Rina Sawayama tried out for The Matrix a few years ago alongside Keanu Reeves. The neon-lit action-thriller John Wick: Chapter 4 ended up giving the pop star actress the role she was hoping for, despite not getting it (out now). She portrays Akira, an assassin with a bow who works as a hotel concierge on the side. It was undoubtedly meant to be, Sawayama laughed. “I’m honored that it’s my first film; it’s really crazy,”
At the beginning of the sequel, Akira and her father Shimazu Koji (Hiroyuki Sanada) team up with John Wick to help stop assassins from killing him. For her breathtaking scenes, which were entirely nighttime shot over five weeks, Sawayama learned archery, knife fights, and hand-to-hand combat.
At two in the morning, Sawayama said, “It’s a mental challenge to get your body to do stunts without getting tired.” Learning the choreography is not difficult for me; the challenge is in making it appear powerful. It’s difficult to persuade the audience that you are up against the hottie and that you have any chance at all.
Keanu Reeves and Rina Sawayama at the John Wick: Chapter 4 Los Angeles premiere.
The music videos for XS and Bad Friend caught the attention of John Wick directors Chad Stahelski and Reeves, who unexpectedly called Zee. Shan claimed that she might have a role in the movie. Sawayama claimed that Reeves “knew it was my first movie and cared a lot about me.” I resisted the first week, but he made sure I had everything I needed to recover.
Japan’s Niigata is where Sawayama was born, but at age 5, she moved to London. In order to help her learn English and get over her shyness, her mother enrolled her in weekend drama classes. According to Sawayama, “It really helped me get out of trouble.”
Rina Sawayama tried out for The Matrix a few years ago alongside Keanu Reeves.
The neon-lit action-thriller John Wick: Chapter 4 ended up giving the pop star actress the role she was hoping for, despite not getting it (out now). She portrays Akira, an assassin with a bow who works as a hotel concierge on the side.
It was undoubtedly meant to be, Sawayama laughed. “I’m honored that it’s my first film; it’s really crazy,”
At the beginning of the sequel, Akira and her father Shimazu Koji (Hiroyuki Sanada) team up with John Wick to help stop assassins from killing him. For her breathtaking scenes, which were entirely nighttime shot over five weeks, Sawayama learned archery, knife fights, and hand-to-hand combat.
At two in the morning, Sawayama said, “It’s a mental challenge to get your body to do stunts without getting tired.” Learning the choreography is not difficult for me; the challenge is in making it appear powerful. It’s difficult to persuade the audience that you are up against the hottie and that you have any chance at all.
Keanu Reeves and Rina Sawayama at the John Wick: Chapter 4 Los Angeles premiere.
The music videos for XS and Bad Friend caught the attention of John Wick directors Chad Stahelski and Reeves, who unexpectedly called Zee. Shan claimed that she might have a role in the movie. Sawayama claimed that Reeves “knew it was my first movie and cared a lot about me.” I resisted the first week, but he made sure I had everything I needed to recover.
Japan’s Niigata is where Sawayama was born, but at age 5, she moved to London. In order to help her learn English and get over her shyness, her mother enrolled her in weekend drama classes. According to Sawayama, “That definitely helped me get out of problems.”
She adored Studio Ghibli cartoons as a child and was “crazy” with Sex and the City and The Sopranos on HBO. The A24 movies “The Goodbye,” “Minari,” and “Everything at the Same Time,” which won seven Oscars this month, including Best Picture, have recently won her over.
She adored Studio Ghibli cartoons as a child and was “crazy” with Sex and the City and The Sopranos on HBO. The A24 movies “The Goodbye,” “Minari,” and “Everything at the Same Time,” which won seven Oscars this month, including Best Picture, have recently won her over.