Emi Ikehata

, known professionally as Emi Ikehata, is a Japanese former actress, best known for her role as Naoko in The Grudge 3.

Early life Emiko Ikehata was born 28 March 1978 to Japanese singer Yūzō Kayama and former actress Megumi Matsumoto. Her paternal grandparents are actors Ken Uehara and Yôko Kozakura. On her father's side, she is a direct descendant of Japanese Court Noble and Politician Iwakura Tomomi. Ikehata has three siblings, including eldest brother Nobuhiro Ikehata, and actors Tetsuo Yamashita and Mayuko Azusa. She studied at Keio University.

Career During her third year in University, Ikehata was cast as the lead in a student film Himawari (2001), discovering a knack for acting. After graduating Keio University in 2000, Ikehata started out doing Japanese soap operas, including a recurring role in a series called Wipe Your Tears (2000) as schoolteacher Eriko Miyamoto. She also had a bit part in Song of the Canfields (2003), a film based on the single of the same name by Ryoko Moriyama, recounting the events of the Battle of Okinawa, and a supporting role in SF Whipped Cream (2002), a Sci-Fi Comedy by experimental filmmaker Takahisa Zeze.

Wanting to pursue acting in the United States, she immigrated in 2003 and attended the New York Film Academy where she further studied acting, and participated in many indie and student films by other alumni, along with Broadway stage productions. She initially went by her birth name, Emiko Ikehata, for screen credits until she began using her stage name, Emi Ikehata. In 2009, she scored her first leading role in a Hollywood film production in The Grudge 3 (2009) as Naoko, sister of the villain Kayako Saeki, who holds the secret to ending the curse once and for all.

Personal life Ikehata married actor Daniel Alexander in 2009, and retired from acting in 2010.

Filmography Year Title Role Notes 2000 Wipe Your Tears Eriko Miyamoto 5 episodes 2001 Himawari Short film 2001 Tuesday Suspense Theater Ayako Nakamura Unknown episodes 2001 The Monday Night Mystery Theater Yoshiko Sasaki Unknown episodes 2002 SF Whipped Cream Kazuu TV movie 2003 Song of the Canefields The Bride TV movie 2004 A Light in the Abyss Camila Short film 2004 Untitled: A Mystery Takara 2004 Dream Haircut The Student / Hairdresser Short film 2005 Between the Frames Short film 2007 Wake Up and Waltz Saki 2008 Rich Traditions Penny Short film 2009 The Grudge 3 Naoko 2010 The Hirosaki Players Aya Short film ???? The Winter Butterfly Yukiko Unreleased