was a Japanese singer and award-winning actress, born in

Osaka is a designated city in the Kansai region of Honshu in Japan. It is the capital of and most populous city in Osaka Prefecture, and the third most populous city in Japan, following Special wards of Tokyo and Yokohama. With a population of 2. ...

, whose heartfelt performances made her a favorite of the late film director Shohei Imamura. Imamura cast her in three of his films: ''

The Pornographers is a 1966 satiric Japanese film directed by Shōhei Imamura. It is based on the novel ''Erogotoshitachi'' by Akiyuki Nosaka. Plot ''The Pornographers'' tells the story of porn filmmaker Mr. Subuyan Ogata, whose business is under threat from thie ...

'', ''

Warm Water Under a Red Bridge Warm, WARM, or Warmth may refer to: * A somewhat high temperature * Kindness Music * Warm (The Lettermen album), ''Warm'' (The Lettermen album), 1967, and the title song * Warm (Johnny Mathis album), ''Warm'' (Johnny Mathis album), 1958, and the ...

'', and '' The Ballad of Narayama'', winner of the

Palme d'Or The Palme d'Or (; en, Golden Palm) is the highest prize awarded at the Cannes Film Festival. It was introduced in 1955 by the festival's organizing committee. Previously, from 1939 to 1954, the festival's highest prize was the Grand Prix du Fe ...

at the

1983 Cannes Film Festival The 36th Cannes Film Festival was held from 7 to 19 May 1983. The Palme d'Or went to the '' Narayama Bushiko'' by Shōhei Imamura. In 1983, the new building for the main events of the festival, the Palais des Festivals et des Congrès, was inaug ...

. She won the award for Japanese Best Actress from Nihon Academy for her performance in ''The Ballad of Narayama'', as well as a kiss from

Orson Welles George Orson Welles (May 6, 1915 – October 10, 1985) was an American actor, director, producer, and screenwriter, known for his innovative work in film, radio and theatre. He is considered to be among the greatest and most influential f ...

. She died of a

stroke A stroke is a medical condition in which poor blood flow to the brain causes cell death. There are two main types of stroke: ischemic, due to lack of blood flow, and hemorrhagic, due to bleeding. Both cause parts of the brain to stop functionin ...

.坂本スミ子さん死去「楢山節考」「夢であいましょう」出演

References

1936 births 2021 deaths Japanese film actresses {{Japan-film-actor-stub