Exclusive Interview: Ayane Nagabuchi Talks About Tetris, Stepping into the Shoes of Akemi Rogers, Working with Taron Egerton, and More

Ayane Nagabuchi is an award-winning actress and radio personality who is making her international film debut in Apple TV+’s Tetris. Her performance is garnering rave reviews and is the perfect introduction to this extraordinary talent.

Tetris tells the unbelievable story of how one of the world’s most popular video games found its way to avid players around the globe. Henk Rogers (Taron Egerton) discovers Tetris in 1988, and then risks everything by traveling to the Soviet Union, where he joins forces with inventor Alexey Pajitnov (Nikita Efremov) to bring the game to the masses. Based on a true story, Tetris is a Cold War–era thriller on steroids, with double-crossing villains, unlikely heroes, and a nail-biting race to the finish.

Ayane shines as Akemi Rogers, Henk’s wife, and the woman who held everything together while her husband trotted the globe for exclusive rights to the legendary game.

Pop Culturalist was lucky enough to speak with Ayane about Tetris, what she learned from the opportunity to speak with the actual Akemi Rogers, what it was like collaborating with Taron, and more.

PC: You’re staring as Akemi in Tetris and you got to speak with her as part of your preparation. What did you learn from that conversation that you were able to bring to your performance?
Ayane: That was a really big thing for me because it was such a wonderful opportunity to talk to the real Akemi Rogers. It helped in my preparation. She’s such a classy lady who really supported her husband and had a lot of patience. She had four kids, and her husband, Henk, was traveling all over the world. She had to take care of everything for him, for herself, and for her children. She has a lot of patience. I sensed that when I chatted with her and brought that to my character.

PC: When you’re playing a real-life person, is there more pressure?
Ayane: It was a lot easier because I spoke with Akemi. It made it a lot easier for me to dig into this character.

PC: Akemi is this amazing woman who supports her husband through thick and thin. Who were the women in your own life who shaped the storyteller that you are today? Did you channel them into your performance?
Ayane: That’s a good question. It’s my mother because she was an actress when she was younger. When she turned thirty, she quit and became a housewife to support her husband and family. My father is a rock and roll star in Japan. He’s the crazy one. [laughs] But my mom always supported him.

PC: You and Taron have such incredible chemistry. How were you able to build the dynamic needed for your two characters?
Ayane: We actually didn’t talk about the relationship between husband and wife, but we thought it was very important that Taron and I had a connection. We would go through our lines together over and over until we found that connection. Taron would always say, “Let’s do it,” and then we would jump into the scene. It was such a privilege to work with him.

PC: This is your international feature debut. Congratulations! Did anything surprise you about the experience? What did you learn about your craft?
Ayane: In Japan, before the actors arrive, they’ve already done the blocking. The film crew already knows the actor’s movements before the actors even get on set. But with Tetris, the actors and directors would have their own rehearsals and then they would do a performance for the crew so they knew what they were doing and what each department needed to do and could do their work. I feel like that process was very collaborative and I felt like a team. I think it’d be effective to bring that to Japan, too.

PC: You got to see the film at SXSW. What was that experience like? You gave such a standout performance. Is there a scene that you’re excited for audiences to see?
Ayane: That was my first time walking the red carpet and the first time that I saw the movie with an audience. Everything was so new to me. The audience was laughing so much during the movie and clapping. I was so overwhelmed by the energy of the audience. I can’t wait for people to see the ending. It’s so heartwarming.

To keep up with Ayane, follow her on Twitter and Instagram. Watch Tetris on Apple TV+ today.