Ueno Juri

Profile

* Name: 上野樹里 (うえの じゅり)
* Name (romaji): Ueno Juri
* Nickname: Jurippe
* Birthdate: 1986-May-25
* Birthplace: Kakogawa, Hyogo, Japan
* Height: 167cm
* Star sign: Gemini
* Blood type: A
* Talent agency: Amuse (http://www.amuse.co.jp/artist/ueno_juri/)

Career

Ueno made her television debut in 2002 at the age of 16 in NHK series, Seizon, before making her first film major appearance in 2003 in Chirosoku no Natsu which won her the Sponichi Grand Prize New Talent Award at the Mainichi Film Awards along with her performance in the 2004 film, Swing Girls. Swing Girls proved to be a breakthrough when she received critical acclaim and awards for Best Newcomer at the Yokohama Film Festival (she was also honored for her performance in Joze to Tora to Sakana Tachi) and the Japanese Academy Awards.

In 2004, Ueno took on a supporting role in TBS's romance drama, Orange Days, and co-starred in 2005 with Takuya Kimura in Fuji TV's romantic comedy, Engine, as Misae Hoshino. She also appeared with Kazuya Kamenashi in the special television movie of Kinda'ichi Shōnen no Jikenbo the same year taking over the role of Miyuki Nanase from Anne Suzuki who last portrayed it in the series' third season which aired in 2001.
Ueno and Tamaki as Nodame and Shinichi Chiaki in Nodame Cantabile
Ueno and Tamaki as Nodame and Shinichi Chiaki in Nodame Cantabile

Ueno's popularity rose further when she was cast as Megumi Noda ("Nodame") in the 2006 live-action television adaptation of the popular manga, Nodame Cantabile. Co-starring opposite Hiroshi Tamaki, the series' 11-episode run was a success with an average viewership rating of 18.79% with the season finalé garnering 21.7% of the viewership share for its timeslot. Ueno's portrayal as the eccentric and disorganized but yet extremely affable and talented pianist won her "Best Lead Actress" at the 51st Television Drama Academy Awards while the show won "Best Drama". The show was also recognized overseas at the 2nd Seoul Drama Festival where it was awarded "Best Miniseries". Ueno and Tamaki reprised their roles in 2007 in the two-part special, Nodame Cantabile Shinshun Special in Europe, which chronicles their individual struggles to achieve success on Europe's storied classical music stage whilst being away from each other.

In 2008, Ueno reunited with Nodame co-stars, Eita and Asami Mizukawa, in Fuji TV's drama, Last Friends, as Ruka Kishimoto, a talented motocross racer with a hidden secret she cannot discuss with friends or family. Taeko Asano, the scriptwriter of Last Friends praised Ueno's acting of Ruka, stating that Ueno is a "natural genius" and that she became "the character itself".Ueno won "Best Supporting Actress" at the 12th Nikkan Sports Drama Grand Prix for her role.

TV Shows

* Last Friends (Fuji TV, 2008)
* Loss Time Life (Fuji TV, 2008, Story 4)
* Nodame Cantabile SP (Fuji TV, 2008)
* Marumaru Chibi Maruko-chan SP (Fuji TV, 2007)
* Jodan ja nai! (TBS, 2007)
* Nodame Cantabile (Fuji TV, 2006)
* Bokutachi no Sensou TBS (2006)
* Tsubasa No Oreta Tenshitachi Fuji TV (2006)
* Kindaichi_Shonen_no_Jikenbo 2005 (NTV, 2005)
* Yagate Kuruhi no Tameni (やがて来る日のために) (Fuji TV, 2005)
* Engine (Fuji TV, 2005)
* Sayonara, Ozu Sensei (Fuji TV, 2004)
* Orange Days TBS (2004)
* Teruteru Kazoku NHK (2003)
* Okaasan to Issho TBS (2003)
* Seizon (生存) (NHK, 2002)

Movies

* Kodomo no Kodomo (http://kodomonokodomo.jp/) (2008)
* Guu-Guu Datte Neko de Aru (http://www.gou-gou.jp/) (2008)
* Kung Fu Kun (http://www.kung-fukun.jp/) (2008)
* Naoko (http://www.naoko-movie.com/) (2008)
* 7 Gatsu 24 Nichi Toori no Christmas (http://www.724-christmas.com/index.html) (2006)
* Shiawase no Switch (http://www.shiawase-switch.com/main.html) (2006)
* Deguchi no Nai Umi (http://www.deguchi-movie.jp/) (2006)
* Warau Michael (http://www.albatros-film.com/movie/michael.html) (2006)
* Niji no Megami Rainbow Song (http://rainbowsong.jp/) (2006)
* Summer Time Machine Blues (http://stmb.playxmovie.com/) (2005)
* Kame wa Igai to Hayaku Oyogu (2005)
* Swing Girls (http://www.swinggirls.jp/index.html) (2004)
* Joze, the Tiger, and the Fish (http://jozeetora.com/index_f.html) (2003)
* Chirusoku no Natsu (http://www.chirusoku.jp/) (2003)

Recognitions

* 51th Television Drama Academy Awards: Best Actress - Nodame Cantabile
* 28th Japan Academy Awards: Best Newcomer - Swing Girls (http://www.swinggirls.jp/index.html)
* 59th Everyday Movie Sponichi Grand Prix: Best Newcomer - Swing Girls (http://www.swinggirls.jp/index.html), Chirusoku no Natsu (http://www.chirusoku.jp/)
* Yokohama Film Festival: Best Newcomer - Swing Girls (http://www.swinggirls.jp/index.html)
* 12th Nikkan Sports Drama Grand Prix (Spring 2008): Best Supporting Actress - Last Friends

Trivia

* Interests: Music, cooking
* Skills: Sprinting, tenor saxophone and piano