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Naoko Mori

Known For
Acting

Known Credits
45

Gender
Female

Birthday
November 19, 1971 (54 years old)

Place of Birth
Nagoya, Japan

Naoko Mori

Biography

Naoko Mori (森 尚子 Mori Naoko?) (born November 19, 1971) is a British actress of Japanese descent known for roles as Sarah, Saffy's 'odd' friend in Absolutely Fabulous, Mie Nishikawa in Casualty, and Toshiko Sato in Doctor Who and Torchwood.

Mori was born 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 Toshiko 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 the second series, but has not ruled out the possibility of returning at a later date. Since her exit from the show, Mori has reprised the character in multiple Big Finish audio dramas, some with her as a lead with a guest cast, and some as part of the team with the rest of the main cast.

Known For

Acting

2026The Hairdresser Mysteriesas Ayumi
20243 Body Problemas Marie Curie
2024X-Men '97as Psylocke (voice)
2023Shin Kaishaku Banchō Sarayashiki - Okiku-dera: Templeas
2022Mr Malcolm's Listas Mrs. Thistlewaite
2022Sister Boniface Mysteriesas Lilly Ardwell
2022The Chelsea Detectiveas Steph Lang
2021Invasionas Yui
2021Elliott from Earthas
2020Zoey's Extraordinary Playlistas Bonnie
2019The Boysas Golden Geisha
2018Another Day, Another Timeas
2018Gerry Anderson's Firestormas Nagisa Kisaragi (Voice)
2018Mamma Mia! Here We Go Againas Yumiko
2018Patrick Melroseas Doctor Pagazzi
2018The Terroras Asako Nakayama
2017Lifeas Kazumi
2015You, Me and the Apocalypseas Nocturnapram Professor
2015Everestas Yasuko Namba
2015Humansas Fiona
2011Three Inchesas Annika
2011Three Inchesas
2011The Amazing World of Gumballas Yuki Yoshida (voice)
2010Lennon Nakedas Yoko Ono
2010Vexedas Saatchi Kyoto
2009Maneateras Morgan Tan
2007Private Practiceas Patricia Ramsey
2006Torchwood Declassifiedas
2006Torchwoodas Toshiko Sato
2005Doctor Whoas Dr Hoshi Sato
2004The Smoking Roomas
2004Powersas Older Song Li
2002Spooksas Annette
2001Judge John Deedas
2001Murder in Mindas Naomi
1999Topsy-Turvyas Miss 'Sixpence Please'
1999Psychosas Mariko Harris
1997Spice Worldas Nicola
1997Midsomer Murdersas Nadia Simons
1996Absolutely Fabulous: The Last Shoutas Sarah
1995Hackersas Tokyo Hacker
1995Bugsas Melissa
1992Absolutely Fabulousas Sarah
1988Blue Greenas
1986Casualtyas Mie Nishi-Kawa

Production