Naoko Mori

Naoko Mori

Naoko Mori (森 尚子 Mori Naoko?) (born November 19, 1971) is a British actress of Japanese descent known for roles as Sarah, Saffron's "odd" friend in Absolutely Fabulous, Mie Nishikawa in Casualty, and Toshiko Sato in Doctor Who and Torchwood. Naoko Mori was born on 29 November 1971 in Nagoya, Japan, to a Ryukyuan mother and a Japanese American father. When Mori was four years old, she moved to New Jersey due to her father's work. She returned to Japan when she was ten and moved to London two years later. When her parents were posted back to Japan, Mori was given the choice of either moving back to Japan with her parents or remaining in London on her own. She chose to stay in London, partly because she wanted to finish her GCSEs and gain some qualifications. She attended the Royal Russell School. Mori's father opened a bank account for her, handed her a cheque book and told her to find a flat or a bed sit for herself to live in. Mori said that being on her own at such a young age helped her to be a very independent person, although it was still a scary world to be faced so young. While studying for her A-levels, she auditioned and joined London's West End production of the Vietnam War musical Miss Saigon. She later went on to play Kim and became the first Japanese national to play a lead role in the West End. From 1993 to 1994, Mori had a regular role on the hospital drama Casualty as the hospital receptionist Mie Nishikawa. Film roles followed, including appearances in the 1997 musical comedy film Spice World and Topsy-Turvy (1999). Mori also appeared in the television programmes Thief Takers (1997), Judge John Deed (2001), Spooks (2002), Mile High (2003) and Powers (2004). In 1995, she had a small role as a Japanese computer hacker in the film Hackers. Mori had a major role in the 2005 BBC docu-drama Hiroshima, which contained dramatic re-enactments of the 1945 atomic bombings. Mori also provided the voice acting for the villainess Mai Hem for the game Perfect Dark Zero. In 2005, Mori had a small role as Dr. Sato in the Doctor Who episode "Aliens of London". Producer Russell T Davies took note of her performance and decided to bring the character back as a regular in the first two series of the Doctor Who spin-off Torchwood. Mori's Torchwood character, Toshiko Sato, was killed in "Exit Wounds", the final episode of Torchwood's second series, but has not ruled out the possibility of returning to the show at a later date. Since her exit from the show, Mori has reprised the character in multiple Torchwood audio dramas by Big Finish Productions, some of them with her as a lead with a guest cast, but some with her as part of the team with the rest of the main cast.

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Known For

Filmography

2024

3 Body Problem
3 Body Problem
as Marie Curie
TV - Released: 3/21/2024

2022

Mr. Malcolm's List
Mr. Malcolm's List
as Mrs. Thistlewaite
Movie - Released: 7/1/2022
Sister Boniface Mysteries
Sister Boniface Mysteries
as Lilly Ardwell
TV - Released: 2/8/2022
The Chelsea Detective
The Chelsea Detective
as Steph Lang
TV - Released: 2/7/2022

2021

Elliott from Earth
Elliott from Earth
TV - Released: 3/29/2021
Invasion
Invasion
as Yui
TV - Released: 10/21/2021

2020

Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist
Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist
as Bonnie
TV - Released: 1/7/2020

2018

Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again
Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again
as Yumiko
Movie - Released: 7/18/2018
Gerry Anderson's Firestorm
Gerry Anderson's Firestorm
as Nagisa Kisaragi (Voice)
Movie - Released: 10/27/2018
Another Day, Another Time
Another Day, Another Time
Movie - Released: 12/31/2018
Patrick Melrose
Patrick Melrose
as Doctor Pagazzi
TV - Released: 5/12/2018
The Terror
The Terror
as Asako Nakayama
TV - Released: 3/26/2018

2017

Life
Life
as Kazumi
Movie - Released: 3/22/2017

2015

Everest
Everest
as Yasuko Namba
Movie - Released: 9/10/2015
You, Me and the Apocalypse
You, Me and the Apocalypse
as Nocturnapram Professor
TV - Released: 9/30/2015
Humans
Humans
as Fiona
TV - Released: 6/14/2015

2011

Three Inches
Three Inches
as Annika
Movie - Released: 12/29/2011
TV
Three Inches
TV - Released: 12/29/2011
The Amazing World of Gumball
The Amazing World of Gumball
as Yuki Yoshida (voice)
TV - Released: 5/3/2011

2010

Lennon Naked
Lennon Naked
as Yoko Ono
Movie - Released: 11/21/2010
Vexed
Vexed
as Saatchi Kyoto
TV - Released: 8/15/2010

2009

Maneater
Maneater
as Morgan Tan
TV - Released: 5/30/2009

2007

Private Practice
Private Practice
as Patricia Ramsey
TV - Released: 9/26/2007

2006

Torchwood
Torchwood
as Toshiko Sato
TV - Released: 10/22/2006
Torchwood Declassified
Torchwood Declassified
TV - Released: 10/23/2006

2005

Doctor Who
Doctor Who
as Dr Hoshi Sato
TV - Released: 3/26/2005

2004

The Smoking Room
The Smoking Room
TV - Released: 6/29/2004
TV
Powers
TV - Released: 1/7/2004

2002

Spooks
Spooks
as Annette
TV - Released: 5/13/2002

2001

Judge John Deed
Judge John Deed
TV - Released: 11/26/2001
Murder in Mind
Murder in Mind
as Naomi
TV - Released: 4/22/2001

1999

Topsy-Turvy
Topsy-Turvy
as Miss 'Sixpence Please'
Movie - Released: 12/15/1999
Psychos
Psychos
TV - Released: 5/6/1999

1997

Spice World
Spice World
as Nicola
Movie - Released: 12/18/1997
Midsomer Murders
Midsomer Murders
as Nadia Simons
TV - Released: 3/23/1997

1996

Absolutely Fabulous: The Last Shout
Absolutely Fabulous: The Last Shout
as Sarah
Movie - Released: 11/6/1996

1995

Hackers
Hackers
as Tokyo Hacker
Movie - Released: 9/14/1995
Bugs
Bugs
as Melissa
TV - Released: 4/1/1995

1992

Absolutely Fabulous
Absolutely Fabulous
as Sarah
TV - Released: 11/12/1992

1988

Blue Green
Blue Green
Movie - Released: 1/1/1988

1986

Casualty
Casualty
as Mie Nishi-Kawa
TV - Released: 9/6/1986