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Having failed, but identifying the possibility of disgracing Ishido, she forces his hand by threatening seppuku.
The gambit seems to work until Ishido retaliates by bringing ninjas into the compound to capture Mariko.
She does truly believe death can be a greater cause.
you’re able to live a long life and not make much meaning of it, right?
Or you’ve got the option to die early and still have a big impact.
But once she realizes she wouldnt be able to leave, shes again unable to fulfill that duty.
Now, theres no question: She needs to make a statement against what Ishido is doing.
She wants to make it clear that whats happening is not right.
She wants to serve her lord.
She wants to finish her fathers fight.
Its also just what she wants.
Its a striking culmination of events, too.
Its to prove everyone has been taken hostage.
I think she realizes that they have to force her to stop.
Shes not for violence, but to prove the point, violence has to happen.
What makes it so heavy is that so many people have to die.
Mariko starts out the series a little aimless, like shes drifting through her existence.
How would you describe the arc she goes through over the course ofShogun?Theres so much evolution.
When we first meet her, shes there because shehasto be there.
Once shes given the task of translator, it gives her more meaning.
When Buntaro supposedly dies, we see her come to life a bit.
I loveepisode fourbecause she becomes more free and colorful.
She doesnt feel tied down.
Shes more interesting in some ways.
But when he comes back, she shuts down.
She doesnt want to be there anymore.
Hes accusing her of things, and shes very much lost again.
Thats why she asks forpermission to take her own life.
Thats when she finds clarity and purpose.
She knows her duty.
In this episode, its her performing all of it.
Its so beautiful because we get to see so many different sides of her.
When shes speaking to Ochiba, we see a softer side.
She misses her friend, and she wants her to accept what shes about to do.
When she confronts Ishido and his men, we see her being outspoken and powerful.
That episode was so liberating to shoot, because up until then I had to hold it all in.
Marikos relationship to Christianity is fascinating.
At that moment, she was on the verge of dying and she didnt have anything.
She was drawn to the faith for the belief, not for the politics or the money.
When something saves you, you stick with it.
Thats why she holds it closely to her heart.
At the same time, shes a samurai.
She serves her lord.
But taking your life has a different meaning when youre a Catholic than when youre a samurai.
That seppuku scene is very interesting because she did ask Kiyama-sama to second her.
But he steps in because he cares that much about her.
Its such a beautiful scene because of all the sacrifices everyone is making.
With Blackthorne, she doesnt have to show him any respect.
Yet, he is so understanding.
Hes like, Show me more.
Why are you showing a surface-level face to your husband?
I want to know what you want.
They also get to debate.
I get the sense hes the rare person she gets to have real philosophical conversations with.
Its fascinating to her that hes so, so different.
Where do you personally come down on the definition of freedom?Oh my gosh.
Thats a really good question.
Even while we were doing those scenes, I was questioning what it was.
Thats going way too deep!
Honestly, I dont know what freedom is.
Maybe were not free at all living in this world.
I dont have an answer for that.
He went full out.
I learned so much watching him walk on set and already be Blackthorne.
After talking to him once we wrapped, I was like, This is not the Cosmo I know.
He seems so much softer now.
It was a special experience getting to share all those months with him.
He had very specific thoughts on some lines.
To me, it was like, Well, it could be this, it could be that.
And hes like, No, it has to bethis.
It doesnt make sense!
I loved working with him.
He truly blew my mind.
Ive heard actors can sometimes subconsciously ingest qualities of a character theyve played for a while.
Its a bit weird.
[Laughs] Its not even that Im speaking like Mariko or anything.
Its just not me.
I dont know what was going on.
Maybe I was trying so hard to remove myself from the character that things went a different direction.
What were the biggest things you learned working on this show?There were a lot of smaller things.
I can walk in them properly now.
Those kinds of things.
They were so trusting of each other.
They delegated to the Japanese people when necessary.
Everyone was so respectful, which doesnt happen all the time.
It turned out to be the best and most authentic version of it.
I noticed you used the phrase defer to the Japanese people.
May I ask if you see yourself as Japanese?Oh, Im completely Japanese.
Both my parents are fully Japanese.
I think the only reason people arent sure about it is because I was born in New Zealand.
So I feel very Japanese.
I absolutely define myself as Japanese with elements of a different education because I moved around.
I didnt know you lived in the Philippines!
Did growing up there stick with you?Oh yeah!
I love the Philippines so much.
I remember when we were moving out, I was so sad.
I didnt want to leave.
But yeah, now Japan is my home.
I choose to be here as long as I can.
Thats the beauty of growing up in different countries.
You have different sides, right?
So I dont know what the public is saying.
But Ive gone to theaters to watch a movie where they showed the trailer forShogun.
To see something not made in Japan be celebrated here I havent seen that before.
Youve had a busy stretch of late:Pachinko,Monarch, nowShogun.
Whats next for you?Weve finished Pachinko season two, so that should be coming out soon.
But right now, Im focusing on doing press forShogunand seeing how it lands.
I have no idea what my year is going to look like yet, so well have to see.
Im a huge fan ofGiri/Haji, in which you had one of your first roles.
Is season two ever happening?Oh my gosh!
you better talk to Tak [Takehiro Hira, who plays Ishido].
I mean, we shot that in 20182019, so its been a couple of years.
If they wanted to do another season, I would love to read it.
It ends where there could be a season two, right?
That was so lovely.
I should write to Julian Farino and see if theres anything going on.
This interview has been edited and condensed.
