Actress Mei Hata　

I want to make the work even more wonderful by performing it myself.

actress　畑芽育(Hata Mei)

■ Profile
Actress. Born April 10, 2002, in Tokyo. She began acting at a young age, and in 2023, she played her first leading role in "But, Chiki-kun is Too Sweet," where she quickly became a hot topic for her solid acting skills and overwhelming clarity. From October, she will appear in "Little Women: Sisters in Love and Me Who Doesn't Love." Her first starring role in the film "Sorry About My Little Brothers" is scheduled for release on December 6th.

◆Please tell us about a turning point in your life.

When I was 15, I seriously considered whether or not I wanted to continue working. Just as I was thinking of quitting, my manager, who is still in charge of me today, said to me, "If you think you might have regrets, I want you to continue a little longer," and I made the decision to continue at the last minute. I can't imagine what I'd be doing now if he hadn't persuaded me to stay then. I learned firsthand that life can change with just a little bit of timing or words. I feel like God is telling me, "This is the only job you have."

◆Please tell us how it feels to be the lead this time

First, the original "うちの哥どもがすみませんWhen I read "I Am the Youngest," I was anxious about playing the eldest daughter, since I am actually the youngest child. But as I read on, I realized that Ito, the character I play, is a brave and adorable girl who is anxious about being an older sister for the first time, but pushes forward with all her might, and because I have never been an older sister myself, I felt that I could start from the same perspective. I played the role with the hope that by playing Ito, I could make this work even more wonderful.

◆Please tell us your future goals.

I want to continue doing my best, never forgetting my gratitude for the opportunity to star in a production. My goal is to become an actor who can bring a sense of security to a production through my performance.

Student newspaper October 1, 2024 issue Rinno Koshiyama, 10nd year student at Toyo University

◆After the interview
I think it's fascinating that her brave personality is reflected in her acting, such as in "The Best Student" and "9-Border." As I listened to her story, I realized that it's her resilience that has allowed her to be so successful. I realized that it's important to have the mindset to enjoy taking on a difficult path and working hard.
Himari Shirasaka, third-year student at Sophia University

Yurie Watanabe, first-year student at Josai International University; Rinno Koshiyama, second-year student at Toyo University; Karin Ishimatsu, second-year student at Tsuda University; Chisaki Hashimoto, third-year student at Toyo University

Photography: Kosuke Shimoda