Shida Sara Takes on Dual Drama Roles: Determined to Cement Breakthrough Status with Hard Work

Actress Ayara Shida (24), who was named in the “Next Breakthrough Actress” roundtable discussion, cited the Sunday drama “Dragon Zakura” (TBS) in 2021 as the turning point in her career as an entertainer. Her role as an honor student who is subjected to domestic violence by her father, but cries and defends her father, shook the hearts of the audience.

“Since appearing in ‘Dragon Zakura,’ I’ve been approached more often on the streets. It’s the first time I’ve received such a response in my immediate surroundings, with people on set saying, ‘I watched it!'”

Shida’s career is surprisingly long. She was scouted and entered the entertainment industry in the sixth grade. From 2013 to 2015, she actively worked as a model for the fashion magazine “Pichi Lemon” (Gakken Plus). However, she had been interested in acting jobs since joining the agency. She made her acting debut in 2014, winning the lead role in the short film “Salvia” through an audition.

“It was my first audition ever. From self-introduction to creating the atmosphere, I practiced a lot with my manager. After I got the role, the director said, ‘I thought she was the one as soon as she walked in,’ which made me really happy. The director knew it was my first time acting in this project and kindly taught me. In the scene where I reach out to my brother who died next to me in a train accident, he gave me detailed instructions like, ‘Since you’re also injured in the accident, reach out a little slower.’ I don’t have any memories of it being difficult; it was an exciting time where I thought, ‘Acting is so much fun.'”

While pursuing her acting career, she also attended local high school in Kanagawa, balancing her studies with her profession.

“I attended a regular high school unrelated to showbiz. It was a rural high school, so I rode bikes with friends on countryside roads, took watermelons we bought at the supermarket to the beach… No one treated me like a celebrity (laughs). Thanks to that, I was able to enjoy my youth.”

After finishing high school, Shida faced a pivotal moment.

“Should I go to college or focus solely on acting? There was no hesitation there. It was the first moment I clearly decided to make acting my lifelong career.”

However, shortly after Shida decided to devote herself to acting, the entertainment industry suffered a major blow due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Due to the state of emergency, filming for the movie ‘Kasokeki Sankayou,’ in which I had a leading role, was postponed just before shooting began. But I didn’t let it get me down. I thought it was lucky because I wanted a little more time to think about the role. I played a high school girl who suddenly gets a stepsister due to her father’s remarriage.

Around that time, I started living with a relative’s baby. I did household chores and took care of the baby, which gave me a pseudo-experience of the role. Thanks to that, I was praised for being ‘efficient’ in the cooking scenes (laughs).”

Hard work pays off. Without being discouraged by the pandemic, Shida continued to build her career positively, and her recognition steadily grew. After “Dragon Zakura,” she simultaneously starred in two dramas during the January TV season: “Kesenai Watashi – Fukushu no Rensa -” (NTV) and “Konna Tokoro de Uragirimeshi” (NTV/Chukyo TV).

“(In ‘Kesenai Watashi – Fukushu no Rensa -‘), I played a character who seeks revenge after her life is ruined. It was a quite challenging role, but it was a good experience, including the time spent agonizing over it. I’m both happy and frustrated, but since I’ve been called the ‘Next Break’ for many years now, I want to work hard to finally be recognized as having truly broken through, especially after starring in my first dramas.”

Her goal she spoke of in her teens was to become the heroine of a morning drama. With her unwavering determination, she is surely advancing straight toward it.

From the April 19, 2024 issue of FRIDAY