Anna Sawai is previewing her role as Yoko Ono in filmmaker Sam Mendes‘ quartet of Beatles films.
Speaking to People in a new interview, the Emmy-winning Shōgun actress said it was “exciting” to portray the Japanese artist, whose marriage to co-lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist John Lennon catapulted her into another stratosphere of fame.
“It’s just exciting because her story is so inspirational to me, and people really don’t know the true person that she was,” Sawai explained.
The Monarch: Legacy of Monsters star continued, “She’s an incredible artist. And also, she just was an independent woman and people didn’t like that. They wanted John for themselves and she was an easy target. And I think it’s very meaningful for me to be able to tell her story.”
Sawai also shared what her favorite aspect of Ono, now 93, is: “Just how bold she is. Oh my God, I love her. She’s so cool.”
As previously announced, four separate theatrical biopics are launching concurrently from the Oscar-winning Mendes in April 2028. The quartet of lads cast to portray each member of the iconic British band are: Paul Mescal as Paul McCartney, Joseph Quinn as George Harrison, Barry Keoghan as Ringo Starr and Harris Dickinson as Lennon. In addition to Sawai, Mia McKenna-Bruce, Saoirse Ronan and Aimee Lou Wood are rounding out the cast of important women in the musicians’ lives.
The project marks the first time that Apple Corps Ltd. and The Beatles — McCartney, Starr and the families of the late Lennon and Harrison — have granted full life story and music rights for a scripted film.