Anna Sawai Says Playing Yoko Ono in Sam Mendes’ Beatles Films Is “Meaningful” and “Exciting”

Actor Anna Sawai says she is thrilled to take on the role of Japanese avant‑garde artist and music icon Yoko Ono in Sam Mendes’ upcoming four‑film cinematic project about The Beatles. Speaking to People magazine, Sawai described Ono as an “incredible artist” whose story has long inspired her.

Sawai said she feels a deep personal connection to portraying Ono, noting that many people still misunderstand who she really was. “People really don’t know the true person that she was,” she said. “She was an independent woman, and people didn’t like that. They wanted John for themselves, and she was an easy target.”

Calling Ono “bold” and “so cool,” Sawai said it is meaningful to her to help tell the story of a woman whose artistic legacy and individuality were often overshadowed by public criticism.

Mendes’ ambitious project, “The Beatles – A Four‑Film Cinematic Event,” will feature:

Paul Mescal as Paul McCartney

Harris Dickinson as John Lennon

Barry Keoghan as Ringo Starr

Joseph Quinn as George Harrison

Formed in 1960, The Beatles became one of the most influential bands in music history, producing classics such as Hey Jude, I Want to Hold Your Hand, Yesterday and Penny Lane, before disbanding in 1970.