Misa Hibi: Turning Adversity into Possibilities

■ Profile

Born September 20th, 1998 in Kanagawa Prefecture.
She was a former member of Dream5. After the group ended, she began working as an actress.
His major appearances include the dramas "Class 3A: From Now On, You Are All Hostages" and "Midsummer Boy - 19452020", the films "Machida-kun's World" and "I Lived", and the stage play "The Tree in the Sun".

Galileo★CV2, an original musical based on a novel by Higashino Keigo, will be performed at the Hakuhinkan Theater in Tokyo from Wednesday, April 13th to Sunday, April 17th.

Hibi Misa auditioned for Tensai Terebi Kun Max and has been on the path to becoming a celebrity ever since. Upon graduating from high school, she ended her activities with Dream5 and was forced to choose between starting from scratch and doing something different, or continuing on the same path as before. We asked her about her career and why she chose to become an actress.

■The trigger for his entertainment career was an audition for Tensai Terebi-kun Max

My first career opportunity came when, at the recommendation of my dance school teacher, I applied for the nationwide auditions for Tensai Terebi-kun Max. I've always loved singing, dancing, and anything that would make me stand out. I passed the audition and, as part of Dream5, I opened for AAA, building my career and even performed at the Red and White Song Battle with the song "Yo-Kai Taisou Daiichi." When the group went on hiatus in 2017, I began to think about my future for the first time. At the time, I was extremely anxious about losing everything I'd built up and starting from scratch. Then, I saw a play and realized my potential, thinking, "I too could become a character in this story," and became interested in acting. I talked to my parents and staff about it, and although people around me told me, "You'll lose everything you've built up until now and start from scratch, is that okay?" I decided to give acting a try because I only have one life, so I started.

■The hardest part of being an actress is "playing someone else"

I'm not very confident, but it's fun and feels good to take on a new role. There are many scenes that I would never experience if I were just living my normal life. When I encounter such scenes, I feel that they have had a positive effect on my life.
The most memorable set was "Class 3A: From Now On, You Are All Hostages." I felt so happy to be on set. We filmed all day in a classroom studio, so I felt like I was immersed in the role and the story, and for the first time, I lost track of myself and my role. I think any job is difficult, but the hardest part about being an actress is "playing someone other than yourself." For me, makeup and costumes are often my switch of choice, but when I first started acting, I wasn't used to switching roles, and I couldn't process it well, so I sometimes took it out on my mother.

■ In the drama "Liar," he saw himself in a character

　I was very happy when I was chosen to appear in the dTV original drama "Liar: Passing by Love."
　The character I play, Nao, is a rich young lady who lives a life of luxury, but she doesn't want to be tied down, so she goes out to bars every night to find her soulmate. However, when romance is involved, Nao becomes pitiful and pure, so I found common ground in that and played the role. The key to creating the character was to think, "Maybe this could happen to me," and then approach the role.
　She's a short-haired woman who loves "The Little Prince," and I also really love "The Little Prince." I also got the job just as I had cut my hair short, so I felt like it was fate.
　One of the highlights of the drama is how the perspective changes constantly between the female and male perspectives, which is something you won't find in other dramas. Being able to see love from a third-person perspective is appealing. The script was also interesting because it was written from the perspective of each character. Even in the same scene, the inner thoughts are different, so I read the script over and over again. Director Kumasaka Izuru gave me advice about the production, but he also listened to everyone's opinions, so there was a sense of unity as we all worked together to create the set.
　As an actress, one thing I've been trying to make important recently is not to lie when reading a script. I want to cherish how I feel when I read the script. Rather than trying to make myself look good with the camera angle or whether I should make the food look delicious, I try to focus on how I feel as I am, without being conscious of the camera. What I want to convey to viewers through this work is that this drama ends on a positive note for both Ideno and Nao, who were unable to become positive about love. I believe that no matter what the outcome, it will be a good thing that you have taken a courageous step, so I hope it will inspire you to take a step forward.

I would like to appear in another film directed by Ishii Yuya someday.

My future dream is to appear in more productions and encounter a variety of roles. I want to broaden my horizons, gain more experience and knowledge, and meet more people. Through my work as an actress, I've developed a sense of self-belief and have come to believe that I could do so much more. I think I was also inspired in part by Nao from "Liar," who is so straightforward about what she wants to do. There are many people, including hair and makeup artists, who help me with my character, but once I'm on set, I have no choice but to do my best, which can feel lonely and anxious. But filming only lasts for a moment, so I tell myself I just have to do my best with what I have now, and I'm doing my best. I've always wanted to try acting in an adult romance drama, so this dream has come true.
Also, I previously appeared in the film "Machida-kun no Sekai" directed by Ishii Yuya, and I've never forgotten the experience there, so I hope to work with Ishii again someday. Both my father and mother love movies, so my goal is to appear in a film that they can say "I saw it at the cinema." I want to continue working hard as an actress.

■Message to university students

When I graduated from high school, Dream's activities ended, and for the first time I thought about my future. At first, I was scared to step into a completely new place. However, that step is a very worthwhile one. I still have a long way to go, but I am living life to the fullest, and I think there are some people in university who are worried about their future, but I hope to work hard with them. I support everyone's bright future.

Interview with Student Newspaper Online on March 3, 2022 by Minako Omagari, a first-year student at Musashino Academia Musicae