Roundtable to Decide Title of Strongest Bad Woman Actress

Who do you think of as a “bad woman actress”?

FRIDAY drama editor T: Today, we have gathered to decide the “strongest bad woman actress.” When you think of a bad woman, who comes to mind?

Kaoru Shimada (entertainment reporter): One of the most noteworthy actresses right now is Momoko Tanabe (25), who is currently appearing in “Laughing Matryoshka” (TBS). She plays the role of a politician’s college girlfriend, portrayed by Sho Sakurai (42), and her every gesture suggests she might be manipulating him from behind the scenes. For example, while staying at her boyfriend’s house, she smokes a cigarette and nonchalantly says, “This mother and son are quite something,” in front of her boyfriend, who aspires to be a politician, and his overprotective mother. The eerie and mysterious aura she exudes is truly “exceptional acting.” Since she only appears in flashback scenes, her vibe is reminiscent of the femme fatales from classic Daiei dramas.

Tamami Hiyama (columnist): Tanabe performed admirably as the “Chikuzen-ni woman” who barges into the protagonist’s home with homemade food to win over the husband in “Rikokatsu” (TBS), but this role has even more impact.

In “Laughing Matryoshka,” there is another “veteran bad woman,” Saki Takaoka (51). Moreover, she doesn’t just play the role of a villain; she captivates men and uses them to her advantage.

Shimada: Takaoka has a “femme fatale” image in her private life, so playing a bad woman suits her well. It seems she has become more accepting of being called a femme fatale; in 2021, she even published an essay collection titled “Am I a Femme Fatale?” and has started to view it positively.

Editor T: Speaking of actresses who skillfully use their image to portray bad women, we can’t forget Minami Tanaka (37). She has now become a charismatic figure of beauty, supported by many women, but in the past, she frequently ranked among the “most disliked female announcers.”

The character’s essence was fully realized in her bold performance in “M: The One I Love” (TV Asahi), where she delivered the memorable line to her romantic rival: “Don’t take away my precious things, okay? If you do, I won’t forgive you.” This marked a new turning point in her acting career.

Shimada: The image is important. When I think of Maju Ozawa (47), I still remember her famous line “Useless pig!” from “Botan to Bara” (Fuji TV), even though it’s been 20 years since it aired! The image of her as a bad woman still lingers in viewers’ minds.

Hiyama: Nanao (35) also has a strong bad woman image. With a perfect style that seems to have jumped out of an anime and a fierce look and aura, she possesses all the elements needed to portray a femme fatale. Her first role as a bad woman was as a scheming fashion magazine editor in “First Class” (Fuji TV), followed by her role as a bizarre, cold, and beautiful murderer in “Siren: Detective x Girlfriend x Complete Bad Woman” (Fuji TV). She established her image as a bad woman, leaving a powerful presence that overshadowed Tori Matsuzaka (35) and heroine Fumino Kimura (36).

Bad women roles are a stepping stone to stardom for popular actresses.

Editor T: There are also actresses who embody their roles as bad women. Recently, I’ve been paying attention to Marika Matsumoto (39). She became famous for her role as Rina, the bad woman in “Holiday Love” (TV Asahi). She engages in outrageous behavior, such as stealing the heroine’s husband and loudly confessing her affair in the company lobby. In this summer’s drama, “Until I Destroy My Husband’s Family” (TV Tokyo), she plays a “sarewife” who has been cheated on for 15 years. Her transformation as she decides to take revenge is remarkable. There are scenes where she laughs and cries while stabbing a fork into her husband’s photo or fantasizing about stabbing him with scissors. The scissors scene was pure horror.

Hiyama: I was overwhelmed by the scene where she cries with snot dripping down her face. She’s an incredibly entertaining actress who goes all out.

Wakana Matsumoto (40) is also an actress who embodies her roles. Currently, she plays a refreshing rom-com heroine in “Mr. Saionji Doesn’t Do Housework” (TBS), but she gained recognition for her role as the bullying sister-in-law to Tao Tsuchiya’s (29) heroine in “Yango tonaki Ichizoku” (Fuji TV).

Shimada: “Don’t get carried away!” she confronts, locking the heroine in the sauna and dramatically singing “Happy Bad Birthday to You♪” on the heroine’s birthday. Her over-the-top performance has been dubbed “Matsumoto Theater,” becoming a topic of discussion every time she appears. That role allowed her potential to explode, marking a turning point in her acting career. In her case, it might be more accurate to say she can embody any character rather than just fitting the bad woman image.

Hiyama: This also applies to W Matsumoto, but roles as bad women often serve as a stepping stone for popular actresses. Riho Yoshioka (31) gained attention for her bad woman role in “Quartet” (TBS), where her performance was marked by a psychopath-like portrayal that was skillfully delivered, even without explosive outbursts. Her famous line in the final episode, “Life was easy,” is still talked about among drama watchers today.

Mio Imada (27) also shone in a bad woman role. In “Hana no Chihare: Hana Otoko Next Season” (TBS), she played a devilish beauty with twin tails, rivaling the heroine and being mean to her. Fans of the original manga praised her for her high level of fidelity to the character. Despite being a villain, there were even voices expressing a desire to support her.

Editor T: Nao (29) played the mysterious resident Ono-chan in her breakout role in “Your Turn” (Nippon TV), and she was quite frightening. She stalked the protagonist, who has a wife, and repeatedly engaged in bizarre behavior, like dropping a TV on fellow residents, showcasing a particularly strong presence in this talked-about series.

Nao previously portrayed a mischievous childhood friend of the heroine in the morning drama “Hanbun, Aoi,” but her performance in “Your Turn” was so drastically different that it’s hard to believe it’s the same person. She excels at anything she takes on, but it’s a shame she hasn’t played many bad women lately.

Hiyama: “Your Turn” also featured another remarkable “bad woman”—Tae Kimura (53). Her portrayal of a character who confines residents and attacks the heroine while wielding a hand mixer exuded pure madness. While she can deliver explosive villainy, she also excels at playing bad women that leverage her image as a “tragic actress.” In “You Have a Home to Return To” (TBS), she skillfully portrayed a seemingly faithful housewife who secretly seduces men. The protagonist, played by Miki Nakatani (48), aptly described her as an “innocent-flirtatious old lady.”

Shimada: I also like another Kimura, Midoriko Kimura (62). Her eyes, devoid of laughter and seemingly always harboring some venom, are captivating. Just her presence makes you instinctively brace yourself. She gained public attention for her role as a tormenting sister-in-law in the morning drama “Gochisōsan,” where she upended the heroine’s (played by Anne, 38) cooking and even tried to make her lick food-soiled floors. Her intense performance drew so much outrage from viewers that complaints flooded NHK.

Candidates for the New Generation of Villainous Actresses

Editor T: Speaking of morning dramas, Rin Kataoka (20), who plays the mysterious student Misae in the currently airing “Tora ni Tsubasa,” is impressive. At first glance, she appears to be an excellent and serious student, but there’s something enigmatic about her. One striking scene is when she tells the heroine, “You are special to me,” while gifting her a red bracelet. The perpetrator of an assault incident also wears a similar red bracelet, and when the heroine confronts her, she suddenly rips off the bracelet and says politely, “I’m sorry. I just remembered something, so I’ll be going home now” before leaving. The fact that a student does this adds to the creepiness.

Shimada: Kataoka is a young actress who has only been in the industry for two years. Despite her beautiful and elegant appearance, she masterfully conveys a psychopathic vibe through subtle expressions and the movement of her eyes. It’s not just about being psychopathic; there’s depth and a hint of sorrow. I look forward to seeing what kind of performance she will deliver in “Tora ni Tsubasa.”

Another actress excelling in “Tora ni Tsubasa” is Nozomi Morita (27), who is also skilled at playing villainous roles. In “Koisuru Haha-tachi” (TBS), her portrayal of a colleague having an affair with the husband of a housewife played by Riisa Naka (34) made a strong impact when she nonchalantly asked, “Is the wife really suitable for the teacher?” Her role as an “adult woman” who seduces and manipulates the protagonist in the film “Diorama Boy, Panorama Girl” was also excellent. She excels at embodying seductive villainous characters but can also take on cute roles like Hanayuki. She is truly a talented actress.

Hiyama: If we’re talking about young “villains,” my top pick would be Sara Shida (25), who is currently starring in “Maruhi no Mitsuko-san” (NTV). She plays a slightly mean young lady, perfectly embodying both her glamorous appearance and her wicked personality. I really felt her talent shine in her first lead role in the drama “Kesenai ‘Watashi’—the Chain of Revenge” (NTV) this past January. The protagonist, who was assaulted by a classmate in high school, has the video spread online, leading to her parents being killed. The hell she goes through pushes her to seek revenge, and her performances capturing despair, coldness, and intense emotion were truly impressive.

There are also other young actresses showcasing bold performances in late-night dramas. For example, Nana Asakawa (25) in “Douka Watashi yori Fukou de Ite Kudasai” (NTV) this season delivers an incredible portrayal of a villain. The story revolves around her stealing her sister’s husband, but she skillfully switches between her cute sister facade and her villainous expressions when plotting her schemes.

Shimada: I think Sora Tamaki (18) has great potential as well. Her passionate performance in the currently airing “Sky Castle” (TV Asahi) is drawing attention. She plays an outstanding middle school student who loses her mother, who raised her alone. While sorting through her belongings, she discovers that her biological father is the father of a classmate. She ends up staying at her biological father’s house, suppressing her emotions and behaving quietly. Yet, she speaks to a photo of her mother, saying, “Mom, I finally got into this house.” I can’t wait to see the revenge drama unfold.

The conclusion! The ultimate villain actress is…

Editor T: Although she’s not exactly a newcomer, I believe Rika Adachi (31) deserves more recognition. She gained attention for playing the bully Mamerin in the morning drama “Amachan,” and this summer, she appeared as a housewife who defames her mom friends on social media in “Shosen Tanin Goto Desu Kara” (TV Tokyo). While she often plays minor villains, she approaches each role with care and has openly welcomed the chance to play villainous characters, making her quite unique.

–Now, having discussed a lot, it’s time to decide on the “ultimate villain actress.”

Shimada: My current favorite is Momoko Tanabe, but if I had to choose one, I’d vote for Tae Kimura. She has a strange charm that stirs the heart, as she imbues her roles with loneliness and sadness even in small parts.

Hiyama: Kimura indeed has a unique presence. However, in terms of potential, ability to embody characters, and versatility in playing different types of villains, I don’t think anyone surpasses Tae Kimura.

Editor T: All the actresses mentioned in this discussion have their own strengths, making it difficult to pick a top choice. Personally, I think Marika Matsumoto’s extreme villain performances are addictive, but I agree with Hiyama—when considering the range of villainous roles, Tae Kimura stands out the most. So, I would like to declare Tae Kimura as the “ultimate villain actress”!

From the September 20, 2024 issue of ‘FRIDAY.’