Machiko Kyō facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Machiko Kyō
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| 京 マチ子 | |
Kyō in 1959
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| Born |
Motoko Yano (矢野 元子)
March 25, 1924 Osaka, Japan
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| Died | May 12, 2019 (aged 95) Tokyo, Japan
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| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 1936–2006 |
Machiko Kyō (京 マチ子, Kyō Machiko, March 25, 1924 – May 12, 2019) was a famous Japanese actress. She was most active in the 1950s and starred in many important films.
Contents
Early Life and Acting Start
Machiko Kyō was born as Motoko Yano in Osaka, Japan, in 1924. She was an only child. Her father left when she was five years old, so her mother and grandmother raised her.
When she was 12, in 1936, she began her acting journey. She chose the stage name Machiko Kyō. She first trained as a dancer for stage shows called revues. Later, in 1949, she joined the film company Daiei Film. Just two years later, she became famous around the world. This happened when she played the main female role in Akira Kurosawa's movie Rashomon. This film won a big award at the Venice Film Festival and surprised audiences with its unique storytelling.
Her Film Career and Famous Roles
Kyō starred in many other Japanese movies. Some of her well-known films include Ugetsu (1953), Gate of Hell (1953), Odd Obsession (1959), and Floating Weeds (1959).
She also acted in one non-Japanese film. This was The Teahouse of the August Moon (1956). In this movie, she played a young geisha named Lotus Blossom. She acted alongside famous American actors Marlon Brando and Glenn Ford. For this role, she was nominated for a Golden Globe Award.
Machiko Kyō continued acting even when she was in her 80s. Her last acting job was in a TV show called Haregi Koko Ichiban in 2000. In 2017, she received a special award at the 40th Japanese Academy Awards for her amazing career. After she stopped acting in films, she moved back to Osaka, where she lived until she passed away.
Personal Life and Legacy
Machiko Kyō never got married. She passed away on May 12, 2019, at the age of 95, due to heart failure. She left behind a legacy of memorable performances in both Japanese and international cinema.
Honors and Awards
- Medal with Purple Ribbon (1987)
- Order of the Precious Crown, 4th Class, Wisteria (1994)
Images for kids
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1950 film Rashomon with Toshiro Mifune
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1953 film Jigokumon with Kazuo Hasegawa
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1954 film The Princess Sen with Kenji Sugawara
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1955 film Princess Yang Kwei-Fei with Masayuki Mori
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Kyō as Yang Kwei-Fei in Princess Yang Kwei-Fei (1955)
See also
In Spanish: Machiko Kyō para niños
