ANNIE THE CLUMSY

Not having had the chance to talk when we first met annie a few months back during an acting class, we recently had a coffee walk in the streets of Shimokitazawa (Japan) and talked about her personal life as well as her role in Sunny, the new show of Apple TV+.

For the new readers who are discovering you, can you tell us more about yourself?

Hello, I’m annie. I’m a singer-songwriter and actor who plays the ukulele and making silly music. These days, I mainly create music for TV commercials, so you might have heard my voice without even realizing it. This year, I was very fortunate to appear in the Apple TV+ dark comedy series Sunny alongside Rashida Jones and Hidetoshi Nishijima. It was my first acting role and a project I’m incredibly proud of.

We are curious about your journey. Can you share how you first discovered your love for performing and music?

My music journey started naturally. My dad loves music and movies, so I grew up surrounded by all kinds of music and films, which deeply influenced my creativity. Later, my very first boyfriend was in a band, and I often tagged along when he jammed with his friends. His dad was a blues musician, and his sister is an amazing singer, so music became an even bigger part of my life. One Christmas, he gifted me a ukulele, and that’s when it all began.

I also stumbled upon a clip of Flight of the Conchords on youtube, and they completely changed how I thought about music. They weren’t just singing about love, they were singing about anything and everything, and they were hilarious. I realized there are no rules in music, so I started writing my own songs.

My very first song was called “Your Girlfriend is Xbox360.” It was about feeling ignored because my ex boyfriend was always gaming with his friends. Here’s the link if you want to check it out! My friends and family loved it, and their reactions inspired me to keep making music.

I’ve also wanted to be an actor since I was young but had no idea how to start. I started pursuing music, hoping it could open doors to the acting world someday. It took a long time, but I finally stepped into acting when I landed my role in Sunny. Ever since, I’ve been learning more about the craft of acting and working to improve my skills.

Your unique stage name, "annie the clumsy", has intrigued many. Is there a story behind it?

Yes! This is actually one of the most common questions I get when meeting people for the first time. Back when I was in the UK after high school, I worked as a waitress, and everywhere I went, people called me "clumsy" because I often dropped glasses or bottles of beer (but fortunately, never a plate!).

When I was deciding on a stage name, I thought about the word "clumsy" and realized it was also a perfect way to describe my naturally awkward personality. Annie was already my nickname, so I just combined the two. The funny thing is, as I’ve grown older, I feel like I’ve become a lot less clumsy, but I still love my stage name, it’s a big part of who I am.

Outside of your career, what are some hobbies or activities that help you recharge and stay inspired?

I love going for long walks without deciding where to go and it’s a great way to clear my mind. I also enjoy watching movies, reading books, playing with my cat, and spending time with my boyfriend and friends and eating delicious food. I’m quite introverted, so I tend to keep things simple, but these small joys really help me recharge and stay inspired.

How do you balance acting and music? Do you think that acting will take more space in your life than music?

I’m still figuring out how to balance acting and music. It’s a bit challenging for me since I’m not great at multitasking (remember, I’m clumsy!). Right now, acting is taking up more space in my life because I’ve just started this journey and still have so much to learn. But I go back to music occasionally, especially when I feel like doing something different or need to take my mind off things.

Congratulations on your role in Sunny! Can you tell us about your character and what drew you to this project?

Arigato! I play Mixxy, a twenty-something Japanese girl who is an aspiring mixologist. She’s lively, cheeky, and curious, a fun character who meets Suzie (Rashida Jones) at the bar where she works and becomes her friend. Mixxy accompanies Suzie on her journey with Sunny (Joanna Sotomura).

What drew me to the project? Rashida Jones! (with big smile) I’m a huge fan of hers, and that was more than enough to get me excited about the project. But also, the script was amazing and unique, I had never read a story like this before. It’s a dark sci-fi comedy set in Kyoto, with awesome robots and a mix of light and dark themes. I still remember reading the script for the audition and thinking, “Oh my god, she (Mixxy) is me!” It was so vivid that I kept wondering, “How can I prove to them that I am Mixxy?” instead of worrying about my acting skills.

What was the most challenging part of stepping into this role, and how did you prepare for it?

EVERYTHING! Literally everything. This was my very first acting gig, and I didn’t know how to craft my work. I didn’t have much time to prepare before shooting began, so I had to build my character and figure things out as we filmed. Acting on camera, performing in a second language, and learning the technical aspects on set, everything was new to me, and it was a lot to take in. I tried to absorb everything I could on set every day. Thankfully, Katie Robbins, the showrunner and writer, Lucy Tcherniak, the director, Rashida, Joanna, and everyone on set were incredibly supportive and helped me so much. Plus, Mixxy is a bit of a mess emotionally and physically, so I could channel some of that into my performance, which made things a bit easier at times…I think haha.

Sunny explores themes of resilience and human connection. How do you relate to these themes in your own life?

I feel that resilience and human connection are very important. When I face challenges, like trying something new or adapting to a different environment, the support and belief of others keep me grounded and help me move forward. Sunny really reflects how relationships and experiences can give us the strength to get through things. Even connections with robots, animals, or anything that touches our lives can inspire and strengthen us.

What was your experience like working with the cast and crew? Any memorable moments during filming?

I loved and cherished every moment with the cast and crew, we had the best team. Everyone was incredibly hardworking, and I couldn’t wait to go back on set each day because it was always fun and exciting.

There are so many memorable moments, but one that stands out is when we were filming Episode 5 in the forest during winter. It was freezing, and Rashida and I had a scene where we finally relaxed in Mixxy’s uncle’s house and sipped miso soup after getting lost in the forest. After a long, cold day of shooting, that miso soup was so incredibly good, it really hit the spot perfectly. We weren’t even acting at that point, just genuinely enjoying it! It was so delicious that Rashida, Joanna, and I decided to take a cooking lesson from Keiko-san, the food coordinator on set, and we had a great time.

How do you hope audiences in Japan and around the world connect with your character and the overall story of Sunny?

I hope audiences connect with Mixxy’s curiosity and lively spirit. She’s not perfect, as I mentioned before that she’s a bit messy emotionally and physically but she’s genuine, and I think many people can see a little bit of themselves in her.

As for the overall story, Sunny touches on themes like grief, loss, and finding hope even in difficult situations. Fundamentally, it’s about the relationships we build whether with people, robots, or something else and how those connections give us the strength to handle life’s challenges. These are themes that anyone, anywhere in the world, can relate to. I also hope viewers enjoy the beautiful Kyoto scenery. We filmed during the pandemic, so it was unusually quiet, which added a unique and special atmosphere to the show.

What does the word “zero” mean to you?

Oh, I love this kind of question because it makes my lovely clumsy brain really think,,,probably trying to come up with some authentic answers, haha. But I’ll just be myself! To me, zero means the beginning of everything. It’s like the Big Bang, a brand-new day, a new year, everything starts from zero, from scratch, from nothingness to something. And you get to create that “something” in your own unique way! Woohoo!

Photographs by Allan Abani, assistant Nadjim Khiari