Sawajiri Erika

Sawajiri Erika (沢尻エリカ) is a Japanese actress, model, gravure idol, and most recently singer under the stage name ERIKA. Debuting in 1999, she has participated in films such as "Pacchigi" and dramas such as "1 Litre no Namida". Known for having an attitude or "sharp tongue," she is often the target of harsh criticism from the Japanese media.

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Beginning

Sawajiri Erika grew up in Tokyo, Japan with her mother, father, and two siblings. Her father was a famous horse racer, and owned about sixteen horses including the famous Edonokoban. She grew up riding horses, but decided to enter the entertainment business because she wanted to meet her idol, Amuro Namie. Sawajiri Erika passed the Stardust audition in 1999 after graduating from elementary school. The following year she became part of the idol unit "ANGEL EYES" and began modelling for junior fashion magazines like CUTiE and nicola. In 2001 she won the Grand Prize for that year's Seikore and became a regular on the BS news program Harajuku Launchers.

In 2002 Erika began taking on more tasks as an actress and gravure idol. She was one of Fuji TV's Visual Queens for the year (along with Ichikawa Yui, Karina, and Yarita Ayano), and also had a part in the film Mondai no nai Watashitachi. She became a regular of the NTV music variety show THE YORU mo Hit Parade from April to late June, and shortly before leaving the program was on the CX News program Chou VIP Fortune no Tobira from mid-June to late August. In November she was on the CBC variety show Bijou Dokyuu and also on the TBS show B-1.

Rise to Fame

Erika continued her work into 2003, this time getting roles in PVs. She also began acting in various dramas, including a small role in the popular drama HOTMAN. In 2004 Erika continued to act in dramas, but it can be said she earned the most attention in 2005 for her portrayal of Ikeuchi Aya in the drama 1 Litre no Namida, a young girl with a degenerating brain disease that affects one's motor skills. It was also in 2005 that she starred in the film PACCHIGI!. 2006 proved to be yet another busy year for Erika, as she starred in two films and the drama adaptation of Taiyou no Uta. She also released a single in her role as Amane Kaoru for the drama entitled "Taiyou no Uta", of which rocker Shiratori Maika penned the lyrics for. The single became the highest selling female single of 2006, selling close to 500,000 copies. The year 2007 turned out to be Erika's busiest year yet. She began a radio show, filmed a movie, traveled through Europe shooting a photobook, appeared in over 20 commercials, began a music career, and had over 150 public appearances within the span of a few months.

Controversy

After Erika's success in 2006 and 2007, her schedule for 2008 looked to be pretty busy too, until the end of the year, when she caused quite a big scandal when she showed up at the premiere for Closed Note with a sullen face, and gave the reporters short, snappy answers. Erika was already known to have an attitude, and this event only worsened her image. The movie she was set to begin filming in February has been delayed to find a new lead actress, her spring dorama and various other plans were also canceled.

Personal Life / Hiatus

On January 4, 2008, Erika was seen with her boyfriend Tsuyoshi Takashiro at Narita Airport, heading to London. Erika will be taking a break in London, England for a majority of the year. Her 2008 schedule is blank for a while, at least until summer. Her management is rumored to be planning her "comeback" for the autumn of this year. Various news reports stated that Erika and her boyfriend had already purchased a high class apartment in England and are currently living together and may get married by the end of the year. It has also been reported that Erika is taking one-on-one lessons with a language teacher to learn English. This became evident when Erika was seen talking to reporters, and shouting swear words in English while at the airport.

On April 5, Erika stated that she was going to leave Takashiro in London, heading back to Tokyo. On April 8, she celebrated her twenty-second birthday. On April 11, she stated that on April 10 she went back to London.

Categories: Gravure | J-Actress | Artists | J-Pop | Blood Type A | 1986 Births | Tokyo Artists