Rinko Kikuchi is an acting pseudonym for a girl. 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 showed an interest in cinema since childhood. Impressed by Hollywood films, and especially by John Cassavetes’s films , 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. Everything that Rinko wanted to know about history, relationships, music, and so on, she learned from films.
The Japanese actress began her journey into the film industry at the age of 14 with the modeling business. However, she quickly realized that the model’s work did not suit her. She felt that it was time to leave and do something more important. The girl left the modeling agency, intending to become an actress. Her relatives were against it and urged her to become a singer, but Rinko insisted. At 18, she independently finds an agent for herself and soon gets the first role.
Carier start
The film's debut in the movie Rinko Kikuchi was the supporting role in the 1999 film "Lust for Life", directed by Kaneto Shindo. The picture participated in film festivals, some even won prizes. The newly made actress was noticed, and she received her first major role in the film "A Hole in the Sky" in 2001, which was also a success at festivals. After that, she starred in several other Japanese films, such as "Taste of Tea", "69", "Motive".
Oscar nomination
But the Japanese actress became really famous for her role in the film “Babylon” by the Hollywood director Alejandro González Iñárritu (“September 11”, “Survivor”), where she starred with such world stars as Brad Pitt and Cate Blanchett. Rinko masterfully performed 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 Academy Award, Golden Globe, and won The Gotham Film Awards for the best female breakthrough. In addition, she became the fifth actress in the history of cinema, which was nominated for an Oscar for a role without words. Her play was marked as very strong emotionally.
Famous movies
After the success of “Babylon”, now famous actress Rinko Kikuchi became interested in other Hollywood directors. For example, Ryan Johnson (Breaking Bad, Star Wars: The Last Jedi) offered her a role in the movie The Bloom Brothers. A year later, she starred in the psychological thriller "Map of Tokyo Sounds" by Spanish director Isabelle Coishet ("Paris, I Love You").
Along with roles in English-language films, Rinko Kikuchi also starred a lot in his homeland, in Japan. For example, in the film adaptation of the 2010 novel Norwegian Forest by the world famous writer Haruki Murakami .
In this film, together with Rinko, he played Matsuyama Kenichi (death note trilogy). Both actors complemented each other perfectly.
In 2013, a large-scale film "Pacific Frontier" by the notorious director Guillermo del Toro (Hellboy, Labyrinth of the Fauna, and Crimson Peak) was released. The Japanese actress played one of the main roles there. The film itself was distinguished by large-scale special effects and was a great success. At the moment, work is ongoing on a continuation, the release of which is scheduled for 2018.
The total number of films by Rinko Kikuchi today has already exceeded 45. Whatever role the young actress gets, be it the image of a deaf-mute single-handed killer or an unhappy girl with suicidal tendencies, she completely and completely transforms into her characters. No exception and her image of a witch in the adventure fantasy action movie "47 Ronin." The film was the first full-length film directed by Carl Rinsch. Its plot is based on the Japanese legend of samurai.
Rinko Kikuchi's personal life
Despite the constant workload of acting, Yuriko took the time to start a family. She married Japanese actor Setu Sometani, who is 11 years younger than her. He also has a very intense acting career. By his 25 years, he managed to participate in 72 Japanese films. In 2016, the couple had a daughter.
Interesting Facts
The role in “Babylon” was very difficult for the actress. Her auditions took place throughout the whole year. She received one scene a month, and had no idea about the main storyline. But at the same time, he fought desperately for the right to act with a director of this magnitude. According to the actress herself, their cooperation was a bit of a love relationship when she caught every glance 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 first awards and widespread recognition of the public.
In life, the actress gives the impression of a rather reserved person. It is sometimes very difficult for journalists to catch her smile or other emotions.
Rinko Kikuchi prefers to spend his free time actively, doing horseback riding, martial arts. She also drives a motorcycle.