Wakana Aoi I want to encourage someone by acting in the fictional world of acting.

actress　Wakana Aoi(Aoi Wakana)

■ Profile
Since her debut, she has been active in film productions, and in recent years has expanded her horizons to include stage work and narration. In 2017, she played the heroine in the TV drama series "Warotenka," and in 2019, she made her stage debut in the musical "Romeo & Juliet." Her recent appearances include the TV dramas "How to Spend 3,000 Yen" and "Dr. Chocolate."

◆Please tell us an episode from your school days.

I was scouted and have been working in the entertainment industry since I was 10 years old, so I have always been able to balance work and studies. There were difficult times, but as I continued working from a young age, I came to appreciate more strongly the joy of acting in a fictional world and the responsibility of being in the public eye. When I was a student, I was saved from my troubles by characters in novels and anime, so now I too would like to help and encourage others through this work.

◆Musical 『AnastasiaAbout the appeal of

This work is a story of love and adventure that follows the journey of the main character, Anya, who has lost her memory, as she tries to rediscover her past and find her beloved family and a place to return to. The appeal of the work as a whole is its bold and romantic portrayal of a fantasy world.
I would also like you to pay attention to the character of Anya, the main character I play. Anya is a strong girl who carves out her own path in life despite the anxiety of having lost her memory. In acting, I made a conscious effort to think about and confront even things that aren't written in the script, such as what anxieties and thoughts lie behind that strength. In this success story, I want to play a realistic, three-dimensional Anya that everyone will want to root for.

◆Message to students

My life changed when I turned 18, and the way I approached work changed my life. I think that students are also at a time when change is likely to occur.AnastasiaI would be happy if Anya's performance in "Anyah" gives everyone an encouragement. Please come and see the play!

musical"Anastasia'

■Tokyo September 12th - October 7th Tokyu Theatre Orb

■Osaka October 19th to 31st Umeda Arts Theater Main Hall

Cast: Wakana Aoi, Haruka Kinoshita, Naoto Kaiho, Yuki Aiba, Hiroki Utsumi

■After the interview　
He answered each and every question sincerely. One thing that really stood out to me was his words, "I enjoy the process of creating a character, studying the historical background of the work and imagining the parts of the character that aren't even written in the script." I'm so grateful for this valuable opportunity.

Student Newspaper, October 1, 2023 Issue, Sophia University, 10nd Year, Minami Yoshikawa