is a Japanese actress and former fashion model best known for her role in the Japanese
medical drama
A medical drama is a Television film, television movie or film in which events center upon a hospital, clinic, doctor's office, a paramedic, or any other medical topic or environment. Most recent medical drama (film and television), dramatic progra ...
''
Doctor-X: Surgeon Michiko Daimon''. She also performs the voice of
Black Widow in the Japanese-language releases of the ''
Avengers
Avenger(s) or The Avenger(s) may refer to:
Arts, entertainment, and media Marvel Comics universe
* Avengers (comics), a team of superheroes
**Avengers (Marvel Cinematic Universe), a central team of protagonist superheroes of "The Infinity Sag ...
'' film series.
Career
Yonekura studied
classical ballet
Classical ballet is any of the traditional, formal styles of ballet that exclusively employ classical ballet technique. It is known for its aesthetics and rigorous technique (such as en pointe, pointe work, turnout (ballet), turnout of the legs, ...
for 15 years from the age of five. Represented by the
Oscar Promotion
is a Japanese talent agency headquartered in Aoyama, Minato, Tokyo. It was founded in 1970 and manages talents in a variety of fields including modelling and acting. The company has a large roster of talents, making it one of the largest talent a ...
agency, she won the sixth
Japan Bishōjo Contest
The is a beauty contest and audition contest name that has been held every year since 1987 in Oscar Promotion, and is the sister pageant of the ''Japan Beautiful Girl Contest''. When a bishōjo wins the Japanese Girl pageant, the first runner-up b ...
in 1992.
In 1993, she started her career as a model, working for fashion magazines such as ''
CanCam
is a Japanese monthly fashion magazine published by Shogakukan. Its name supposedly derives from "I Can Campus", because girls who read it are expected to become "campus leaders". The magazine was created for fashion-conscious consumers, and offe ...
''. She announced her intention to start her acting career in 1999. Her acting debut was in the TBS television drama ', and has appeared in many dramas ever since.
Yonekura played the role of Roxie Hart in the Japanese-language production of ''Chicago'' in Tokyo 2008 and in 2010. She then learned the role in English and made her Broadway debut in 2012.
In late March 2020, her agency at the time, Oscar Promotion, announced that she would leave the agency after her contract expired on March 31, 2020.
She founded her own personal agency, Desafio, in early April of the same year.
Personal life
In December 2014, Yonekura announced that she had married a company owner two years her junior.
In December 2016, Yonekura announced that she had divorced her husband. In a written statement, Yonekura commented, "After timely, repeated discussions, our divorce has been finalized. I am sorry to have caused trouble with my private matters." She continued, "I hope to move forward both as an actress and woman. I will do my best every day in order to challenge myself to various new things. Please continue to give me guidance and encouragement.".
In October 2022, Yonekura announced she was withdrawing from performances of ''Chicago'' due to treatment for
cerebrospinal fluid hypovolemia.
Filmography
Television
Film
Japanese dub
Awards and nominations
References
External links
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Yonekura, Ryoko
1975 births
Living people
Actresses from Yokohama
Japanese female models
Actresses from Kanagawa Prefecture
Actors from Yokohama