Kaho Minami, veteran Japanese actress and wife of actor Ken Watanabe, makes her U.S. feature film debut in the upcoming “Masterless,” from screenwriter/director Craig Shimahara.
The independent fantasy-drama shot in Los Angeles last summer finds Minami as a ghostly seductress bent on destroying the spirit of a young architect, played by “7th Heaven” star Adam LaVorgna.
Minami said she was drawn to the role of the Madam because of the revealing duality within her character.
“When you stand in front of the Madam, you can see a reflection of yourself, both good and evil,” she said. “I think that is one of the very frightening powers that she possesses.”
For the first time in her career, Minami learned most of her lines in English. Initially this proved daunting for the actress from Hyogo. However, the extra study paid off with unexpected benefits.
“Because it took longer to learn my lines, I ended up spending a lot of time thinking about the character and her words, and this actually worked out very well for me. It was an experience that I have not had before.”
Despite her busy career in Japan, Minami says that she is open to future U.S.-based projects, or beyond.
“Meeting people outside of Japan really widens my perspective and sense of values. I feel that acting is a profession that will last a lifetime for me and, if given the opportunity, I would like to take on new challenges regardless of language or location.”
An announced release date for “Masterless” is forthcoming. For more information, visit www.masterlessfilm.com.