Anna Sawai is seriously hot property in Hollywood right now — but the award-winning star of Shōgun has responded noncommittally to buzz around her taking on the role of Yoko Ono in the hotly anticipated Beatles movies.
Speaking to Us Weekly and other press outlets at the SAG Awards after winning Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series for her role in the epic period drama, the 32-year-old actress said the Ono gossip was mere speculation.
“I think a rumor is just a rumor,” she said. “I’m still trying to figure out what I want to do, so I’m reading a lot of scripts. I’m also doing a lot of meetings and I just want to make sure that whatever I’m choosing is the right thing. It might take time for me to find the right projects, but I am trying to be selective so that I can surprise everyone who’s going to watch it.”
Sawai taking on such an iconic role would certainly be a welcome surprise, particularly alongside the other big, exciting names who’ve been rumored to be part of the Sam Mendes project. So far, no casting has been officially confirmed, but, according to Deadline, it’s expected that Paul Mescal will play Paul McCartney alongside Barry Keoghan as Ringo Starr, Joseph Quinn as George Harrison and Harris Dickinson as John Lennon.
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If all goes to plan, the series of films by Mendes, which are penciled in for a 2027 release, will be a who’s who of hot young talent. They will also mark the first time that The Beatles and Apple Corps have allowed the legendary British band’s life stories and music to be used in scripted films.
Sawai’s SAG Award is the latest in a series of honors for her role in Shōgun. She also took the Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series — the first actress of Asian descent ever to win — and the Golden Globe for Best Actress in a TV Drama.
During her interview with the press, she said she has mixed emotions about winning so many awards, given that she isn’t signed up for season 2.
“I don’t think this is something that you really get used to,” she said. “It’s also, I guess, just the love for the whole team that I have and knowing that I probably won’t be able to celebrate with them like this anymore, that this is really the final day for me representing Mariko. … So just all of that made me very emotional because I love the team so much.”
With reporting by Mariel Turner
