Interview by Carol Wright | Feature Image Courtesy of Warner Brothers | Photographer: Irvin Rivera
Although she was shy as a child, Chikako Fukuyama grew up to love performing on stage. This led her to where she is now: acting alongside Nicholas Hoult, J.K. Simmons, and Leslie Bibb in Clint Eastwood’s film Juror No. 2. Fukuyama talked to NYOTA about preparing for her role, the film’s premiere, and learning to live in the moment while on set.
As a child, did you enjoy putting on performances for family members?
I remember making my family laugh and being silly in front of them. Despite how much I loved to perform in front of my family, I was so shy in public. My mom struggled to keep me in front of her because I always hid behind her legs.
You grew up acting on stage in Japan. What made you want to switch to acting for film and TV?
Yes, I learned the joy of acting from my childhood theatrical company, but at the same time, I was on a long-run TV series as well that was shot in my hometown, Nagoya. A lot of the students from my theatrical academy were also on the same TV show, and we had fun working on both.
Tell our readers about your role in Juror No. 2. What did you do to prepare?
Keiko has a medical background. I didn’t receive my script until a few weeks after being confirmed for the film, so in the meantime, I bought some medical textbooks and read them every day. I honestly didn’t know if it would help me create my character, but I just couldn’t stop from starting to do something for my part.
The film has a strong cast, and you’re one of the only Asian cast members. Can you speak a bit about the importance of diversity in large casts, especially in a film about this subject matter?
Juries naturally represent the diversity we have in the States, and Asians make up a large percentage of America.
Through working on Juror No. 2, did you gain newfound knowledge about the American legal system? If so, how did that aid your performance?
Japan, where I grew up, doesn’t have a system of jury duty. I learned how trials work and the importance of having a variety of opinions when judging truth. Just as I was learning the system of the trial on set, Keiko was learning about the same things for her first trial.
How did it feel to premiere Juror No. 2 at AFI Fest? Was it exciting to hear or see reactions to the film in real-time?
It was my first official premiere screening, and I was just so honored to be there alongside such an amazing cast and crew, especially since AFI Fest is where some of Clint Eastwood’s previous films premiered.
Juror No. 2 could be Clint Eastwood’s last film. What did you learn from working with him?
I hope this is not! I was really happy that he trusted all the actors and let us do what felt natural in the scenes. I learned not to do too much and to just live in the moment.
What advice do you have for aspiring actors?
Well, I am still an aspiring actor, so I would tell myself to enjoy everyday life, then take that energy and bring it into my acting.