Sonoya Mizuno

Biography

Sonoya Mizuno is a British actress, model, and dancer, widely known for her versatile talents and captivating performances in both film and television. Born on July 1, 1986, in Tokyo, Japan, she grew up in the UK, where she developed her passion for dance and performing arts. Mizuno has a multicultural background, with a Japanese father and an English mother, which has often added an intriguing depth to her roles.

Early Life and Education

Sonoya Mizuno studied at the Royal Ballet School in London, where she honed her skills in classical ballet. Her dance training led to a career as a professional ballerina before transitioning into acting. Her background in dance and movement would later influence the physicality and grace she brings to her roles in films and TV shows.

Career

Mizuno’s acting career began in the mid-2010s when she started taking on roles in films and TV series. She first gained attention in the science fiction genre, with a breakthrough role in Ex Machina (2014), directed by Alex Garland. In the film, she portrayed a robotic character named Kyoko, showcasing her ability to embody emotionally complex, physically demanding roles.

She further solidified her place in the industry with her role in Annihilation (2018), another film directed by Garland, where she starred alongside Natalie Portman. Her performance was well-received, and her ability to deliver both intensity and subtlety was praised by critics.

Mizuno’s career expanded with roles in various high-profile projects. She appeared in the Netflix series Maniac (2018), a limited series created by Cary Joji Fukunaga, where she played a pivotal supporting character. The show, starring Emma Stone and Jonah Hill, received significant attention for its innovative storytelling and surreal visuals.

In 2020, Mizuno starred in Devs, a miniseries directed by Alex Garland, further cementing her reputation as a rising star in science fiction television. She played Lily Chan, a software engineer investigating a mysterious tech company, and her performance was a key component of the show's success.

Aside from her film and television work, Mizuno has also made her mark in modeling, particularly for fashion brands, and as a dancer. Her background in ballet has allowed her to perform in some high-profile music videos, including The Chemical Brothers’ “Wide Open” (2015), where she was featured in a memorable dance sequence.