Yukie Nakama masters a few tricks
Actress Yukie Nakama says that starring in the 3-D film “Gekijoban Trick: Reinosha Battle Royale” has given her a chance to return to the feelings she had when she first started as an actress.
Nakama, 30, and actor Hiroshi Abe, 45, star in the film based on the popular “Trick” TV series and comic books about a magician (Nakama) and a physicist (Abe) who debunk fraudulent spiritualists. TV Asahi is also producing a special, “Trick Daikanshasai,” to mark the 10th anniversary of the series.
Directed by Yukihiko Tsutsumi, “Gekijoban Trick: Reinosha Battle Royale” is the third film version of the popular TV series that began airing in 2000 as a late-night drama.
The latest movie, which is currently playing, is set in a village ruled by powerful psychic artists, who get caught up in a faction fight.
Nakama reprises her role from the first two films and a TV special in 2005. “Playing this part again conjured up my initial feelings of being nervous and confused when I first started out in this business. I’m glad to be back in the unique world of ‘Trick,’” she said.
Nakama, who was born in Okinawa, credits the first “Trick” film in 2000 with making her a star because it led to her being offered the main part in “Gokusen,” a story about the granddaughter of a yakuza boss, who teaches at an all-male private high school. Nakama went on to star in many films and TV dramas, as well as becoming a sought-after personality for TV commercials. In recent years, she has been a regular co-host of NHK’s “Kohaku Utagassen” (Red and White Song Contest) each New Year’s Eve.
“I’m really enjoying myself at this stage of my career because I am getting such a variety of parts,” said Nakama, citing such roles as Sadako in the horror movie “Ring 0 Birthday,” the villain in the mystery movie “g@me” and a virtuous wife in the World War II melodrama “Watashi wa Kai ni naritai” (I want to become a shell).
“When I choose a part, I try to find something in the character than I can relate to,” Nakama said of her approach to acting.
Currently, she is filming the TBS mini-series “Japanese Americans,” in which she plays the daughter of a Nikkei immigrant living in the U.S. in the lead-up to World War II. The five-episode drama, which will be broadcast in the fall as part of TBS’ 60th anniversary series, co-stars SMAP’s Tsuyoshi Kusanagi, Kiichi Nakai, Pinko Oizumi and Keiko Kishi.
“The story deals with heavy issues, so I feel I must work hard to do justice to the subject matter,” Nakama said.
source: JapanToday