New Zealand-born actress Anna Sawai has made history by winning an Emmy Award for her lead role in the historical drama Shōgun.
The 32-year-old became the first Japanese actress to win in her category, alongside her co-star Hiroyuki Sanada, who won Best Leading Actor in a Drama.
Sawai triumphed over well-known actresses including Carrie Coon, Imelda Staunton, Jennifer Aniston, Maya Erskine, and Reese Witherspoon. She was emotional on stage, dedicating her win to her mother and acknowledging her fellow nominees and the show’s crew.
Shōgun, an adaptation of James Clavell’s bestselling novel, is set in the year 1600 and tells the story of a British sailor who ends up in a Japanese fishing village. Sawai played Toda Mariko, a complex character who serves as a translator for Lord Yoshii Toranaga, played by Sanada.
The series, produced by Disney-owned FX, was one of the most expensive ever made and received the highest number of nominations this year, with 25. It won 14 Emmys at the Creative Arts Awards and also took home the award for Best Drama Series.
Sawai, who found the role of Mariko mentally and physically challenging, described it as a deeply personal experience. Despite being a first-time nominee, she didn’t expect to make the list but was thrilled when she did.
