Shioli Kutsuna On Prioritizing Your Instincts, Staying Curious and the Apple TV+ Series ‘Invasion’
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Shioli was virtually photographed at Happo-en Garden in Tokyo; she was styled by Masae Sakurai / Irakusa; Hair and Makeup by Noriyoshi Yamada
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Hi Shioli, it’s lovely to meet you! I’d love to hear more about your background and how you arrived to where you are today. What type of child were you when you were growing up? When did you realize that you wanted to act and be a performer?
It’s nice to meet you! I was born and raised in Sydney, Australia and moved to Japan when I was 14. I took dance lessons and played a little bit of piano when I was a child so I enjoyed performing and expressing myself through them, but I was also extremely shy and didn't like to be the center of attention. I never imagined myself pursuing a career like acting. When I was 13, I auditioned for a sort of beauty contest in Japan as an excuse to visit Tokyo. I was flown in, signed a contract with a Japanese agent and it all sort of took off from there.
You were born in Australia and moved to Japan when you were 14. Was that an easy transition and adjustment for you? Where do you call home now?
It was really challenging to be honest. I was at an age where I was still so sensitive to everything and not mature enough to process all the emotions I was feeling through the transition. I was living without my family, there were cultural differences, and it was a whole different world that I had to understand and adjust to. I am currently living in Tokyo where I've spent my last 14 years.
You’ve starred in mega hits like Deadpool 2 and worked alongside the likes of Jared Leto and Adam Sandler. What would you say has guided your career so far and was there one opportunity that shaped you the most?
I think I've been lucky to meet the right people and I've had amazing mentors I can look up to who have great taste in film. When you first start out, or at least for me, I was clueless like a babe in the woods, so it definitely helped that I had great people around me to guide me through my first steps. Other than that, I've always prioritized my instincts and went with my gut rather than overthinking too much about the pros or cons when deciding on a project.
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How do you deal and navigate with ups and downs and the rejection side of the business?
I try to see it in a positive light, that this time this role wasn't for me and that there's something else out there that I would connect with more. I try not to focus too much on the negative aspects.
I’d love to get your thoughts here about inclusion and diversity. It’s so vital that people from all walks of life see themselves represented on the big and small screens. Since you first started, have you seen a change? What else does the industry need to do to move the needle in a better direction?
Well, I've only been in the Hollywood business for a few years, so I can only speak from my own experience, but for me it was a challenge itself to leave the industry in Japan and to explore something new. One thing that I do think is essential when working on a project that is handling different ethnicities and cultures is to always have someone who is an expert on set. It's really simple but sometimes as actors, we don't always get that sense of security and it's a feeling of responsibility, in a way, to your people back home.
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Now to talk about Apple TV+’s Invasion, congratulations on the project! How did the part come to you and what was your initial reaction when you read the part for your character, Mitsuki?
I went through a few auditions to land the role. I did all scenes both in English and Japanese as my character speaks Japanese throughout the whole series. I immediately connected and fell in love with her when I read the script; how she has such strong beliefs and stands tall in an environment of feeling like an outsider, how she is able to be so reckless and throw everything she has left of her to save the one person that she truly loves. Something about her being so empowering but so fragile at the same time; I love that about her.
Your character is an intelligent member of mission control in JASA, Japan’s space program. What did you do to prepare for the role?
Preparation for any role is important, but I have to say for this role in particular it was probably the most important process. As I hardly had any scenes with my co-star who meant everything to my character, having that personal connection was so important to me.
Where did you film the series and was the current situation of the world a catalyst for you to easily jump into the role?
We shot my part of the story in New York, London and Tokyo. We took a half a year break in between due to Covid and the storyline and reality could not have been more parallel. It was such a surreal and terrifying experience.
The co-creator Simon Kinberg said that the show was designed to make people feel. When you sign onto a new project, are you inspired by important messages that the audience could take away? What do you think the message is in Invasion?
These messages are everything to me when participating in a new project. Invasion focuses on the individual characters all coming from different cultures, backgrounds, age, ethnicity; it's truly a character-driven story. All these characters come together for a singular mission and they're connected through these emotional experiences.
Have you given much thought since the role about extraterrestrial life and things that could exist beyond earth?
Yes! I'm curious to meet them.
What type of work inspires or excites you the most?
I think a role that speaks to me personally would always be the most attractive and exciting to me.
Outside of acting, what else are you passionate about?
I love to cook, play instruments occasionally, do pottery, take care of my plants and play golf!
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How do you nurture your mind and your body as an artist and performer?
Follow where your curiosity leads you. A picture is worth a thousand words!
