Let’s decide who is the “No.1” veteran actress in Reiwa! Three experts thoroughly discussed the issue.
This year, too, the heroines of TV dramas are all young actresses, but that's not enough! While young actresses in their 20s and 30s are performing spectacularly, which of the leading actresses in their 40s and 50s, who have built up their careers and are supported by young people, is highly regarded both in name and reality? Drama watchers familiar with the industry discussed them all!
Special Column by Takashi Saito, Professor at Meiji University
Legendary actresses in their 60s and older are these people!
There are many “legendary actresses” in Japan whose careers and experience are even more extensive than those of veteran actresses. Who exactly does Takashi Saito, 64, a professor at Meiji University who says that watching TV dramas is his hobby, consider to be the greatest actresses of all time?
The legend in my opinion is Mari Natsuki (72), a one-of-a-kind expressive actress. She has become one of my role models because of her overwhelming presence and lifestyle. She played difficult roles such as Yubaba in the stage play “Spirited Away,” which was also performed in London last year, and Obaba in the movie “Ping Pong,” released in 2002, and performed them with great skill.
He also praises the actress who launched her own theater company.
She plays a wide range of roles, from comical to serious, and she has the ability to make any role her own. She also directs and has the leadership skills to lead her troupe members. She is also a leader who directs and leads the members of the theater company. In addition, she has energetically appeared in many films and sometimes takes on the role of a tease in variety shows because of her friendly character. I have the impression that she is a multi-talented actress, not only as an actress but also as a playwright and director.
The last name mentioned is a person who has achieved worldwide fame.
Yuko Tanaka (69) is the most deserving of the name “Great Actress of Our Time. She starred in the 1983 drama “Oshin” (NHK), which was a huge hit and was broadcast in more than 60 countries around the world. She is one of those rare actresses who can make you imagine the backbone of a role with just a short line or a slight eye movement. She is one of those rare actresses who can make you imagine the backbone of a role with just a short line or a slight movement of the eyes. Her presence in the film tightens it up and adds depth to the overall content. I think it is fair to say that her acting ability has definitely raised the level of Japanese entertainment.
From the March 14/21, 2025 issue of “FRIDAY
PHOTO： Afro Kazuhiko Nakamura (Yuki Saito) Yoshito Murata (Yuriko Ishida)
