Mao Inoue (井上 真央; born 9 January 1987) is a Japanese actress known for her roles as Akane Imai in the Kids War series, Tsukushi Makino in the Boys Over Flowers series, and as Sugi Fumi (ja) in the 54th taiga drama Burning Flower. She has also appeared in several films, including I Give My First Love to You, Rebirth, and The Snow White Murder Case.
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Early life and education
Inoue was born on 9 January 1987 in Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture. At the age of four, her mother encouraged her to participate in acting, art, and music. Although acting was not her initial priority, she decided to continue upon receiving her first fan letter.
In 2004, Inoue decided to suspend her acting career to prepare for her university entrance exams. At age 18, she enrolled in Meiji University, majoring in theatre and literature, with Chinese as her elective. She graduated in March 2009.
Career
Dramas and films
Inoue began her acting career at the age of five, appearing in the television series Kids War from 1999 to 2003. In 2005, she was awarded the Best Actress Award from the Television Drama Academy for her portrayal of Tsukushi Makino in Boys Over Flowers.
Inoue made her film debut in 2006 with Check It Out, Yo!
Inoue took on further television roles, such as the television drama First Kiss, co-starring Yūta Hiraoka. She played a maiko-turned-geisha in the drama special Hanaikusa. She starred in Anmitsu Hime (2008) and Anmitsu Hime 2 (2009), where she portrayed a princess and also contributed to the 2009 theme song alongside Shoko Nakagawa.
Following Boys Over Flowers and its 2007 sequel, Inoue starred in the film adaptation, Boys Over Flowers: Final (2008). The film was the highest-grossing live action film released in Japan that year.
After university, Inoue returned to acting in Boku no Hatsukoi wo Kimi ni Sasagu (2009), in which she shared the lead with Masaki Okada. In April of the following year, My Darling is a Foreigner was released in theaters with Inoue starring alongside Jonathan Sherr.
She reunited with Boys Over Flowers co-star Shun Oguri for the drama Jūi Dolittle (獣医ドリトル, Veterinarian Dolittle), which began airing in October 2010. She also starred in the 84th Asadora drama Ohisama (おひさま, The Sun), portraying a young woman who lived through World War II in Nagano prefecture. She won "Best Actress" for her role in the 70th Television Drama Academy Awards.
In February 2011, Inoue co-starred with Yutaka Takenouch in Oba: The Last Samurai, a film about World War II holdout Captain Sakae Ōba. Inoue starred in the film Rebirth, which was released in April 2011. Both films were successful at the box office. In Rebirth, her portrayal of a daughter with a difficult past earned her the "Best Starring Actress" award in the 35th Japan Film Academy Awards.
Inoue was chosen to chair the red team in the New Year's Eve Singing Contest Kōhaku Uta Gassen in 2011. This team became the first female-led red team to win the Kōhaku Uta Gassen in seven years.
Voice acting
In 2014, Inoue debuted as a voice actress, providing the voice of Apple Boy in the film Anpanman: Apple Boy and Everyone's Hope. The anime film was released in July 2014.
Her next voice project was the 3DCG animated film Rudolf the Black Cat. It was announced on July 31, 2015. The film was released on August 6, 2016.
Stage
Inoue was cast in the 2013 stage play MIWA, and later starred in the 2016 play Anger, which ran from January to April of that year.
Filmography
Other television
2011: 62nd NHK Kōhaku Uta Gassen - MC