Anna Sawai was born on June 11, 1992, in Wellington, New Zealand. She is a Japanese actress, singer, and dancer. Her family moved to Japan when she was ten years old. Her mother was a piano teacher, and her father worked for an electronics company.

Her elder sister, Reina, is a ballet dancer. Her mother taught her how to play the piano and sing from a young age. Her family moved frequently due to her father's job, living in Hong Kong and the Philippines before settling in Yokohama, Japan.

Anna Sawai made her acting debut at the age of eleven in a Tokyo stage production of Annie. She later appeared in the film Ninja Assassin in 2009. Anna gained fame in Japan as one of the lead vocalists of the girl group Faky from 2013 to 2018.

She returned to acting with roles in the Japanese mystery series Colors and the British crime thriller series Giri/Haji. Her international breakthrough came with her role as Elle in F9, the ninth film in the Fast & Furious franchise, and Naomi in the Apple TV+ drama series Pachinko.

Anna Sawai received critical acclaim for her portrayal of Mariko in the FX historical drama series Shōgun, which earned her a nomination for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series.

Anna Sawai has kept her personal life private. She has not been linked to any public relationships or shared details about her dating history. She prefers to keep her personal and professional lives separate. She enjoys staying home and watching her favorite shows and movies during her free time.

Throughout her career, she has received several awards and nominations. She won the Best Individual Achievement in Drama Award at the Television Critics Association Awards for her role in Shōgun. The series also won several other awards, including Program of the Year and Outstanding Achievement in Drama.