Yoshida Yo is an actress who has portrayed many different aspects of women's lives.
Actress Yoshida Yo, who says she "loves acting more than anything," exudes a dignified aura. However, her consideration for those around her and her gentle voice, which allows her to look people in the eye as she speaks, also give off a sense of her deep character.
What kind of woman does she admire? And what are her goals for next year?
-I heard that you were in debt to your agency until you appeared in the drama "HERO" last year. What enabled you to continue working as an actress despite those difficulties?
Most importantly, I just loved acting. And once I began to appear in a number of plays and dramas, I was encouraged by messages from fans saying, "We're looking forward to seeing you." There were times when I thought, "Oh, I didn't do well this time," but fans would reach out to me and say, "We liked this about you," and their words really supported me.
-You've played many female roles in works released this year, including the mother in the movie "Hirugao" and the midwife in the drama "Kounodori." How do you prepare for the roles of women with diverse lives?
One keyword is fashion. I really get into the character when I put on the costume. I believe that 80% of a character's character is completed by the costume and hair and makeup, so I imagine that dressing differently from usual helps the character to come to me. In particular, I'm the type of person who acts by becoming possessed, so rather than calculating things precisely, I get the general idea through the costume and makeup, and then I sharpen my five senses on set to create emotion. I believe acting is a live performance, so I make full use of my sight and hearing, including my co-stars and the set, to expand the role.
So it's not like I prepare for the character before going to set. I feel like I'm able to act thanks to the many things I receive from everyone around me.
-You are an object of admiration for many women, but what kind of woman do you yourself admire?
I love and respect Ishida Yuriko. Yuriko is always calm, expressive, and has her own philosophy, but is also able to consider the other person's position. She is exactly my ideal woman. Every time I meet Yuriko, I feel purified. Whenever we meet, she is sure to say the words I need at that moment. I'm sure she speaks to me while looking into the other person's heart. I want to be that kind of woman too.
-What kind of year do you want 2016 to be?
I was grateful to have had so much work this year, but I didn't have much time to read. Next year, I would like to read books to broaden my horizons and gain a deeper understanding of things. As an actress, I have been scheduled to play a difficult role in the new year, and all the roles I have been given are new challenges for me, so I would like to perform each one well. I am looking forward to this year being one in which I can discover a new side of myself.
