is a Japanese fashion model, actress and singer, the daughter of film actor Ken Watanabe and his first wife Yumiko. In her modeling work, she is known by the mononym Anne.Kuhn, Anthony. "For Japanese Women, The Past Is The Latest Fad"
Career Watanabe's first high-profile modeling season was spring/summer 2007, in which she was featured in runway shows for Anna Sui, Diane von Furstenberg, Tommy Hilfiger, and Vivienne Tam, among others. She also walked for Baby Phat, Imitation of Christ, Karl Lagerfeld, Lacoste, Marc by Marc Jacobs, and Thakoon in subsequent seasons.
Watanabe has been featured in print advertisements for Anna Sui and NARS Cosmetics. She was the main visual model for Sui's Secret Wish Magic Romance fragrance for both print and video.
Personal life In Japan, Watanabe is also a well-known reki-jo (history girl) -- a female history otaku. She can speak English and French to some extent. On 21 September 2023, she participated in the annual World Jigsaw Puzzle Championship.
Marriage and family Watanabe married actor Masahiro Higashide on 1 January 2015. On 16 May 2016, Watanabe gave birth to twin daughters. On 7 November 2017, she gave birth to a son.
On 23 January 2020, Shūkan Bunshun revealed that Watanabe's husband had been having an extramarital affair with actress Erika Karata since 2017, when Watanabe was pregnant with their third child, which was later confirmed by Higashide's agency. On 1 August 2020, Watanabe finalized her divorce with Higashide, promising that they would work together to take care of the children.
Watanabe and her children are currently residing in France as of August 2022.
Filmography Television Year Title Role Notes 2007High and LowDetectiveTelevision film2009TenchijinMegohimeTaiga dramaThe Gorgeous SpyMiku HiraharaSamurai High SchoolAi Nagasawa2010ShinzanmonoNaho KamikawaEpisode 1Don't Cry AnymoreMarika TachibanaJokerAsuka Myagi2011Desperate MotherhoodYuko AkiyamaLead roleYokai Ningen BemBela2012Taira no KiyomoriHōjō MasakoTaiga drama2013xxxHOLiCYuko IchiharaLead roleGhostly GirlAkaneBon Appetit!Meiko UnoLead role; Asadora2014–15Hanasaki Mai Speaks OutMai HanasakiLead role2015Dating: What's It Like to Be in Love?Yoriko YabushitaLead role2021Japan Sinks: People of HopeMinori Shiina2026Blood and SweatAki SuzumiyaLead role; Finnish-Japanese drama
Film Year Title Role Notes 2008The Cherry Orchard: Blossoming2010Bandage2011Ninja Kids!!!Shina Yamamoto2012Yōkai Ningen Bem: The MovieBela2013Platinum DataMidsummer's Equation2015Miss HokusaiOei (voice)2016Lost and FoundGolden Orchestra!Lead role2019Birthday Wonderland2021CubeAsako Kai2022The Deer KingSae (voice)Tombi: Father and SonYumi2023Tokyo MER: Mobile Emergency Room: The MovieYū KamoiKingdom 3: The Flame of DestinyZhi XiaFly Me to the Saitama: From Biwa Lake with LoveTotto-Chan: The Little Girl at the WindowTotto-Chan's mother (voice)2024Stay MumChisakoLead role2025The Solitary GourmetChiaki Matsuo2026Tokyo MER: Mobile Emergency Room – Capital CrisisYū KamoiShumei: The Living Legacy of KabukiNarratorDocumentary
Radio Book Bar (2008–present, J-Wave)
Documentary Asia's Great Ruins (Also known as Ring of Civilization, 2015, NHK, as navigator)
Discography Mini-albums Lights (2010, Epic/Sony) Ai o Anata ni (2012, Epic/Sony)
Awards and nominations +Year presented, name of the award ceremony, category, nominee(s) of the award, and the result of the nomination Year Award ceremony Category Nominated work(s) Result 200649th FECJ AwardsInternational Model of the YearHerself201064th Television Drama Academy AwardsBest Supporting ActressNaka nai to Kimeta Hi201236th Elan d'or AwardsNewcomer of the Year5th Tokyo Drama AwardsBest Supporting ActressYōkai Ningen Bem201523rd Hashida AwardNewcomer of the YearGochisousan and Hanasaki Mai ga Damattenai52nd Galaxy AwardIndividual AwardHanasaki Mai Speaks Out, Kuroha, and Date – Koi to wa Donna Mono Kashira
References
External links
at Top Coat
Anne Watanabe profile at NYmag.com