Kaori Momoi

Kaori Momoi  (桃井 かおり, Momoi Kaori, born April 8, 1952 in Tokyo, Japan) is a Japanese actress. Momoi was born in Tokyo, and at the young age of 12 traveled to London to study dance at the Royal Ballet Academy. After 3 years she returned to Tokyo, later graduating from Japan's Bungakuza School of Dramatic Arts. In 1971, Momoi debuted in director Kon Ichikawa's Ai Futatabi (To Love Again) beginning a career that has already spanned 35 years and over 60 films. As an actress, she has worked with some of the most notable films directors in Japan, including Akira Kurosawa (Kagemusha, 1980), Tatsumi Kumashiro (Seishun no Satetsu, 1974), Yoji Yamada (The Yellow Handkerchief, 1977 and Otoko wa Tsuraiyo, 1979), Shohei Imamura (Why Not?, 1981), Shunji Iwai (Swallowtail Butterfly, 1996), Jun Ichikawa (Tokyo Yakyoku, 1997), Mitani Koki (Welcome Back, Mr. McDonald, 1997), Yoshimitsu Morita (Like Asura, 2003) and, most recently, Takashi Miike (IZO, Sukiyaki Western Django). She has also performed in The Sun (2005) directed by Alexander Sokurov and appeared in director Rob Marshall's film Memoirs of a Geisha. For her film performances in Japan, Momoi has won many awards. She has won the Japanese Academy Awards for Best Actress twice and Best Supporting Actress once and was selected Best Actress at the 1983 New York International Film Festival for her role in Giwaku (Suspicion). Popular among Japanese of all ages and a recognized trend setter, Momoi is never idle, pursuing various projects in producing, directing, screenwriting, and design in addition to her acting. She has also released some 15 record albums as a singer and is a much sought after essayist. She won the award for best actress at the 7th Hochi Film Award for Giwaku. Her latest movie is Maris Martinson's movie "Amaya", which was released on September 17, 2010. Description above from the Wikipedia article Kaori Momoi, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia

Kaori Momoi ist eine japanische Schauspielerin. Momoi reiste im Alter von nur 12 Jahren nach London, um an der Royal Ballet Academy Tanz zu studieren. Nach drei Jahren kehrte sie nach Tokio zurück und schloss später ihr Studium an der Bungakuza School of Dramatic Arts in Japan ab. 1971 gab Momoi ihr Filmdebüt in Kon Ichikawas Film „Ai Futatabi“ (Wieder lieben). Als Schauspielerin hat sie mit einigen der bedeutendsten Filmregisseure Japans zusammengearbeitet, darunter Akira Kurosawa (Kagemusha, 1980), Tatsumi Kumashiro (Seishun no Satetsu, 1974), Yoji Yamada (Das gelbe Taschentuch, 1977 und Otoko wa Tsuraiyo, 1979), Shohei Imamura (Why Not?, 1981) und Shunji Iwai (Swallowtail Butterfly, 1996), Jun Ichikawa (Tokyo Yakyoku, 1997), Mitani Koki (Welcome Back, Mr. McDonald, 1997), Yoshimitsu Morita (Like Asura, 2003) und Takashi Miike (IZO, Sukiyaki Western Django).

12歳から3年間英国ロイヤル・バレエ・アカデミーに留学し、日本の高校を卒業後、文学座付属演劇研究所に所属。1971年に「あらかじめ失われた恋人たちよ」で映画デビューする。以降、山田洋次監督の「幸福の黄色いハンカチ」（77）などで活躍し、主演作「もう頬づえはつかない」（79）で高い評価を得る。その後も黒澤明監督の「影武者」（80）や、今村昌平監督の「ええじゃないか」（81）などに出演。スティーブン・スピルバーグ製作、ロブ・マーシャル監督の「SAYURI」（05）でハリウッドデビューを果たして以降、アレクサンドル・ソクーロフ監督の「太陽」（05）など海外作品に出演するようになる。07年、自身の短編小説を映画化した「無花果の顔」で長編監督デビューし、16年には長編監督2作目「火 Hee」を発表した。歌手、プロデューサー、デザイナー、エッセイストなど多くの顔をもち、化粧品ブランド「SK-II」の広告塔としてもおなじみ。08年、紫綬褒章を役者として最年少で受章。

桃井薰（日語：桃井 かおり／ももい かおり Momoi Kaori，1951年4月8日—），東京都世田谷區出身，日本女演員、表演藝術家。曾獲得日本各大電影獎項，被譽為日本國寶級女演員之一。 桃井因參演好萊塢電影《藝伎回憶錄》，於2006年正式加入美國演員工會。2008年，獲日本政府頒發紫綬褒章，以表揚其長年在藝術領域之貢獻。