Nanako Matsushima

Nanako Matsushima (松嶋 菜々子) is a celebrated Japanese actress and model, born on 13 October 1973 in Yokohama, Japan. She first entered the entertainment industry in 1992, quickly gaining attention for her striking beauty and versatile talent, which would later earn her the reputation as one of Japan’s most beautiful women. Matsushima’s breakthrough came with the 1997 television drama A Story of Love (Konna Koi No Hanashi), where she portrayed a cheerful yet modest designer, a role that showcased her ability to blend emotional depth with everyday charm. The following year she achieved iconic status by starring in Hideo Nakata’s horror masterpiece Ring (1998), a film that not only defined modern J‑horror but also propelled her to international recognition. In addition to her film success, Matsushima proved her range in the popular series Great Teacher Onizuka (1998), co‑starring with future husband Takashi Sorimachi; the drama’s finale attracted a 35.7 % viewership, cementing its place among the highest‑rated Japanese series. Her television career continued to flourish with starring roles in Majo no Jōken (1999), Boys Over Flowers (2005) and the critically acclaimed household drama I’m Mita, Your Housekeeper (2011), whose final episode captured a staggering 40 % audience share, one of the highest ever recorded for a Japanese drama. Matsushima’s accolades include six Best Actress Awards from the Japan Television Drama Academy, reflecting consistent excellence across genres from horror to romance and comedy. She has also appeared in successful films such as Whiteout (2000), which grossed over 4.2 billion yen, and revisited beloved characters in the 2024 GTO Revival remake. Beyond acting, she remains a prominent face in advertising, headlining Shiseido campaigns alongside her husband in 2023 and 2025, and starring in a 2021 Uber Eats commercial with Matt Kuwata. Her personal life is marked by a long‑standing partnership with Takashi Sorimachi, whom she married in 2001, and together they have two daughters born in 2004 and 2007. Throughout more than three decades, Nanako Matsushima has maintained a dominant presence in Japanese popular culture, balancing commercial appeal with artistic integrity.