Hiroyuki Sanada
Birth Name:
Hiroyuki Shimosawa
Birth Place:
Tokyo, Japan
Profession
Actor, Composer, Producer
Fast Facts
- After his role the Shakespearean production of "King Lear," he received an honorary Member of the British Empire
- Attended Nihon University, at which he was a part of the film department
- Starred in his first film "Game of Chance" at age five, later joining the Japan Action Club at age 12
- Quote: "I was a child actor, so when I started filming when I was five years old, it was a long time ago․ It was a black and white film․ And then it changed to color film, and I was surprised and culture shocked when I was six or seven years old․"
- Quote: "Sometimes I'm doing a big movie, or sometimes I'm doing a TV show, but as an actor, it's almost the same thing for me․ If I'm doing action, or comedy, or something more heartfelt, it's a different approach, but it's all acting for me․"
- Became well-known for his appearance in action movies, becoming famous as an action actor in "The Shogun's Samurai․"
- Received the role of Mo Gik in "The Promise," for which he had to learn how to speak Mandarin
- After his appearance in "The Last Samurai," he has appeared in English-language dramas including "Lost" and "Speed Racer․"
- Was the first Japanese actor to appear with in a play with the Royal Shakespeare Co
Awards
- 1982Newcomer of the YearWinner
- 1994Blue Ribbon Award - Best Actor:Winner
- 1994Kinema Junpo Award - Best Actor:Winner
- 1994Festival Prize - Best Actor:Winner
- 1995Hochi Film Award - Best Actor:Winner
- 1995Nikkan Sports Film Award - Best Actor:Winner
- 1996Blue Ribbon Award - Best Actor:Winner
- 1996Kinema Junpo Award - Best Actor:Winner
- 2002Nikkan Sports Film Award - Best Actor:Winner
- 2003Award of the Japanese Academy - Best Actor:Winner
- 2003Kinema Junpo Award - Best Actor:Winner
- 2003Mainichi Film Concours - Best Actor:Winner
- 2024Astra TV Award - Best Actor in a Streaming Drama Series:Winner
- 2024Gold Derby TV Award - Drama Actor:Winner
- 2024Gotham TV Award - Outstanding Performance in a Limited Series:Nominated
- 2024OFTA Television Award - Best Actor in a Drama Series:Winner
- 2024Primetime Emmy - Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series:Winner
- 2024Primetime Emmy - Outstanding Drama Series:Winner
- 2024TCA Award - Individual Achievement in Drama:Nominated
- 2025AACTA International Award - Best Actor in a Series:Nominated
- 2025Movies for Grownups Award - Best Actor - Television:Nominated
- 2025Actor - Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series:Winner
- 2025Actor - Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Drama Series:Winner
- 2025BAFTA TV Award - International:Winner
- 2025Critics Choice Award - Best Actor in a Drama Series:Winner
- 2025CCA Super Award - Best Actor in an Action Series, Limited Series or Made-for-TV Movie:Winner
- 2025Independent Spirit Award - Best Lead Performance in a New Scripted Series:Nominated
- 2025Golden Globe - Best Performance by a Male Actor in a Television Series - Drama:Winner
- 2025Norman Felton Award - Outstanding Producer of Episodic Television, Drama:Winner
- 2025Satellite Award - Best Actor in a Series, Drama or Genre:Winner