is a Japanese actress and former fashion model best known for her role in the Japanese medical drama Doctor-X: Surgeon Michiko Daimon. She also performs the voice of Black Widow in the Japanese-language releases of the Avengers film series.
Career Yonekura studied classical ballet for 15 years from the age of five. Represented by the Oscar Promotion agency, she won the sixth Japan Bishōjo Contest in 1992. In 1993, she started her career as a model, working for fashion magazines such as CanCam. She announced her intention to start her acting career in 1999. Her acting debut was in the TBS television drama , and has appeared in many dramas ever since.
Yonekura played the role of Roxie Hart in the Japanese-language production of Chicago in Tokyo 2008 and in 2010. She then learned the role in English and made her Broadway debut in 2012.
In late March 2020, her agency at the time, Oscar Promotion, announced that she would leave the agency after her contract expired on March 31, 2020. She founded her own personal agency, Desafio, in early April of the same year.
Personal life In December 2014, Yonekura announced that she had married a company owner two years her junior. In December 2016, Yonekura announced that she had divorced her husband. In a written statement, Yonekura commented, "After timely, repeated discussions, our divorce has been finalized. I am sorry to have caused trouble with my private matters." She continued, "I hope to move forward both as an actress and woman. I will do my best every day in order to challenge myself to various new things. Please continue to give me guidance and encouragement."
In October 2022, Yonekura announced she was withdrawing from performances of Chicago due to treatment for cerebrospinal fluid hypovolemia.
Filmography
Television YearTitleRoleNotes2000Erika SaionjiTenki-yoho no KoibitoIkuko SudoHatachi no KekkonRankoStraight NewsYuka Ichino2001Love RevolutionMariko EndouHikon KazokuHikaru Matoba2002Pretty GirlsAyumi KuraiArtificial BeautyHonami SaotomeLead roleChizuru OtsukiLead role2003OtsuTaiga drama2004Okusama wa MajoArisa MatsuiLead roleKurokawa no TechoMotoko HaraguchiLead role2005Fumino HamadaLead roleHaru Takakura (young)Lead roleHaruko SugimuraLead role2006Tamiko NarusawaLead roleMichiko AsaiLead role2007Warui YatsuraToyomi TerashimaLead roleMoe HayasakaLead role2008–2009Reiko UsagiLead role; also known as The Negotiator2008Itsuki TakamuraLead roleKyoko SenoLead role2010Matsuko MatsudairaLead role2011Hunter: Sono Onna-tachi, Shōkin KasegiRei IsakaLead role2012Atsui KūkiNobuko KonoLead role2012–2021Doctor-X: Surgeon Michiko DaimonMichiko DaimonLead role201335-sai no KoukouseiAyako BabaLead role2014Kaseifu wa MitaNobuko SawaguchiLead roleMighty AntIsako SawadaLead roleOut BurnEiko YagamiLead role2015Kaseifu wa Mita 2Nobuko SawaguchiLead role2016Kagerou EzuNuiLead role2018Legal V Ex-lawyer Shoko TakanashiShoko TakanashiLead role2019Crayon Shin-chanMichiko Daimon (voice)Episode: "Doctor-X"2022The JournalistAnna MatsudaLead role2023Angel FlightNami IzawaLead role
Film YearTitleRoleNotes2001Cardboard House GirlAn SakuraiLead role2002Gun Crazy: A Woman from NowhereSaki YamadaLead role2008Sakura no SonoShino Wakamatsu2010Koshonin the MovieReiko UsagiLead role2024Doctor-X: The MovieMichiko DaimonLead role2026Angel Flight: The MovieNami IzawaLead role
Japanese dub YearTitleRole2012The AvengersNatasha Romanoff / Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson)2013DianaDiana (Naomi Watts)2014Captain America: The Winter SoldierNatasha Romanoff / Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson)2015Avengers: Age of UltronNatasha Romanoff / Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson)2016Captain America: Civil WarNatasha Romanoff / Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson)2018Avengers: Infinity WarNatasha Romanoff / Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson)2019Avengers: EndgameNatasha Romanoff / Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson)2021Black WidowNatasha Romanoff / Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson)2022Bullet TrainMaria Beetle (Sandra Bullock)
Awards and nominations YearAwardWorkCategoryResult200226th Élan d'Or AwardNewcomer of the Year2023Asian Academy Creative AwardAngel FlightBest Actress in a Leading Role (Japan)
References
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