Machiko Kyo

Machiko Kyō (1924–Present, Japan) was a Japanese actress renowned for her roles in post-war cinema. She achieved international acclaim for her performance as the wife in Akira Kurosawa’s Rashomon (1950), which won the Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival, and for her portrayal of the vengeful ghost Lady Wakasa in Kenji Mizoguchi’s Ugetsu (1953). Her elegant and intense screen presence made her one of Japan’s most celebrated leading ladies, earning her a Best Actress award at the 1954 Cannes Film Festival for Gate of Hell (1953).