Stepping onto the set of Sakura Ando’s cover shoot felt like crossing the threshold of a forgotten dream. It took place in the hallways of a local restaurant where time seemed to stand still: the faded floral wallpaper whispered secrets of another era, while wooden floorboards creaked beneath every footstep that had come before. And then, there was Ando, her unapologetic boldness slicing through the stillness. She carried a quiet power, an unspoken confidence that echoed in every pose she shifted into.
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Later, the lights were dimmed, the cameras packed away, and Ando sat across from me at a small wooden table tucked into the corner. She opened the lunchboxes her mother had brought her earlier and smiled as she took her first bite, even though the food had gone cold after the shoot. In this tender moment, it felt fitting that Ando would compare the process of acting to one of life’s most profound connections: the timeless bond between a mother and child. “As a mother, I am the person closest to my daughter—I know everything about her, but at the same time, I’m fully aware that she’s an independent individual. Similarly, when I portray or ‘nurture’ different characters, I’m also learning how to interact with these unique individuals.” She paused, thoughtfully adding, “Some parents might think, ‘I need to raise my child to become a certain kind of person.’ But whether it’s with children or characters, I believe there are certain things only I can protect. In this sense, I feel that acting and parenting are quite similar.”
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Ando’s acting philosophy wasn’t about control or perfection: it was about connection, exploration, and freedom. The CHANEL No. 5 High Jewellery collection she wore earlier seemed to amplify this ethos. Just as each piece in the collection embodies the spirit of freedom, empowering women to express their individuality and take charge of their destinies, Ando allows her characters’ stories to speak for themselves, embracing their contradictions, vulnerabilities, and complexities. Sitting across from her, witnessing this unguarded honesty, I understood why her performances resonated so deeply. There was no artifice, no pretence — just a boundless curiosity about the human experience and a profound respect for its many forms.
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Do you remember the moment you fell in love with acting?
This feeling might seem surreal, but I’ve had moments where I felt the intense desire to “become this.” However, even before those moments, I think that from the moment I was born, my body carried this innate feeling of “I want to be like this.” The moment this feeling surfaced and found its expression in words has been etched deeply into my being, remaining vivid and fresh even after all these years.
I love discovering different possibilities within myself, experiencing various sensations—not because I have to be an actress, but because I want to explore what else I can become, what new things I can try. I don’t want to be confined by the label of “actress”. Interestingly, I often feel as though there are two “selves” within me: one that follows intuition, and another, the “rational me,” who, like a manager, constantly asks, “Is this really what you want?”
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You often portray characters with complex emotional landscapes. How do you approach understanding and embodying these intricate feelings? What techniques do you use to prepare yourself emotionally?
Portraying a character doesn’t require fully understanding them right from the start. More often than not, understanding the character and the film as a whole gradually unfolds during the process of acting. Sometimes, even if I can’t fully grasp the character’s inner world at first, I can still find my way into it through different approaches—for instance, by speaking the lines out loud. In that moment, I might suddenly understand (or feel) the emotional thread of the character, as if connecting dots to create a complete line.
Some lines may seem challenging to deliver, but once you fully immerse yourself in the character, they come out naturally. What’s interesting is that I’ve found my body sometimes understands things faster than my mind—before my rational thoughts can fully comprehend the character, my body instinctively captures those subtle emotions. This kind of realisation doesn’t come from pre-preparation but arises from the genuine experience during the performance itself.
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Does this process of acting influence how you understand emotions in real life?
Rather than influencing how I understand emotions, I would say it deepens the way I interact with people. It reminds me of the experience of being a mother. As a mother, I am the person closest to my daughter—I know everything about her, but at the same time, I’m fully aware that she’s an independent individual. Similarly, when I portray or “nurture” different characters, I’m also learning how to interact with these unique individuals. Through this process, I grow and expand my own understanding.
Often actors say, “I have the best understanding of this role,” but not for me. I prefer to explore the character’s possibilities alongside the rest of the team. It’s similar to parenting—some parents might think, “I need to raise my child to become a certain kind of person,” but I don’t agree with that mindset. Whether it’s with children or characters, I believe there are certain things only I can protect. In this sense, I feel that acting and parenting are pretty similar.
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How would you define being a “good actor”?
I don’t think there’s a definitive answer to that question. To me, every time I act, it’s an encounter—an encounter with the work, with the crew, with the director, and with the fleeting moments that happen during filming. I think the ability to capture and cherish those encounters is what matters most.
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How do you feel your roles contribute to social commentary in Japanese cinema? Are there specific messages you aim to convey through your performances?
This is a challenging question because it’s so easy to be misunderstood. When I choose to act in a project, it’s not about aligning with a specific viewpoint or fully agreeing with the director’s perspective. My decision is driven by a desire to collaborate with the director and out of respect for their vision, not necessarily because I share their beliefs.
Entering the world of a film can sometimes even shift my own perspective. Because my understanding of society and the world is inherently limited, stepping into a narrative that differs entirely from my own values provides me with the opportunity to learn and think more deeply from another perspective. I find that process incredibly meaningful. For me, acting in a project isn’t about intentionally delivering a message. Instead, the experiences I gain from these roles nourish me personally, and I don’t always feel the need to communicate those insights directly to the audience through the film. More often, I share what I’ve learned with the people who matter most to me, like my family.
That said, I’m not particularly good at being misunderstood. For example, some people assume that appearing in a specific director’s work means I fully endorse their ideology—but that’s not the case. While I am deeply committed to being part of an environment where I can create films, I also have to contend with media and public perceptions, which can be troubling at times.
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Photography & Creative Direction: Leung Mo
Fashion Direction: Iemi Chu
Creative Producer: Marina Fairfax
Casting Director: Shimana
Makeup Artist: Vanessa Wong
Hair Stylist: Him Ng
Set Designer: Victor Wong
Photography Assistants: Kui & Chung
Fashion Assistants: Priscilla Ng & Mama Yiu
Set Design Assistants: Eric Chan & Bryan Loo
BTS Videographers: Matthew Ma, Harold Lau & Mark Wong
Video Editing: Harold Lau
Production Assistant: Jacky Lui
Editor
Kaitlyn Lai
