In flawless makeup and varnished nails, a high-slit skirt and stiletto heels, actress Nanao is the image of a fierce, strong, beautiful heroine from head to toe. She's currently starring as a ruthless human resources consultant in the TV drama "Miss Devil: Jinji no Akuma, Tsubaki Mako" (Devil of Human Resources).
Nanao is known for her beautiful figure. Her captivating appearance makes her well-suited to play an otherworldly character described as a "devil."
The drama is currently being broadcast on the Nippon TV network on Saturdays at 10 p.m. Nanao's character is appointed to head the human resources office at a fire insurance company.
New young employee Hiroshi Saito (played by Shori Sato, a member of the boy idol group Sexy Zone) is assigned to the office and dispatched by Tsubaki to various departments under the pretext of training. In reality, however, he's on a secret mission to choose candidates for dismissal.
A native of Saitama Prefecture, the 29-year-old Nanao has been working in showbiz since 2009. She's appeared in many films, TV dramas and commercials, such as NHK's annual historical drama "Onna Joshu Naotora" (Naotora: The Lady Warlord) and the film "Gintama."
Nanao said she's always wanted to play an anti-heroine. She's made her dream come true by playing Tsubaki, who uses various well-laid plans to force unnecessary employees to resign.
However, Nanao said, "Tsubaki is actually a person who fights for justice and works to make things better, even if she's hated for it."
"She's incredibly strong, wonderful," Nanao said.
Before filming, Nanao personally adds the finishing touches to her makeup, which is a little too heavy for an office worker. It's partly a personal ritual to transform herself into this unusual woman.
"It's a kind of armor. She uses that armor to hide the weaknesses in her mind," Nanao said. "I see her as a soldier wearing makeup and high-end fashion in place of armor, so she can fight bravely."
Nanao started to work seriously as a model when she was about 20. She immediately gained popularity by appearing on variety shows. She's been praised for playing femmes fatales in dramas, probably because of her smart, beautiful image.
Yet she's cheerful and friendly in reality, and she also wants to appear in light love stories to expand her repertoire. First, however, she wants to master playing femmes fatales.
"First and foremost, I want to be an actress who can always fulfill people's expectations of me," she said.
Acting is very hard, Nanao says. She has often struggled with how to play a certain role or act a particular scene, but she recently realized that she enjoys having to rack her brains, rather than act without difficulty.
"I've finally found what I feel is truly worthwhile," Nanao said. "I want to seriously pursue my acting career and improve [my skills]."
Learn more about Nanao:
Q: What do you do to keep beautiful?
A: I try to set aside at least one day a month for beauty preservation. I also prioritize spending time alone. It's relaxing, and helps me refresh my mood.
Q: What advise do you have for young people who have just started working?
A: Have the courage to tackle something difficult. Don't quickly decide you can't handle it and give up. It's important to do your utmost to tackle something, even if it's in a field you aren't good at. Someone will definitely notice your hard work.
Read more from The Japan News at https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/
