl left the modeling agency, intending to become an actress. Relatives were against this and urged her to become a singer, but Rinko insisted on her own. At the age of 18, she independently finds an agent for herself and soon gets her first role.

Career start

Rinko Kikuchi's film debut was a supporting role in the 1999 film Lust for Life, directed by Kaneto Shindo. The picture participated in film festivals, at some even won prizes. The newly minted actress was noticed and landed her first lead role in 2001's Hole in the Sky, which was also a festival success. After that, she starred in several more Japanese films, such as "The Taste of Tea", "69", "Motive".

Oscar Nomination

But the real fame of the Japanese actress brought her role in the film "Babylon" by Hollywood director Alejandro González Iñárritu ("September 11th", "The Revenant"), where she starred with such world stars as Brad Pitt and Cate Blanchett. Rinko masterfully played the role of a deaf-mute 16-year-old girl. It is noteworthy that the actress herself at that time was 25 years old.

As a result, she was nominated for an Oscar, a Golden Globe, won The Gotham Film Awards for Best Female Breakthrough. In addition, she became the fifth actress in the history of cinema, who was nominated for an Oscar for her role without words. Her performance was noted as very strong emotionally.

Famous movies

After the success of "Babylon", the now famous actress Rinko Kikuchi became interested in other Hollywood directors. For example, Rian Johnson ("Breaking Bad", "Star Wars: The Last Jedi") offered her a role inmovie "The Brothers Bloom". A year later, she starred in the psychological thriller "Tokyo Sound Map" by Spanish director Isabelle Coixet ("Paris I Love You").

Along with roles in English-language films, Rinko Kikuchi also acts a lot in his homeland, Japan. For example, in the film adaptation of the novel by the world-famous writer Haruki Murakami "Norwegian Forest" in 2010.

In this film, along with Rinko, Matsuyama Kenichi (Death Note trilogy) played. Both actors complement each other perfectly.

In 2013, the large-scale film "Pacific Rim" by the notorious director Guillermo del Toro ("Hellboy", "Pan's Labyrinth", "Crimson Peak") is released. The Japanese actress played one of the main roles there. The film itself was notable for large-scale special effects and was a great success. At the moment, work is underway on a sequel, which is scheduled for release in 2018.

The total number of Rinko Kikuchi's films to date has already exceeded 45. Whatever role the young actress gets, be it the image of a deaf-mute loner, a contract killer or an unfortunate girl with suicidal tendencies, she completely reincarnates into her characters. No exception and her image of a witch in the adventure fantasy action movie "47 Ronin". The film was the first feature-length work directed by Carl Rinsch. Its plot is based on the Japanese legend of the samurai.

Personallife of Rinko Kikuchi

Despite being constantly busy acting, Yuriko found time to start a family. She married Japanese actor Seta Sometani, who is 11 years her junior. He also has a very rich acting career. By the age of 25, he managed to participate in 72 Japanese films. The couple had a daughter in 2016.

Interesting facts

The role in "Babylon" was very hard for the actress. Her auditions took place throughout the year. She received one scene a month, and had no idea about the main storyline. But at the same time, she fought desperately for the right to act with a director of this magnitude. According to the actress herself, their cooperation was something like a love relationship, when she caught every look and every word of Alejandro, peering into his reaction, trying not to make a single mistake. In the end, the girl received the coveted role, which brought her the first awards and wide public recognition.

In life, the actress gives the impression of a rather reserved person. Journalists sometimes find it very difficult to catch her smile or other emotions.

Rinko Kikuchi prefers to spend his free time actively, doing horseback riding and martial arts. She also drives a motorcycle.