Ueno Juri, a charming and talented individual, was born in the picturesque Kakogawa, Hyogo Prefecture, situated in the vibrant Kansai region of Japan. Her early life was marked by a sense of athleticism, as she was active in sports during her elementary school days. Additionally, she received piano lessons, which would later serve as a foundation for her future endeavors.
As she entered junior high school, Juri's life took a poignant turn with the loss of her mother. This event would have a profound impact on her life, shaping her perspective and influencing her future decisions. During this period, she began wearing contact lenses, a decision that would become an integral part of her daily life.
Despite facing rejection when she applied to become a model for a fashion magazine in the year 2000, Juri's agent, Will, saw potential in her and decided to keep her on. This agency would later merge with Amuse, a prominent entertainment company. Her commercial work for P&G in 2001 marked the beginning of her professional career.
Juri's foray into acting began in the year 2000, although it was her appearance in the popular Swing Girls movie five years later that brought her to the public's attention. Her performance earned her the prestigious Newcomer Of The Year prize at the Japanese Academy Awards. Interestingly, Juri had initially considered pursuing a singing career but took her mother's advice to focus on acting instead.
Her role in the TV serial adaptation of the Nodame Cantabile manga series, which explored the relationship between novice classical musicians, catapulted her to further stardom. Her portrayal won the Best Lead Actress prize at the 51st Television Drama Academy Awards. The serial's massive commercial success ensured that her character would be reprised multiple times.
Juri's impressive career was marked by numerous accolades, including being named one of Vogue Japan's females of the year in 2008. Her subsequent roles in films like Girl In A Sunny Place, based on a novel, and a South Korean film in 2015, solidified her status as a talented and versatile actress.
In her personal life, Juri married Triceratops musician Wada Sho in 2016, after dating for nine months. Her older sister, Ueno Mana, is a singer and adult model, while her oldest sister, Saori, is a DJ. Juri is managed by Amuse Agency and has been involved in corporate advertising campaigns for various companies, including construction firms.
When she's not acting, Juri enjoys music, cooking (with a preference for fish dishes),and playing the saxophone, a skill she developed since childhood. Her multifaceted personality, combined with her impressive range as an actress, has endeared her to audiences and critics alike, cementing her status as a beloved and respected figure in the Japanese entertainment industry.
