Anne Watanabe(渡辺 杏, Watanabe An; born 14 April 1986) is a Japanese fashion model, actress and singer, the daughter of film actor Ken Watanabe and his first wife Yumiko. In her modeling work, she is known by the mononym Anne.

Career

Watanabe's first high-profile modeling season was spring/summer 2007, in which she was featured in runway shows for Anna Sui, Diane von Furstenberg, Tommy Hilfiger, and Vivienne Tam, among others. She also walked for Baby Phat, Imitation of Christ, Karl Lagerfeld, Lacoste, Marc by Marc Jacobs, and Thakoon in subsequent seasons.

Watanabe has been featured in print advertisements for Anna Sui and NARS Cosmetics. She was the main visual model for Sui's Secret Wish Magic Romance fragrance for both print and video.

Personal life

In Japan, Watanabe is also a well-known reki-jo (history girl) -- a female history otaku. She can speak English and French to some extent. On 21 September 2023, she participated in the annual World Jigsaw Puzzle Championship.

Marriage and family

Watanabe married actor Masahiro Higashide on 1 January 2015. On 16 May 2016, Watanabe gave birth to twin daughters. On 7 November 2017, she gave birth to a son.

On 23 January 2020, Shūkan Bunshun revealed that Watanabe's husband had been having an extramarital affair with actress Erika Karata since 2017, when Watanabe was pregnant with their third child, which was later confirmed by Higashide's agency. On 1 August 2020, Watanabe finalized her divorce with Higashide, promising that they would work together to take care of the children.

Watanabe and her children are currently residing in France as of August 2022.

Filmography

Television

YearTitleRoleNotesRef.
2007High and LowDetectiveTelevision film
2009TenchijinMegohimeTaiga drama
The Gorgeous SpyMiku Hirahara
Samurai High SchoolAi Nagasawa
2010ShinzanmonoNaho KamikawaEpisode 1
Don't Cry AnymoreMarika Tachibana
JokerAsuka Myagi
2011Desperate MotherhoodYuko AkiyamaLead role
Yokai Ningen BemBela
2012Taira no KiyomoriHōjō MasakoTaiga drama
2013xxxHOLiCYuko IchiharaLead role
Ghostly GirlAkane
Bon Appetit!Meiko UnoLead role; Asadora
2014–15Hanasaki Mai Speaks OutMai HanasakiLead role
2015Dating: What's It Like to Be in Love?Yoriko YabushitaLead role
2021Japan Sinks: People of HopeMinori Shiina
2026Blood and SweatAki SuzumiyaLead role; Finnish-Japanese drama

Film

YearTitleRoleNotesRef.
2008The Cherry Orchard: Blossoming
2010Bandage
2011Ninja Kids!!!Shina Yamamoto
2012Yōkai Ningen Bem: The MovieBela
2013Platinum Data
Midsummer's Equation
2015Miss HokusaiOei (voice)
2016Lost and Found
Golden Orchestra!Lead role
2019Birthday Wonderland
2021CubeAsako Kai
2022The Deer KingSae (voice)
Tombi: Father and SonYumi
2023Tokyo MER: Mobile Emergency Room: The MovieYū Kamoi
Kingdom 3: The Flame of DestinyZhi Xia
Fly Me to the Saitama: From Biwa Lake with Love
Totto-Chan: The Little Girl at the WindowTotto-Chan's mother (voice)
2024Stay MumChisakoLead role
2025The Solitary GourmetChiaki Matsuo

Radio

  • Book Bar (2008–present, J-Wave)

Documentary

  • Asia's Great Ruins (Also known as Ring of Civilization, 2015, NHK, as navigator)

Discography

Mini-albums

  • Lights (2010, Epic/Sony)
  • Ai o Anata ni (2012, Epic/Sony)

Awards and nominations

Year presented, name of the award ceremony, category, nominee(s) of the award, and the result of the nomination
YearAward ceremonyCategoryNominated work(s)ResultRef.
200649th FECJ AwardsInternational Model of the YearHerselfWon
201064th Television Drama Academy AwardsBest Supporting ActressNaka nai to Kimeta HiWon
201236th Elan d'or AwardsNewcomer of the YearWon
5th Tokyo Drama AwardsBest Supporting ActressYōkai Ningen BemWon
201523rd Hashida AwardNewcomer of the YearGochisousan and Hanasaki Mai ga DamattenaiWon
52nd Galaxy AwardIndividual AwardHanasaki Mai Speaks Out, Kuroha, and Date – Koi to wa Donna Mono KashiraWon

External links