Born to a Japanese father and an Algerian mother in Tokyo, Erika Sawajiri had a well-off upbringing, engaging in various hobbies such as dancing, playing piano, and horseback riding. Her father's ownership of several race tracks granted her access to horses.
Tragedy struck when Erika's father passed away due to cancer while she was in junior high school, followed by the death of her older brother in a car accident. This was a difficult time for Erika, as her father had abandoned the family for several years before returning the year prior to his death.
Undeterred, Erika pursued a career in the entertainment industry, debuting as a model at the age of 11 for the girls' manga magazine Ribbon. She later joined the Japanese idol group Angel Eyes in 2002 and made her television debut in the series Hotman in 2003.
Erika's big break came in 2004 with her role in the film Pacchigi, which earned her the Best Newcomer and Most Popular Actor awards at the Japan Academy ceremony. She went on to appear in numerous films and television shows, including Ichi Litre No Namida and Taiyou No Uta.
However, Erika's success was short-lived. In 2007, she was involved in a controversy during a promotional event for the film Closed Note, where she gave curt answers to questions and was subsequently condemned by the press and fans. This led to a decline in her popularity and a subsequent parting of ways with her management agency, Stardust Promotion.
Erika took a three-year hiatus from the entertainment industry, during which time she married producer Tsuyoshi Takashiro, who was 22 years her senior. The marriage lasted four years before ending in divorce.
In 2010, Erika was involved in a commercial for a Japanese beauty salon, which marked the beginning of her comeback. She went on to found her own talent agency in Spain and eventually returned to acting in 2012 with the film Helter Skelter.
Erika has continued to work in the entertainment industry, appearing in films and television shows, including a historical drama series in 2016. In a 2017 interview, she revealed that she had not watched television since 2006.
Erika's personal life has been marked by controversy, including a 2019 arrest for possession of the drug MMDA. She admitted to chronic usage and was subsequently dropped by her management agency, NHK.
