Mizuno Kumi

Mizuno, born Igarashi Maya, was active in drama club during high school before making her film debut at Shochiku in 1957. She eventually moved to Toho but, unlike many of her contemporaries, did not sign an exclusive contract with the studio. This freedom allowed her to pursue a diverse range of roles, though she is most famously associated with the kaiju genre.

Mizuno is widely considered the "queen" of Toho's Golden Age sci-fi films due to her memorable performances in classics like Matango (1963), Invasion of Astro-Monster (1965), Frankenstein Conquers the World (1965), and Ebirah, Horror of the Deep (1966), the latter of which gained cult status in the West after being featured on Mystery Science Theater 3000. During the mid-60s, rumors circulated regarding a romantic affair between Mizuno and her frequent co-star, American actor Nick Adams. Although Adams allegedly proposed to her, Mizuno has consistently denied the relationship.

Mizuno remained active in the industry for decades and returned to the Godzilla franchise later in her career, playing the Prime Minister in Godzilla Against Mechagodzilla (2002) and a commander in the franchise's 50th-anniversary film, Godzilla: Final Wars (2004).