Anna Sawai gets emotional sharing japanese women's response to 'Shogun' with Tom Hiddleston

Actors Tom Hiddleston and Anna Sawai recently had an emotional discussion about their roles in the latest episode of Variety's Actors on Actors series. The 43-year-old star of "Loki" and the 32-year-old actress from "Shōgun" shared personal reflections on their work and the impact of their characters.
During their conversation, Tom Hiddleston talked about what it was like to say goodbye to his iconic character Loki.He expressed a deep sense of relief, explaining that playing Loki had been a meaningful experience that changed his life. Tom described Loki as a broken soul with a shattered heart, masking his pain with mischief and playfulness. He appreciated how the series allowed him to explore Loki's vulnerability and transform his pain into courage and strength.
Anna Sawai became emotional when she spoke about the response from Japanese women to her portrayal of Toda Mariko in "Shōgun." She recalled an emotional moment during a press tour in Washington, D.C., where the first two episodes of the series were shown to a Japanese community. After the screening, several young Japanese girls approached Anna, expressing how much they related to her character. They shared that it was the first time they had seen a real Japanese character on-screen that resonated with them.
Anna explained how these young women had internalized societal expectations to be quiet and conform, and seeing a character like Mariko was liberating for them. She reflected on how seeing characters like Mariko while growing up could have changed her own life, helping her avoid internalizing those limiting expectations.
Both actors highlighted the powerful impact of representation in media. Tom's journey with Loki and Anna's portrayal of Mariko in "Shōgun" demonstrate how deeply characters can resonate with audiences and influence their perceptions and lives.