Former AKB48 member and actor Iriyama Anna is taking on her first special effects drama role in the 15th anniversary of her debut. In this interview, Iriyama plays the role of a "reliable boss" who supports the hero in the first installment of Toei's new series "PROJECT RED," "Super Space Sheriff Gavan Infinity" (TV Asahi, Sunday 9:30 AM). We also asked her about her thoughts on her 15th anniversary since her debut.
◇ First action role since "Majisuka Gakuen" "I wasn't confident, but..."
This was her first time appearing in a special effects film. "Honestly, I'd never seen a special effects film," she said candidly. "My manager said to me, 'There's a role that I think would suit you really well, why don't you try auditioning?' When I read the script, I thought, 'That might be a good fit!' so I auditioned." She said she didn't feel confident about the audition, saying, "There were only people who seemed to fit the role and image, so I thought maybe it wasn't for me. When I heard I got it, I was honestly happy!"
The character she plays, Amou Rui, is the head of the Public Order Headquarters of "Lambda 8018 (Lambda Hachimaru Hito Hachi)," a different dimension from the universe in which the main character, Gavan Infinity/Noshiro Reiji (Nagata Kohei), lives. She is the boss who supports Lambda 8018's Space Sheriff Gavan Bushido/Aikoin Setsuna (Akabane Ryuga).
Regarding her role, she said, "At first, I imagined a cool person who doesn't show his emotions," but added, "As I talked with the director, I decided to add a bit more cheerfulness. Now I'm trying to imagine a straightforward, bright, and reliable boss."
Her first time on a special effects set was a constant source of surprise. "I don't have much experience shooting in front of a green screen, so it was a new experience for me, and I was surprised that the action scenes were told to me on the spot and I had to do them without any prior practice!" This was her first time doing action scenes since appearing in the drama "Majisuka Gakuen" during her time in AKB48. "I'm a bit stiff so I wasn't confident, but when I saw the footage, I looked really cool (laughs)! It was all down to the way I shot them and the power of my sword fighting (laughs)."
She also performed a dance at the end, which is of course no problem for her. "I just appeared at AKB48's 20th anniversary concert the other day, so it didn't really feel like it had been a long time since I last danced. I was like, 'Leave the dancing to me!'" she said with a cheerful voice.
◇Changes after living abroad
She passed the "AKB48 10th Generation Research Student Audition" in 2010, and last year marked the 15th anniversary of her debut. "It felt like a long time, but it also went by in the blink of an eye. A lot of things have happened, but I can remember my debut as if it were just last month," she said with a nostalgic smile.
In 2018, she studied abroad in Mexico and passed the DELE Spanish Proficiency Test B1. At one point, she was based in both Japan and Mexico. "In the past, I didn't have any opinions of my own and would answer things like, 'Anything is fine,' or 'Either is fine,' but after living abroad, I learned the importance of voicing my opinions and having a strong will."
Having turned 30 last December, she is optimistic, saying, "I was looking forward to turning 30. I feel like the range of things I can do will expand." She is the oldest member of the cast for this production, and while laughing, "There are some high school students, so they're a whole generation younger than me," she adds, "Compared to when I was younger, everyone is so mature and amazing. They're picking up the dance moves so quickly, and I'm impressed watching them."
This is her first special effects production, coming at the milestone of her 15th anniversary. "I'm looking forward to it being watched by a different demographic than the people who watched my dramas from my AKB48 days and up until now," she said with anticipation, and smiled, "I have two nephews, ages 4 and 7, and I hope they think it's cool too!"
