Mari Natsuki

Mari Natsuki, born Junko Nakajima on 2 May 1952 in Tokyo, is a Japanese singer, dancer, actress and philanthropist renowned for her versatility across stage, screen, and voice work. From a young age she pursued singing, debuting professionally in the early 1970s and quickly establishing a reputation for powerful vocal delivery and charismatic stage presence. Over the decades she has appeared in more than twenty feature films, ranging from classic Japanese comedies in the Otoko wa Tsurai yo series to internationally acclaimed animations such as Spirited Away, where her iconic performance as the witch Yubaba earned widespread recognition. In addition to live‑action roles, Natsuka has lent her voice to video games including the memorable Big Mama in Metal Gear Solid 4, and to dubbed versions of Hollywood blockbusters, providing the Japanese voice for Miranda Priestly in The Devil Wears Prada. Her theatre credentials are equally impressive, having portrayed Madame Thenardier in Les Misérables, Golde in Fiddler on the Roof, and repeatedly returning to the role of Yubaba/Zeniba in the stage adaptation of Spirited Away staged in Tokyo and London in 2024. Natsuki’s contributions have been recognized with two nominations for the Japanese Academy Award, underscoring her impact on contemporary Japanese cinema. Beyond performance, she is active in charitable initiatives, supporting arts education and disaster relief, reflecting her self‑description as a "person who plays." In 2007 she announced her engagement to percussionist Nobu Saitō, and the couple married in the spring of 2008, a partnership that continues to influence her artistic endeavors. With a career spanning more than five decades, Mari Natsuki remains a pivotal figure whose interdisciplinary talents continue to inspire new generations of performers.