Ken Watanabe

Birthday: 21 October 1959, Uonuma, Japan

Birth Name: Kensaku Watanabe

Height: 184 cm

Both of Ken Watanabe's parents were teachers: his mother taught general education and his dad taught calligraphy. He became interested in acting at the age of 24 when a director of England's ...Show More

As a Japanese actor, I really want to work with a lot of actors and actresses in the world and many Show more As a Japanese actor, I really want to work with a lot of actors and actresses in the world and many directors who have many different kinds of talents. I feel like nationally doesn't matter at all. Hide

About half the scripts sent to me feature characters I just can't identify with, particularly one-di Show more About half the scripts sent to me feature characters I just can't identify with, particularly one-dimensional businessmen or, if it's a comedy, some absurd 10-year-old Japanese stereotype, some role related to IT or business... There's no point in getting mad about it; it's just the way things are. Hide

I have no sense of myself as a sex symbol at all. But the meaning of sex symbol might be a little di Show more I have no sense of myself as a sex symbol at all. But the meaning of sex symbol might be a little different in Japan to elsewhere. The Japanese version seems to come with a stronger emphasis on a sort of grownup or mature male charm. And if that's the case, then I guess I'm happy to hear it. Hide

If the script is good, the cast and director good, I'll go anywhere. If the script is good, the cast and director good, I'll go anywhere.

I'm not a big star in Japan. I'm an actor. I have a very normal life. Four days a week, I cook at ho Show more I'm not a big star in Japan. I'm an actor. I have a very normal life. Four days a week, I cook at home. A star doesn't do that. Hide

Each director is different. Clint Eastwood and Chris Nolan are completely different, and I need to a Show more Each director is different. Clint Eastwood and Chris Nolan are completely different, and I need to adjust to the story and character and the director and just my duty as an actor. Hide

With 'Letters from Iwo Jima,' then 'Memories of Tomorrow,' I reached a sort of turning point in my a Show more With 'Letters from Iwo Jima,' then 'Memories of Tomorrow,' I reached a sort of turning point in my acting. I had poured so much of myself into those movies that I really had no idea where to go from there. Hide

Ken Watanabe's FILMOGRAPHY

as Actor (24)

Tokyo Vice - Season 2

Unforgiven

The Sea of Trees

Batman Begins

Bel Canto

Shanghai

Transformers: Age Of Extinction

Cirque du Freak: The Vampire's Assistant

The Creator (2023)

Tampopo [Sub: Eng]

Tokyo Vice - Season 1

Ching yi ngor sum gi

Fukushima 50

Godzilla: King of the Monsters

Ashes and Snow

Transformers: The Last Knight

Letters from Iwo Jima

Inception

Godzilla

Pokemon Detective Pikachu

The Last Samurai

Isle of Dogs [Sun: Eng]

Earth

Memoirs of a Geisha

Ken Watanabe'S roles

Drift

Dr. Serizawa

Saito

Chairman

Katsumi Hosokawa

General Kuribayashi