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).