Anna Sawai bags her first Golden Globe as best actress for Shōgun

Anna Sawai has made a splash in Hollywood by taking home her first Golden Globe, in the category of Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series — Drama, at the 2025 ceremony. She was awarded for her acting in FX’s Shōgun, where she plays Toda Mariko, a Christian noblewoman trying to find her way through the political and cultural chaos of Japan in the 1600s.

This victory makes Sawai the second Japanese actress to win the honor since Yôko Shimada in 1981. Incidentally, Shimada, too, won the trophy playing Toda Mirako in a 1980 series version of Shogun that aired on NBC. Both shows are based on James Clavell's book of the same name.

When she went up on stage to accept her award, Anna Sawai gave a sincere speech. She threw in some humor, too, talking about her fellow nominee Kathy Bates:

“I would vote for Kathy Bates any day.”

Slipping into a gorgeous Dior dress that took 450 hours to make, Anna Sawai didn't just knock the socks off the audience with her acting chops, she was a red-carpet superstar, too.

She wore her Cartier necklace with class and showed everyone she's on top when it comes to the style game. This victory is yet another feather in her cap after she made history with her Emmy win in 2024. Sawai has been on a steady climb up the Hollywood ladder, and it is clear she won't slow down anytime soon.

The Shōgun role that redefined Anna Sawai’s career

In the series Shōgun, Sawai's portrayal of Toda Mariko brought to life the connection between two very different places and times — 17th-century Japan and the European explorers who ended up shipwrecked on the nation's shores. This character was deep and had a sadness that viewers and critics couldn't get enough of.

Anna Sawai said a big part of why it worked so well was because the show had "incredible writers" who wrote a script that gave her the chance to challenge herself as an actress.

During her acceptance speech at the Golden Globe ceremony, her voice was full of emotion, and you could tell she was moved by the experience:

“Without a good script, it’s not possible to give a performance to our fullest potential.”

FX and Disney's take on James Clavell's popular book published in 1975 has received a lot of love for how well it tells the story and shows different cultures in the right way. Hiroyuki Sanada plays Lord Toranaga and Cosmo Jarvis is cast as John Blackthorne in the show, and they're doing a great job leading the cast.

Shogun won four awards at the 2025 Golden Globes ceremony. Sawai apart, the series was declared Best Television Series — Drama. Hiroyuki Sanada won in the category of Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series — Drama, while Tadanobu Asano won the award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Television Series.

Anna Sawai's performance as Mariko is, however, special. She's a Christian noblewoman who's tangled in loyalty and love, and she breathed life into the complex role with balancing toughness with the character's softer side.

Anna Sawai wows the red carpet at the Golden Globes

Sawai's triumphant night at the Golden Globes 2025 is a big boost for her acting career, and it marked a fashion win for the actress, too. She looked amazing on the red carpet in a custom-made Dior dress. The simple but eye-catching creation comprised a leather top and flowy silk skirt. Her stylist, Karla Welch, played a big role in making sure that Sawai looked incredible.

Karla been helping Anna Sawai pick outfits to suit her petite frame, and transform her into a power star for the red carpet. Since her groundbreaking Emmy win, Sawai has emerged as a fashion superstar. She has been wearing chic outfits including a puffy skirt from Louis Vuitton and a Vera Wang dress that made her look like a mermaid.

Anna Sawai told WWD: