Sadako Sawamura (沢村貞子, Sawamura Sadako, 11 November 1908 – 16 August 1996) was a Japanese stage and film actress[1] who appeared in more than 200 films between 1935 and 1976.[2]
Sawamura was born Sadako Katō in the Asakusa district of Tokyo.[3] After dropping out of Japan Women's University, she was active in left-wing theatre groups and twice arrested.[1] She started acting in films in 1934, first at the Nikkatsu studio, later at Toho.[2] She appeared in many supporting roles after the war,[1] often working with director Mikio Naruse.[2][3] Other filmmakers Sawamura worked with include Kenji Mizoguchi, Yasujirō Ozu, Keisuke Kinoshita and Kaneto Shindō.[2][3]
Her brothers were the actors Daisuke Katō and Kunitarō Sawamura.[1] Her autobiography Watashi no Asakusa has been translated into English as My Asakusa.[4] She was married to actor Kamatari Fujiwara and film magazine editor and critic Yasuhiko Ohashi.