
Miki Odagiri
Born: 1930-06-29
Place of birth: Sendagaya, Tokyo, Japan
Miki Odagiri (小田切美喜) was known primarily for her important and timeless role as the upbeat office girl in Akira Kurosawa's classic Ikiru opposite Takashi Shimura, whose character is dying of cancer, and Miki, as Toyo Odagiri, inspires him to live... just by being herself: bubbly, spontaneous, and optimistic. Her character is also filled with blunt sarcasm that was extremely rare in movies of the early-1950's. Perhaps Miki and Takashi's most memorable scene is when she's telling him the nicknames she created for their fellow workmates... including his! Sadly, beyond Ikiru, finding the handful of other Japanese movies she appeared in, especially on DVD or Blu Ray, is extremely difficult. But she left an impression in what's considered not only one of the legendary Kurosawa's greatest achievements, but one of the best movies ever made, worldwide.
Filmography

Nikoyon monogatari
1956

Pure Emotions of the Sea
1956

Pastoral Symphony
1938

Ikiru
1952

Shiosai
1971

When a Woman Loves
1960

お月様には悪いけど
1954

The Valley Between Love and Death
1954

Policeman's Diary, Part 2
1955

Burden of Love
1955

Stakeout
1958

Policeman's Diary
1955

The Street Without Sun
1954

A Certain Woman
1954

Jūdai no seiten
1953

The Moon Has Risen
1955

Tower of Lilies
1953