Anna Sawai says she had been planning a biopic about Yoko Ono since her school days and was pursuing material about the artist before Sam Mendes assembled his series of Beatles films and cast her as Ono.
Sawai, 34, told Marie Claire that the idea to play Ono dates back to a high-school mock college interview when she was encouraged to name a figure she would like to portray. She recalled telling her mother that “every story I know in Hollywood is so white,” and was advised to consider Ono.
Later in her career Sawai and her team explored optioning a book about Ono. She learned of Mendes’ project after those early efforts and said Mendes asked her to read the script before signing because “he knew how particular I was about her story.” She was formally announced in October as the actor portraying Ono in the forthcoming Beatles films.
In preparing for the role Sawai has sought direct input from Ono’s family. She has become friendly with Sean Lennon and texts him to fact-check questions about his parents’ feelings on key events.
The films are set to feature Paul Mescal as Paul McCartney, Barry Keoghan as Ringo Starr, Joseph Quinn as George Harrison and Harris Dickinson as John Lennon. Supporting casting includes Saoirse Ronan as Linda McCartney, Aimee Lou Wood as Pattie Boyd and Mia McKenna-Bruce as Maureen Starkey. Sawai also has forthcoming roles in David Leitch’s “How to Rob a Bank” and A24’s “Enemies” opposite Austin Butler.
- Featured image:Anna Sawai/Instagram