Nanako Matsushima

Nanako Matsushima (松嶋 菜々子, Matsushima Nanako?, born October 13, 1973 in Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan) is a Japanese actress and model. She is known outside Japan for her role in the horror film Ring. She became the highest-paid actress in Japan due to Great Teacher Onizuka and all her following dramas becoming big hits. She was also a main character in A Story of Love.

On February 21, 2001, she married Takashi Sorimachi who co-starred with her in Great Teacher Onizuka. They had a daughter together on May 31, 2004.

Matsushima Nanako started modeling at 18 as swimsuit model for various commercial advertisements, and featured in some budget TV shows.

Nanako’s breakthrough was in 1996 when she got the chance to star in NHK production “Himawari” (Sunflower); in the same year that she also starred in Asia hit movie “Ringu,” which was adapted by Hollywood movie “The Ring” years later.

Nanako’s popularity was ever rising since then, leading in loads of popular Japanese TV series and movies, and TV commercials.

Some of Nanako’s popular TV dramas include “Great Teacher Onizuka (GTO),” “Kyumei Byoto 24 Ji,” “Majo no Jouken,” “Koori no sekai,” “Hyakunen no Monogatari,” “Yamato Nadeshiko” and “Hana Yori Dango” etc.

Not only that Nanako have the elegance and beauty, her acting was very much praised and won her numerous awards.

Matsushima Nanako met actor husband Sorimachi Takashi when starring in the popular TV drama GTO; the celebrity couple married in 2001 and Nanako gave birth to their daughter in 2004.

Matsushima Nanako was considered one of the most popular actresses in Japan and across Asia. Lots of her TV series and movies were well received by Japanese and Asian fans, with high ratings and successful box office.

Matsushima Nanako took a break after her marriage and birth to her daughter, and just started starring in some drama last year. Her popularity is not as great as before, but she will be remembered as one of the greatest Japanese actress for the last decade.