Actress Mei Hata

She once gave up on being an actress, but changed her mindset and found acting to be her calling

Actress Mei Hata

■ 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." Her solid acting skills and overwhelming clarity made her an instant hit. The film "You're Special" will be released on Friday, June 20, 2025. She co-stars with Naniwa Danshi's Ohashi Kazuya.

Hata Megumi has starred in the drama "The Best Student: The Last Dance with One Year Left to Live" and the movie "But, Chiki-kun is Too Sweet." She has become famous for her outstanding acting skills and overwhelming clarity.Movie "You are special"She is a promising young actress who has co-starred in "You Are Special." We asked her about her path to becoming an actress and the highlights of "You Are Special."

I decided to pursue a career as an actress when I was in my second year of high school. When it came time to choose my career path, there was a time when I was really worried about whether I should continue in the entertainment industry. I've been working in the entertainment industry since I was one year old, but I've had many dreams since I was a child. I loved dancing, and there was a time when I aspired to become a choreographer or instructor, and there was also a time when I was fascinated by Korean culture and dreamed of working in a job that made use of my Korean language skills. When I was in high school, I simply enjoyed acting, but I was interested in a lot of different things, so I never thought of acting as my lifelong career.

■To make acting seem like my calling

When I entered high school and the time to choose my future career path approached, I began to consider acting as I pondered my future path. I've always been the type of person who easily compares myself to others and gets depressed, so I wanted time away from thinking about work, and sometimes I even considered going to college like my classmates. That's when my manager told me, "There are a lot of people who want to see Meiku's acting." I realized there were people who wanted to keep me going, and I was filled with gratitude. I'm the type of person who gets bored easily, but I think I'm the type who sticks with things I love. Acting is the only thing I've been able to continue doing in my life, so I want to be able to proudly say that this is my calling.

■Compare yourself to your past self, not to others

I think the appeal of acting is that by playing someone other than yourself, you can improve your imagination and human qualities. Looking back on my time as a child actor, I had many worries, such as feeling inferior to the child actors around me who passed auditions, and brooding over my own shortcomings. When I'm in trouble, I often talk to someone about it, and one of my favorite sayings is, "Don't compare yourself to others, compare yourself to your past self." If you've grown even a little compared to your past self, that will surely lead to confidence. I want to learn to love myself a little more by setting small goals and gaining success.

■Movie "You are special"

I personally love the works of manga artist Koda Momoko-sensei, and I am very happy to be playing the lead role this time. While reading the original work, I got excited imagining what kind of character I would play. Sahoko, the character I play, has a very pure personality despite having trauma from the past, and I feel that she is similar to me in that she is expressive and emotional. Ohashi-san's character, Kota, is such a sparkling character that it would not be an exaggeration to say he is sure to become a national idol, and I looked forward to seeing how Ohashi-san would play him every time. Sahoko is a memorable character with a unique personality and a fast-talking nature, so I carefully portrayed her as an important element of the comedy. I hope you will enjoy the show at the theater.

■ Creating a fun workplace

My goal for the future is to become an actress who can win awards. I want to act in a way that will be recognized by people who see my work and discover me. I try to make my work fun. Since I've been getting more leading roles, I've been more conscious of trying to improve the atmosphere on set. It's only when the atmosphere on set is good that good works can be made. I want to make creating a good atmosphere the most important thing so that I can contribute to making good works.

■Message to university students

I turned 23 this year, and even now I sometimes think about becoming a teacher, something I've dreamed of since childhood. I've now chosen the path of acting, but I still believe I can do anything I want. I want people to listen to their true feelings and think carefully about what they want to do, without being bound by the environment they're in now.

Interview with Student Newspaper Online on March 9, 2025 by Sophia University third-year student, Himari Shirasaka

Hair and makeup: Nagafumi Suganaga / Stylist: Masako Hirata / Photographer: Kosuke Shimoda

Clothing
Striped knit ¥16,000/THE△TOÉ
Skirt ¥17,900/DESIGUAL
Sandals ¥23,100/ALM.
Earrings ¥8,200/viola (Rhodes)
Gold ring ¥7,300/Kurorekoko (Rhodes)
Silver ring ¥33,000/SUQUA