Eriko Tamura

• Name — Eriko Tamura • Native Name — 田村 英里子 • Born — 16 January 1973 • Birthplace — Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan • Occupation — Actress, singer • Years Active — 1989–present • Agent — Creative Artists Agency (U.S.) • Television — Idol Densetsu Eriko • Other Names — Eririn (nickname)

Tamura grew up in Düsseldorf, Germany, and lived there for six years with her family from the age of 8 to the age of 13. Tamura (who speaks fluent English, German, and Japanese) has starred in over 20 films and television series in Japan. Tamura is a recording artist. She has released 10 original albums and 18 singles with record label EMI. Tamura has toured all over Japan, giving concert performances in such venues as the prestigious Nippon Budokan. In the United States, Tamura has appeared in the NBC series, Heroes as Princess Yaeko, a love interest of Hiro Nakamura and Takeso Kensei. In 2009, Tamura also played a leading role, Mai, the villainess in the 20th Century Fox feature Dragonball Evolution. Also in 2009, Tamura played Sock's stepsister in season 2 of Reaper. The anime series entitled Idol Densetsu Eriko (Legendary Idol Eriko) was created as a result of her popularity. The show has been translated into six languages and syndicated worldwide, airing in such countries as France, Italy, India, and Spain. Tamura won a celebrated American Idol-esque competition in Japan at the age of 14, soon after moving back to Japan from Germany. Winning this popular competition resulted her to join the cast of the prime-time television comedy Born to be Wild! as a series regular. Tamura's first starring role was in the award-winning NHK mini-series, My Beloved Ultra Seven. Tamura was then cast in the highly regarded Taiga Drama television series Hideyoshi, in which she portrayed real-life historical figure, Hosokawa Gracia. In 2007, Tamura filed a lawsuit against IMDb for invading her privacy by posting her birthday and full name online. The complaint was settled privately. Her first autobiography, Hollywood Dream, was published in Japan by Bungeishunjū in 2009.

• May Be Dream (July 19, 1989) • Myself (February 28, 1990) • Behind the Heart (September 5, 1990) • Der Traum (February 14, 1991) • Taiyō no Vacance (June 28, 1991) • Shōjo de Iraretara (June 24, 1992) • Ima no Watashi de... (December 2, 1992) • Sure (September 22, 1993)

• Discovery (December 4, 1991) • Ballad (August 24, 1994) • Twin Best: Eriko Tamura (March 28, 1998) • Golden Best: Eriko Tamura (June 25, 2003) • New Best 1500 (August 24, 2005)