Karen Fukuhara is an American actress who gained fame for her role as Katana in Suicide Squad. However, her career has expanded to include other projects as well. Here are 10 intriguing facts about Karen Fukuhara that you might not know:
1. Martial Arts Prodigy
Fukuhara began practicing martial arts when her brother started taking lessons. She chose karate and eventually earned a brown belt, showcasing her dedication and skill in the discipline.
2. Teenage Disney Star
As a teenager, Fukuhara appeared on Disney’s Movie Surfers, a show featuring teens interviewing movie stars. In her first episode, she interviewed Johnny Depp and Keira Knightley, although she admits to being so nervous that she barely paid attention to their answers.
3. Japanese TV Breakthrough
Fukuhara’s stint on Movie Surfers opened doors for her in Japanese television. She worked on several shows for NHK, Japan’s public broadcasting corporation, which produces a mix of educational and entertainment content.
4. Double Major in College
At UCLA, Fukuhara’s mother suggested she major in acting. However, she decided to study sociology as well, ultimately earning a Bachelor of Arts in both sociology and theater.
5. A Cappella Enthusiast
During her time at UCLA, Fukuhara joined an a cappella group called Medleys. The name is derived from the Italian term for “in the chapel,” reflecting the practice’s religious origins. A cappella singing is characterized by vocal performances without instrumental accompaniment, although singers often imitate the sounds of instruments with their voices.
6. Katana: A Cinematic Debut
Fukuhara’s role as Katana in Suicide Squad marked her movie debut. She has expressed interest in exploring the character’s backstory in future films, but it remains uncertain whether the original Suicide Squad lineup will appear in the sequel, which is under new leadership.
7. Rigorous Training for Suicide Squad
Despite her martial arts background, Fukuhara underwent extensive training for her role in Suicide Squad. This was necessary for two reasons: first, karate does not typically involve weapon training, so she needed to learn sword techniques; second, she performed many of her character’s stunts herself.
8. The One Stunt She Couldn’t Do
Fukuhara has admitted that there was one stunt she couldn’t perform in Suicide Squad, which had to be delegated to a more experienced professional. The risk of accidental decapitation on set meant there was no room for error in executing the stunt.
9. Voice Acting in She-Ra: Princess of Power
In addition to live-action roles, Fukuhara has ventured into voice acting. She played Princess Glimmer in the recent She-Ra: Princess of Power series, portraying the leader of the Great Rebellion who eventually cedes her position to the titular character. Glimmer remains one of the most powerful members of the faction.
10. Joining The Boys
Fukuhara has a role in Amazon’s adaptation of The Boys, a superhero drama about vigilantes who take down superheroes corrupted by fame and its accompanying perks. She plays a character called Female, short for the Female of the Species, which may be a nod to Rudyard Kipling’s poem about women’s courage and determination to pursue what matters most in life.
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