Thrust to the attention of American audiences for the first time with her Oscar-nominated performance as the deaf-mute teenager at the heart of one of the three intertwining stories that make up Babel (2006), Rinko Kikuchi was already well-known in Japan, where she had been performing in films since the beginning of the decade.Born Jan. 6, 1981, in Kanagawa, Japan, Kikuchi began modeling at age 15. Skilled in the traditional arts of Japanese dance and archery, Kikuchi landed her first film role in Kaneto Shindô's Ikitai and followed that with strong performances in films such as 2002's Hole in the Sky and 2004's The Taste of Tea.
Determined to win the part of Chieko in Babel, Kikuchi learned sign language to prepare and eventually won over director Alejandro González Iñárritu, who originally wanted a deaf actress for the part.
Map of the Sounds of TokyoWhen the daughter of prominent Tokyo businessman Mr. Nagara (Takeo Nakahara) commits suicide, Nagara's heartbroken employee Ishida (Hideo Sakaki) hires part-time hit woman Ryu (Rinko Kikuchi) to kill the man (Sergi López) perceived as responsible for the daughter's death. Meanwhile, a curious... Read More
Assault GirlsWhen a video-game company creates an immersive gaming environment where players wage war against gigantic sand-dwelling monsters, three gorgeous gals armed to the teeth (Meisa Kuroki, Hinako Saeki and Rinko Kikuchi) accept the challenge and jump into the virtual desert. But as they blaze their way... Read More
47 Ronin (2012) | NR | |
Norwegian Wood (2010) | NR | |
Shanghai (2010) | R | |
Map of the Sounds of Tokyo (2009) | NR | |
NR | ||
PG-13 | ||
The Brothers Bloom (2008) | PG-13 | |
R | ||
