Yukie Yamamura (Japanese: 山村幸恵, Hepburn: Yamamura Yukie), better known as Ko Shibasaki (Japanese: 柴咲コウ, Hepburn: Shibasaki Kou, born August 5, 1981), is a Japanese actress and singer who has performed in numerous television shows, movies, and commercials. She is managed by Stardust Promotion.
Shibasaki debuted in 2000, when she portrayed the cold and deadly Mitsuko Souma in the cult classic film Battle Royale. Shibasaki also won critical acclaim for her role as Tsubaki Sakurai in the 2001 film Go, which earned her several awards, including the Best Supporting Actress Award of Japanese Academy, the Hōchi Movie Award, and the Kinema Junpō Award.
In 2013, Shibasaki made her U.S. film debut in 47 Ronin, a Keanu Reeves-led adaptation of the famous Chushingura story of samurai loyalty and revenge. The film was billed as the first ever English-language adaptation of the legend, based on historical events in the early 18th century. In 2017, she played the main character Ii Naotora in the NHK Taiga drama TV series Naotora: The Lady Warlord. Before the series was filmed, Shibasaki visited the grave of Naotora.