IN CONVERSATION WITH MARI YAMAMOTO

interview by JANA LETONJA

Mari Yamamoto is emerging as one of the most compelling international talents of her generation. An actress, writer, and producer with a distinctly global point of view, she moves effortlessly between prestige television, independent cinema, and behind-the-scenes storytelling. She returns this year as Dr. Keiko Miura in Apple TV+’s ‘Monarch: Legacy of Monsters’, reprising her role as a brilliant scientist at the center of a world reshaped by giants. Her recent work, from the critically acclaimed ‘Rental Family’ to the award-winning series ‘Pachinko’, reflects a career rooted in emotional complexity, cultural fluency, and quiet power. Off screen, her background as a journalist and producer only deepens her perspective, making Mari a singular voice in contemporary storytelling.

rumi coat SIMKHAI

You return to ‘Monarch: Legacy of Monsters’ as Dr. Keiko Miura. How does she evolve in Season 2? 

I think this season, because she is in both timelines, we get to see a fuller picture of her not just as a scientist, but as a woman, mother and grandmother which is so strange. She’s really thrust into a new world with nothing to anchor herself to, but her son and Monarch, both her babies who she doesn’t really recognize anymore. She’s always been an optimistic person who never gives up, but this season that’s really put to the test in so many ways and we see her flaws as well. So, I would say we see her go through losing everything and somehow finding her way back to herself through science and her love of her family and monsters.

What excites you most about exploring a character who exists at the intersection of science, power, and morality?

I love getting to play somebody who sees the world a little differently and who has such unshakable convictions built on her singular life experiences and discoveries. I think if anyone has the power to believe in miracles, it would be scientists because they study how the world works and that’s one miracle after another. It’s also so much fun to play a character who not only has that kind of steadfastness but is brave enough to stand up to the powers that be, who act in opposing ideologies, even when your loved ones and your own lives are at stake. 

I think this pertains to the Monsterverse in general, but it makes me really question what I would do in these situations. Would you be brave? Would you stand up for what you believe in? How far would you go? These are universal themes that we can all relate to and they continue to engage and challenge me as I embody all of her decisions in the show.

Working in a universe as massive as ‘Monarch’, how do you keep the emotional stakes grounded?

I’ve learned that no matter how big the world or the universe you are playing in is, the answer is always to go as granular as you can, be specific as you can and that will ground the fantasy into reality giving it even more weight and scale. It’s counterintuitive but you have to go small to go big in a way.

You’ve lived in Japan, London, and New York. How has moving between cultures shaped the stories you want to tell?

Looking back, when I moved to London at 5, I entered a local school not knowing any English, so for 6 months I spent my days silent, just watching people and absorbing. And then suddenly I started speaking perfect English, which is fascinating in retrospect, but I think those 6 months, even as a 5 year old, I learned so much about human behavior. I was non-verbally communicating with my friends. I became really sensitive to what everybody was thinking and feeling. It made me really good at reading people. And once I could speak, I was so curious to know everything because now I had the tools to ask. Having experienced that and constantly moving between cultures, I feel I’ve always led with curiosity because I come from and live in a liminal space. Nothing is ever black or white, just all the shades in between. So I’m always drawn to characters and stories that straddle multiple worlds. Monsters and humans for instance.

Before acting, you worked as a journalist covering politics and social issues. How does that background inform your artistry?

I think I’m really relentless in asking questions, because if I don’t believe in the circumstances or the stories I’ve created for my character like they are facts I’m reporting, I can’t tell the story truthfully and that’s the most important thing to me, that I’m honest as the character or to the moment I’m playing.

As a writer and producer on ‘Tokyo Vice’, what did you learn from being behind the camera?

Being part of a project from such an early stage gives you an incredible appreciation for how many people work tirelessly from all angles to even bring it to a place where an actor steps onto set. The amount of problem solving that goes into it is actually breathtaking, but also super exciting. Especially on a cross cultural production like ‘Tokyo Vice’. Knowing other aspects of the production really does feed into how you operate and create on set and vice versa.

top, skirt, shoes RABANNE

How does your process change when you’re creating a story versus inhabiting one?

For me, they aren’t very different because even if you are given a character and a story, you are always building on top of that and creating stories that support whatever the given circumstances are. It’s like giving birth and looking after a living being. Even if you didn’t birth it, you’re going to keep feeding and nurturing it.

You’ve played characters navigating isolation, identity, and survival. What themes consistently draw you in?

I’m not necessarily drawn to particular themes, I think actors love acting because they get to be a part of all kinds of worlds and stories. But whatever the theme might be, I do tend to gravitate towards writing that simultaneously breaks and holds your heart. Right now, I’m really obsessed with the notion of platonic love. 

black bib top, check trousers A.W.A.K.E. MODE

Being named one of Variety’s 10 Actors to Watch is a major milestone. How did that recognition feel?

It was such a surprise. You get so caught up in the process of creating work and putting so much pressure on yourself, so it’s really encouraging and rewarding to be able to celebrate like that sometimes. It’s also such an honor to be recognized alongside such incredible artists. 

You studied acting in New York while holding a degree in international relations. How do intellect and instinct coexist in your work?

It’s fascinating to try to dissect what part is intellect or instinct. But I think whatever I create is filtered through both. My body is an instrument and all these things are constantly interplaying so it’s hard to define. I do think the best creation happens when they synergize and amplify each other.

top ADAM LIPPES

How do you choose projects that balance scale, substance, and personal meaning?

I don’t think you have to. For me, personal meaning probably comes first. This might not be the healthiest, but I’m never able to look at roles as work. Whoever I play becomes a part of me, so I really have to be moved by the story or the character and feel a real connection to them or an urge to tell that story.  At the same time, who you get to collaborate with is also the biggest part of the experience, so I really want to work with people who I can sit with for hours and pick their brains and be inspired by. 

What kinds of roles or stories are you hoping to explore next?

I tend to play a lot of dramatic roles. Women who go missing or meet tragic deaths have been a trend, and while I love something I can sink my teeth into, I really love doing comedy in theater and some films I’ve done, so I would love to explore more of that side of the spectrum. There’s no better feeling than making people laugh. But at the same time, I would love to play a spy or a sci-fi villain, or any complicated character that poses a challenge. I love to be challenged and challenges always come out of left field. 

TEAM CREDITS:

talent MARI YAMAMOTO
photographer RETO STERCHI
stylist FARRAH O’CONNOR at STELLA CREATIVE ARTISTS
makeup ALLAN AVENDANO at A-FRAME AGENCY
hair ERICKA VERRETT at A-FRAME AGENCY
producer JESSE SIMON
movement director DALEL BACRE
studio MVMT STUDIOS
editor TIMI LETONJA
editorial director & interview JANA LETONJA