Anna Sawai Shares What It Means to Portray Yoko Ono in Sam Mendes’ Beatles Films
Anna Sawai is offering a glimpse into her upcoming portrayal of Yoko Ono in a series of four Beatles films directed by Sam Mendes.
In a recent interview with People, the Emmy-winning actress from Shōgun expressed her enthusiasm for taking on the role of Ono, whose marriage to John Lennon significantly elevated her prominence.
“It’s just exciting because her story is so inspirational to me, and people really don’t know the true person that she was,” Sawai said. She emphasized Ono’s significance as an artist and an independent woman, stating, “They wanted John for themselves and she was an easy target. And I think it’s very meaningful for me to be able to tell her story.”
Sawai also shared her admiration for Ono’s boldness, stating, “Just how bold she is. Oh my God, I love her. She’s so cool.”
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As previously announced, Mendes will release four theatrical biopics simultaneously in April 2028. The cast includes Paul Mescal as Paul McCartney, Joseph Quinn as George Harrison, Barry Keoghan as Ringo Starr, and Harris Dickinson as Lennon. Besides Sawai, Mia McKenna-Bruce, Saoirse Ronan, and Aimee Lou Wood will portray significant women in the musicians’ lives.
This project marks a historic collaboration, as Apple Corps Ltd. and the surviving members of The Beatles—McCartney, Starr, and the families of the late Lennon and Harrison—have granted full life story and music rights for a scripted film for the first time.
