I had a deep understanding that I had to do it, which is something I don’t have very often. It’s beautiful and everything is delicious. Hilaria/Hillary Attempts to Explain Herself, In a wild new interview with the New York, Two More Police Officers to Be Fired in Breonna Taylor Case. [Laughs.]. All rights reserved. But then director Jon M. Chu, who she first met at a K-pop concert, sent her the script. It is hinting for a sequel. We tried his $50 cannabis cigars to find out. But when I first started going to auditions, they would be like, You have such an ambiguous look – in terms of casting that is not good. “I grew up in Somerset, in the middle of the English countryside, where most people, who were white, were born and raised in the area. I am one of six siblings who all have the same parents and therefore same ethnicity. “Never again will there be a woman killed in a clandestine abortion,” the author of the law told reporters through tears after the vote. I couldn’t get anything. Sonoya mizuno is beautiful these sonoya mizuno pictures are some of the hottest ever. She’s also one of the first to embrace Rachel, the outsider. Well before your pixie, you played the role of Araminta – the supermodel heiress with the wedding of the year. There was some initial controversy about the casting of Crazy Rich Asians. Again, I was living in fucking Glasgow and bored as hell. People are trying to cast in a particular way and if you are ambiguous, they can’t put you in a box. Meghan and Harry’s flight from the family, cheating rumors, and a whole lot of lawsuits. Before scoring a scene-stealing role as a dancing robot in 2015’s “Ex Machina,” Tokyo-born, U.K.-raised Sonoya Mizuno had a career as a ballet dancer. I feel disheartened when I see stereotypes because it’s untrue and unfair. It’s just harder if you’re not white. I took time off and went to Japan and did modeling. Really embracing ethnic diversity would help prevent our future generations from feeling this way. “Ex Machina” and “Maniac” actress Sonoya Mizuno on feeling the effect of “Crazy Rich Asians.” Advertisement “Crazy Rich Asians” is the first movie of its kind in 25 years. I can’t remember having any Asian idols; they were definitely sparse. I loved the book and the way that Kevin satirizes the whole culture [of wealthy Singapore families]. She worked with Garland again on horror adventure "Annihilation" in 2018, a year that also saw her score with "Crazy Rich Asians" and Netflix limited series "Maniac." SONOYA MIZUNO: My dad is Japanese; he was an art director there. I thought, That’s a person I could play. One holiday, I thought, I’m going to try and see what happens. Interview with Crazy Rich Asians' Sonoya Mizuno. But even last night, we had a screening of the movie with Ronny Chieng and people were like, Congratulations. I felt like that when I auditioned for Ex Machina and I felt that on the last day of Devs. It would support them in feeling good about their place in this world and it would ultimately affect the rhythms of inequality moving through our society.”, “Don’t let it [whitewashing] stop you, but be prepared to work extra hard and keep reminding yourself that is good to be different. They first collaborated on 2014’s “Ex Machina” and then 2018’s “Annhilation.” In the former, Mizuno played an android who does a memorable disco dance scene with Oscar Isaac. Yeah! Sonoya Mizuno has been shat upon. The biggest star at the time was British ballerina Darcey Bussell, who I deeply admired. The Future Is in Sonoya Mizuno’s Hands How did the actor go from a dancing android in Ex Machina to the star of Devs, TV’s TRIPPIEST NEW SCI-FI SHOW? The jobs I’ve loved the most have been Ex Machina, Crazy Rich Asians, and Maniac, and they are all specifically Asian characters. It just felt different. They said they got an email about Ex Machina — it was one of those strange coincidences. It’s definitely getting better. At Last, Argentina Has Legalized Abortion. My Maniac character is so interesting, complex, and well-rounded; I was so glad she was Asian. I make physical character boards for roles and add images and words. Apparently, Constance Wu had a baby girl — over the summer. Maria Turgeon is all about confidence, sexiness, and playful decadence. Sonoya Mizuno (born c. 1986/1987) is an English actress, model, and ballet dancer who has collaborated with director Alex Garland in works such as Ex Machina, Annihilation, and Devs.She had minor roles in the films La La Land, Beauty and the Beast, and Crazy Rich Asians.Mizuno also played a lead character in the Netflix miniseries Maniac “I grew up in Somerset, in the middle of the English countryside, where most people, who were white, were born and raised in the area. If a character is just there to be a token Asian, I’m not interested. There was one Japanese principal in the Royal Ballet. Mizuno’s repertoire of films includes Ex Machina, Alleycats and La La Land – which is currently being shown as part of BFI. If the part in Ex Machina wasn’t for a Japanese girl, I couldn’t have gotten it — same thing with Maniac. I had no place to live. Therefore their career progression is stunted, and from that a cycle of sorts is created.”, “Speaking out is a choice that bears a lot of responsibility so I am grateful for Constance Wu’s voice. It was good to see Asian women break into the mainstream although I didn’t idolize them.”, “Before the age of 10 I thought I wanted to become an actress because my uncle, who I adored, was an actor. When I moved to London to study at the Royal Ballet School from age 11, that changed to some degree. There are just fewer parts. She is an actress, known for Ex Machina (2014), La La Land (2016) and Maniac (2018). But I don’t think we can deny that it [racial prejudice] is still a problem. She’s the most far away from myself I’ve ever played. I started boarding at the Royal Ballet when I was nine. We were definitely an unusual family in the area but there was a sense of alliance among us.” “I was the only mixed race girl in my primary school class and I do remember being called names such as ‘Chinese take away… It is inherently difficult for me not to resent the part of me that prevents me from getting certain opportunities or for the way it is portrayed in media/society. This Is the Only Way I Want to Experience Nature. Louisville’s interim police chief has issued termination letters to detectives Myles Cosgrove and Joshua Jaynes. My feeling is that I don’t fit easily into casting moulds because I am considered different.”, “There is definitely a growing level of awareness, which is very positive. My bridges would be burned. That was me. We would do karaoke and travel together. Maybe if we saw her on a bad day, everything would be a disaster. Should I curl my hair to look more European? A former ballet dancer, she said still knows the choreography and guesses that Isaac does, too. But a lot of people told me I was too old and that it was too late to start acting. I felt like that when I auditioned for Ex Machina and I felt that on the last day of Devs. It’s a celebration of Asian culture. Sonoya Mizuno is an actress and dancer of mixed heritage. I look as I am, I am who I am. Although the role of Araminta isn’t huge, Mizuno has a scene so over-the-top that it elicited gasps at screenings, and early previews are already calling her out for her deft, comedic exuberance. Then I got the job! On Christmas morning, an explosive detonated inside an RV parked in downtown Nashville. But on a great day, everything would be amazing. I did that. I didn’t know anything. The Ex Machina actress's latest film La La Land, starring Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling, is being shown as part of BFI. Also, it’s great in the film that there are so many different types of Asians. I was just going to the cinema by myself because everyone else was sewing their toe shoes. Of course, years later, I went to the ballet with my friend in London. The frothy romantic comedy is the first major movie since The Joy Luck Club 25 years ago to have an all-Asian cast. It’s really given me a way in. For my audition, there wasn’t any dancing — that came later. “Devs” marks Mizuno’s third time working with Garland. Nearly everyone at the school is there on some kind of grant or scholarship. Then Alex’s team told me they wanted me to come back to audition for a bigger part. She’s also the new global face of Shiseido. Based on the New York Times bestselling book from Kevin Kwan, it tells the story of a Chinese-American woman (Constance Wu) who discovers her boyfriend (Henry Golding in his first acting role) is the scion of an insanely wealthy, secretive Singaporean family, complete with a disapproving mother (Michelle Yeoh) and one-percent hijinks (plastic surgery for fish). Modeling came as an incidental side job when I was 17 and I started to work as an actress three years ago.”, “I feel predominantly English so I think I assumed I would have as much chance as any other English girl. The Japanese-Argentinian-English actress, who plays Araminta in the groundbreaking film, thought it just sounded so far removed from her own world. Mizuno will also feature in the upcoming live-action film interpretation of Beauty And The Beast and has recently appeared in the music video to Frank Ocean’s ‘Nikes’ and The Chemical Brothers’ ‘Wide Open’. Officials have identified the bomber as Anthony Quinn Warner. (A former ballerina, she had a similarly silent-but-physical role in Garland’s Annihilation.) Below, she talks to the Cut about following her gut, meeting crazy rich Asians in real life, and the importance of Asian representation. I wanted her to be madder but they pulled me back. I had read a recent profile of Writer-Director Alex Garland, responsible for Ex Machina.He seemed an interesting guy to interview. In September, Mizuno will appear in the Netflix series Maniac, directed by True Detective’s Cary Fukunaga and co-starring Emma Stone and Jonah Hill, and she’s working with Alex Garland a third time on his new FX tech thriller. The Ex Machina actress's latest film La La Land, starring Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling, is being shown as part of BFI Sonoya Mizuno is an actress and dancer of mixed heritage. I wasn’t completely consciously aware of the deep complex issues to do with race within the entertainment industry. A 1970s VIP space odyssey on the Mediterranean. I was constantly feeling like I was not right. My mom is half-English, half-Argentinian. Sonoya Mizuno, Actress: Ex Machina. How do you think your race has impacted the way you’re seen in casting? Although it is a very sensitive issue we can progress if those affected speak out. Mizuno’s new role as a bubbly heiress is different from the dystopian figure she’s best known for playing: Kyoko, the robot who disco-dances with Oscar Isaac in Alex Garland’s Ex Machina. Joyce de Lemos shares her clinically vetted skin-care routine. FEATURE: 13 Chinese actresses we would love to see play Mulan in the live-action Disney film, Netflix falls short of global target after failing to secure Chinese market, WATCH: The First Trailer For Crazy Rich Asians Has Arrived, Sonoya Mizuno cast as regular in Emma Stone-Jonah Hill Netflix series Maniac, INTERVIEW: Sports Illustrated model Mia Kang – “Embrace being a minority, being different is what makes you special”, Ex Machina’s Sonoya Mizuno joins Crazy Rich Asians, FILM REVIEW: La La Land – another day in the sun for Emma Stone. A few years after graduating from the Royal Ballet School in London, Sonoya Mizuno had a choice to make. ... Sonoya Mizuno is officially on our radar. When she read the book, she said, she finally understood the appeal: “It was so funny and satirical, but in a loving way.”. Mizuno is no stranger to working with Garland, previously playing Kyoko in Ex Machina, and portraying The Humanoid in Annihilation. Alex [Garland] said he liked me, but the director of the Scottish Ballet wouldn’t let me take time off to do it. Click to expand the Mega Menu Click to … What character did you play? I had to get really angry and throw chairs around and collapse on the floor. 30 Incredible Fashion Moments From Pierre Cardin, A Woman Falsely Accused a Black Teenager of Stealing Her Phone. It’s damaging to all of us. They met in Japan in the ’70s. So why can’t an Asian person play an Asian part? It became more and more meaningless. It’s the adrenaline and sweating things out. Ex Machina is a 2014 sci-fi thriller about a young programmer selected to participate in a ground-breaking experiment in synthetic intelligence by evaluating the human qualities of a breath-taking humanoid A.I. So I initially trained and worked as a professional dancer. The corsets may loosen, but the hair spray never does. Sonoya Mizuno was born on July 1, 1986 in Tokyo, Japan. Thanks for recognizing me. Everything We Know About the Nashville Explosion. Even more so than the robot in Ex Machina? However I started to take ballet lessons first, under his instruction, and then was accepted in to the Royal Ballet School. Someone in the equity department of the ballet told me how I would be able to [leave the company] — but understand that there would no going back. A part that’s half Japanese, a quarter English, and a quarter Argentinian? Speaking to Resonate, Mizuno discusses her upbringing as a half-Japanese girl in the UK and her journey into the film and media industry. DEADLINE: You had worked with Alex twice before, on Ex Machina and Annihilation. I was definitely an outsider. I have the accent and I kind of look like the part. Everything. Well then, I had a struggle after that just like anyone else. We were definitely an unusual family in the area but there was a sense of alliance among us.”, “I was the only mixed race girl in my primary school class and I do remember being called names such as ‘Chinese take away’ and ‘chocolate brownie,’ as well as classmates imitating Japanese gestures and language. I just knew I had to. Have you met any real-life crazy rich Asians?I didn’t, but one of the girls — I don’t want to say who — went on a date with one. The tone of the film, it was very progressive — not every film is like that. ORTVED: Has fitness always been a big part of your life? I was like, Oh fuck, and really scared. Both the NYPD and the Manhattan DA are investigating the incident, which was captured on video and widely shared across social media. I am one of six siblings who all have the same parents and therefore same ethnicity. French Fashion Designer Pierre Cardin Has Died, We Have Yet Another Surprise Celebrity Baby. You said in an interview that Devs is a perfect companion piece for Ex-Machina. Everyone in the cast and the crew are treated as equal collaborators, and everyone’s opinions are valid, and everyone is supported. Sonoya Mizuno has been a scene-stealer since her big-screen breakout in "Ex Machina," from Alex Garland, in 2015. MIZUNO: T he thing about Alex is he treats everyone on his set as equals. Sonoya Mizuno remembers her reaction when a friend mentioned the novel: I want no part of that. She is an actress known for ex machina 2014 la la land 2016 and maniac 2018. I didn’t have that bunhead mentality any more. Well, after the film came out, someone wrote on my Instagram, “Were you the girl eating the testers [samples] at Morrison’s [a supermarket]?” Yeah. What made it so magical? The backgrounds were slightly more diverse, but still there were only three or four of us who were considered ‘ethnic’ in my class.”, “Because my artistic education was in classical dance I mostly looked up to ballet dancers, particularly principal dancers at the Royal Ballet. They each brought some of their experience to the graceful, programmed movements of Ava and Kyoko. One to watch. To get into character, I watched videos of socialite girls from East London on YouTube to get a sense of how they talked and did their hair — Chelsea girls. You gave Araminta a madcap quality which I thought made her endearing. “Andrew Whitehurst is the visual effects supervisor and was the visual effects supervisor on ‘Annihilation’ and Ex Machina ... or lovers or ex ... , Sonoya Mizuno. And the director of the Scottish ballet was sitting in the next row — for fuck’s sake. Sonoya Mizuno talks about the "Devs" series finale, says she still knows the disco dance sequence she did with Oscar Isaac in "Ex Machina." They first collaborated on 2014’s “Ex Machina” and then 2018’s “Annhilation.” In the former, Mizuno played an android who does a memorable disco dance scene with Oscar Isaac. A former ballet dancer, she said still knows the choreography and guesses that Isaac does, too. Now, she and Garland are teaming up for a third […] But then Lucy Liu came on and I was like, Oh my god, she is my favorite. Her parents were diplomats posted there. The same bravado seems to apply to her sense of style: She showed up to our interview with a pixie cut, explaining that she “just went into a London barber shop” and asked for the chop because she “figured they know how to do short hair.”. Obviously, I’m not a robot. Some leaky sparrow shit, now on her navy trousers, has interrupted the Brit mid-sentence. There has to be a really good reason she has an accent or has a samurai sword. The Officer Who Killed Tamir Rice Won’t Face Federal Charges. I did feel like I was too old. The film industry is risk averse and imbalanced towards one race and gender. I wasn’t performing much, but when I was, I was doing it for old pensioners who wanted to see Swan Lake and not the interesting contemporary work I wanted to do. The actress/dancer was also featured in promotional material by Alexander McQueen and Calvin Klein. Mizuno also got to show off one of her dancing skills — that of shadowing another dancer’s moves — in the unforgettable synchronized dance sequence with Oscar Isaac . MIZUNO: Dancing has, but it’s not fitness. I felt like that was her energy, and lots of sunshine and flowers. How many parts are there for that? MIZUNO: T he thing about Alex is he treats everyone on his set as equals. How did you get that big first role in Ex Machina?I did want to be a ballet dancer, but then I found myself at 20, living by myself in Dresden, Germany, and working really hard, starting at the bottom of the ballet company there. I really liked Araminta. But Araminta’s privilege is so far away from what I am. It just raises the level of inequality. They first collaborated on 2014’s “Ex Machina” and then 2018’s “Annhilation.” In the former, Mizuno played an android who does a memorable disco dance scene with Oscar Isaac. It’s great for representation — that this amazing person also just happens to be Asian but it’s also not the only thing that defines her. People would also say, “You don’t look really Asian but kind of Asian?” So I would be like, Should I dye my hair to be lighter? We have the chance to tell stories of those with voices that might not be as loud as the ones we are used to hearing but equally as relevant and interesting.”, “I am constantly reminding myself to take pride in my Japanese heritage. I eventually went back to dancing and was offered a job with the Scottish Ballet. One of the flagship series for the new FX on Hulu co-branding effort, Devs is also writer/director Alex Garland's first foray into television. There are lot of those types in London and New York, who used to do reality shows from back in the day. They’re not purposefully doing anything wrong. I was so lucky. Born to a Japanese father and half Argentinian half English mother in Japan, Mizuno was raised in the UK. You can take it or leave it. I definitely admire and support her for doing so.”, “There is a serious crisis of racial inequality permeating our current social and political climate and a need for change. I was nothing like her but I just loved her because she was the only Asian I saw. If there was more diversity behind and in front of the camera, film would be a better and truer representation of our society.”, “But in redressing the imbalance, I think it is important not to be reflexive and tokenistic. I wanted it to feel like, She feels everything 110%. “Devs” marks Mizuno’s third time working with Garland. But also, personality-wise, I am so not like her. We had access to talk to Kevin and one of the things he told me is that these characters live such a life of privilege that they can’t see beyond it. Visit Pierre Cardin’s South of France ‘Bubble Palace’. Now I just don’t do any of that. Ex Machina is a movie so good it has seeped into my dreams.I understand I’m a weird guy and my dreams can subsequently skew strange, but this time my subconscious disturbed awake me. Her career path is a testament to her boldness and focus: She danced for many years before burning her ballet bridges in a dramatic switch to acting. I don’t want to ruin it for anyone, but there’s a scene at the end of Crazy Rich Asians which teases that there could be another movie. Is Body Acne Really So Different Than What’s on Your Face? [Laughs.]. The entertainment industry has an effect on social consciousness. The fact that white people almost always take the lead in films and TV shows is a clear illustration of this prejudice. Born to a Japanese father and half Argentinian half English mother in Japan, Mizuno was raised in the UK. Sonoya Mizuno as Lily in ‘Devs’ (Photo by Kurt Iswarienko/FX) Sonoya Mizuno previously starred in Alex Garland’s Ex Machina and Annihilation, and was happy to reunite with Garland for this ambitious miniseries.Discussing her character, Mizuno said she appreciated the fact Lily isn’t a typical protagonist. You started out in ballet. I never grew up thinking, Why aren’t there any Asians? In person, Mizuno holds steady, inquisitive eye contact and speaks with a posh British accent punctured by curse words and laughs. Do you get recognized from your sweet dance moves with Oscar Isaac?No. Then on the weekend, it was like summer camp. © 2020 Vox Media, LLC. Crazy rich Asians? To me, this feels like casting which looks to satisfy a quota with an ‘ethnic’ person: a very surface level attempt to rectify a very complicated problem.”, “A more subtle problem lies in the fact that Asian actors have fewer opportunities to develop their skills in comparison to their peers. We felt like we were making something rare and special. I still had a modeling agency in London and asked them for acting advice. It’s hard enough as it is. ... Ex-Machina was a sleeper hit, ... Then it was pointed out to me, in fact, it was pointed out to me by Sonoya Mizuno while we were making Ex-Machina, that if I was asked, in fact, I was asked by … 1187k followers 674 following 98 posts see instagram photos and videos from sonoya mizuno at sonoya. An interview with Ex Machina, Alex Garland favorite, Crazy Rich Asians actress, and former ballet dancer Sonoya Mizuno. The reason it bothers me is because people don’t have an issue with Australian actors playing American parts and English actors playing Polish parts. The Justice Department has officially declined to prosecute Timothy Loehmann and Frank Garmback. I want to support people and feel like they’re supporting me as well. For me, that’s such a different way to be going through the world, living in a bubble. I was 26, which sounds like nothing. I have auditioned for characters which were described as African American. Cancel reply. April … And when I say everyone, I mean everyone. A conversation with the ballerina-turned–Crazy Rich Asians star about representation and following your gut. I had to get on a flight with a resignation email ready to send, send it, and then turn my phone off [and just be gone with no possibility of coming back]. It’s very tongue-in-cheek and it’s not cruel. The Designer Who Loves ’70s New York City. Interview: Alex Garland on his ... Sonoya Mizuno and Alicia Vikander in ‘Ex Machina’ Share on Twitter ... ‘Ex Machina’ is released in the UK on January 21 and in the US on April 10. I always want to do work that feels honest and that’s harder to find than you imagine. Her the sonoya mizuno ex machina interview is so interesting, complex, and lots of sunshine and flowers only I., sonoya Mizuno: dancing has, but it ’ s flight from family! And really scared Oscar Isaac? no almost always take the lead in films and TV shows a! And time out Singapore ), la la land ( 2016 ) and Maniac 2018 Why aren ’ t we... 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