Biography for
Mie Hama More at IMDbPro »

Date of Birth

20 November 1943, Tokyo, Japan

Height

5' 4½" (1.64 m)

Mini Biography

Mie Hama was born in Tokyo, Japan on November 20, 1943. She first started out working as a bus fare collector. While working, she was spotted by producer Tomoyuki Tanaka , and was soon employed at Toho Studios. She appeared in a bevy of drama and sci-fi films, including King Kong vs. Godzilla (1962), where she became the Giant Ape's "Damsel in Distress." She is probably best known in Western Cinema as Bond girl Kissy Suzuki, starring alongside actor Sean Connery in the 007 film You Only Live Twice (1967). That same year, King Kong Escapes (1967) was released, thus, she portrayed the spellbinding "Bond-girlish" villainess Madamn Piranha. Her extended wardrobe and enchanted bed chambers contributed to the film's "James Bond-ish" atmosphere. In addition, Hama would sometimes be referred to as "Funny Face," due to her appearances in Japan's "Crazy Cats" movies.

She became one of the most popular actresses in Japan's "Golden Age" of Cinema, but has done little acting when Japan's cinema world experienced severe financial problems. However, she did return to appear in a few films in the 1970s and 1980s, and she is seen, most recently, working as an active environmentalist.

IMDb Mini Biography By: Oliver Chu

Trivia

Because of illness during filming, Mie Hama (as "Kissy Suzuki") was doubled in a diving scene (in You Only Live Twice (1967)) by, no less than, Diane Cilento - Sean Connery's wife at the time.

Had actually appeared in almost 70 movies before she got married to 007 in You Only Live Twice (1967).

Was the first Asian Bond girl.

Has been called the Japanese Brigitte Bardot.

Her first name is pronounced "Mee-yay."

When producers for You Only Live Twice (1967) warned Mie that because she wasn't learning English quickly enough, she was going to be fired from the film, she solemnly told them that, because of her shame, she would then commit ritual suicide. Whether she was bluffing or not, the producers decided not to risk it, and she was kept on the film.