Biography
Who is Rinko Kikuchi?
Early life and real name
Rinko Kikuchi was born Yuriko Kikuchi on January 6, 1981, in Hadano, Kanagawa, in Japan. She grew up as the youngest of three children in her family. As a teenager, she was discovered by a talent agent while visiting the shopping mall Laforet Harajuku at the age of fifteen.
She began her professional career under her birth name before adopting her current stage name. Her early years involved stepping into the Japanese film industry and laying the groundwork for a diverse career in acting and modeling.
Career highlights and Babel
Rinko made her acting debut in the 1999 film Will to Live directed by Kaneto Shindo. She gained further recognition in films like Sora no Ana and The Taste of Tea, which appeared at major international film festivals including Cannes and Rotterdam.
In 2006, she achieved international fame when she was chosen for Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu's film Babel. She played a troubled teenager and received an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress. This made her the first Japanese actress to receive an Oscar nomination in fifty years, and she won several critical awards for her breakthrough performance.
Later projects and television
In later years, Rinko continued to take on prominent roles in both film and television. She starred in Kumiko, the Treasure Hunter and appeared in science fiction series such as Westworld. She also played Emi Maruyama in the crime drama series Tokyo Vice for HBO Max.
Aside from acting on screen, she has worked as a stage actress, model, and film director. Under the name Rinbjou, she also pursues musical activities and appeared in music videos. In 2024, she served as the festival navigator for the 37th Tokyo International Film Festival.
Family and personal life
From 2010 to 2011, Rinko was in a relationship with director Spike Jonze and briefly lived with him in New York. Later, she entered a relationship with Japanese actor Shota Sometani.
Rinko married Shota Sometani on December 31, 2014. In October 2016, she gave birth to their first child. Their second child was born in late 2018.
Birthday and age
Rinko Kikuchi was born on January 6, 1981, which makes Rinko 45 years old today. That birthday falls under the Capricorn sign. Rinko shares the date with 33 other famous people.
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