Inoue Mao 井上真央

Mao Inoue (井上 真央, Inoue Mao, born January 9, 1987) is a Japanese actress. She was a popular U-15 idol from 1999; she was well known for her role as Imai Akane in the drama Kids War. Before that, she had had parts in several other dramas from the age of five, but it wasn't until the debut of Kids War in 1999 that Japanese audiences took notice of Inoue. In 2005, she was cast as the star of Hana Yori Dango on TBS. Inoue played Makino Tsukushi in the live-action adaptation of the manga and anime, a lower middle-class girl who is trying to survive unnoticed in an elite high school full of playboys and rich snobs. A sequel to the 2005 drama, Hana Yori Dango 2, was aired in the winter 2007 season.

At 19, Inoue was enrolled in Meiji University, studying theater and literature, with her second major being Mandarin. In 2006 she co-starred in the movie Check It Out, Yo! with Ichihara Hayato, Hiraoka Yuta, and Emoto Tasuku. The film was in theaters April 22nd, 2006. Inoue also co-starred in the summer 2007 drama First Kiss with "Check It Out, Yo!" co-star Hiraoka.

After the success of the two Hana Yori Dango dramas, a film was announced in August 2007, just months after the end of the 2007 sequel. It will be Inoue's first starring role in a movie, which is to be called Hana Yori Dango Final. Filming is to start January 2008.

Trivia
* Star Sign: Capricorn
* Height: 158cm
* Bust: 79cm
* Waist: 59cm
* Hips: 80cm
* Blood Type: O
* Favourite Food: Natto
* Hobbies and skills: Basketball, badminton, Japanese dance, music, oil painting
* Admired actress: Ōtake Shinobu
* Favorite male talent: Kimura Takuya (SMAP)
* Favorite artist: Hanaregumi
* Talent agency: Seventh Avenue
* boyfriend(present) secret.. O.S

TV Dramas
* [1992] Manatsu no Keiji
* [1992] Gakkō ga Abunai!
* [1992] Itsumitemo Haran Banjō
* [1992] Tsubusareta Kao! Zankoku na Shashin
* [1993] Kokoro no Tabi Series
* [1994] Kagishi
* [1994] Mayonaka no Jōkyaku
* [1994] Ninja Sentai Kakuranger
* [1995] Tōryanse
* [1995] Kura
* [1996] Genki o Ageru
* [1996] Asahi ni Wakare no Seppun o
* [1997] Abarenbō Shōgun VII
* [1997] Mito Kōmon 25th Series
* [1997] Terakoya Yume Shinan
* [1997] Kin no Tamago #3
* [1997] Shin Hanshichi Torimonochō
* [1997] Gourmet Mystery Onna Shutchō Ryōrinin ga Iku!
* [1998] Hi no Ryōsen
* [1998] Tōyama no Kinsan vs Onna Nezumi
* [1999] Kai
* [1999] Kids War ~Zaken na yo~
* [2000] Kids War 2 ~Zaken na yo~
* [2000] 2000 FNS 1 Oku 2700 Mannin no 27 Jikan Television Yume Rettō ~Kazoku-ai Love You~ Special Drama
* [2001] Kids War 3 ~Zaken na yo~
* [2002] Kids War Special ~Zaken na yo~
* [2002] Kids War 4 ~Zaken na yo~
* [2002] Kids War Special ~Ai Koso Subete da! Zaken na yo~
* [2003] Kids War 5 ~Zaken na yo~
* [2003] Kids War Special ~Kore de Final! Zaken na yo~
* [2004] Home Drama
* [2005] Kyūmei Byōtō 24 Ji
* [2005] Hana Yori Dango
* [2005] Hotaru no Haka
* [2007] Hana Yori Dango 2
* [2007] Ōsama no Shinzō
* [2007] First Kiss
* [2007] Hanaikusa
* [2008] Anmitsu Hime

Stage
* Higuchi Ichiyo

Films
* [2006] Check It Out, Yo!
* [2007] Gegege no Kitaro
* [2007] Kaidan
* [2008] Hana Yori Dango Final

Commercials
* Sega
* Fujikko
* Toshiba
* Nihon Unisys
* Mitsui Fudōsan Hanbai
* Kaori

Photobooks
* [2002.10.xx] Jugo no Natsu ni
* [2007.03.16] Mao Inoue 2007

DVD/VHS
* [2002.10] Jugo no Natsu ni

Endorsements
* Panky (http://www.meiji.co.jp/) (2007-)
* KAGOME (http://www.kagome.co.jp/) (2007-)
* Dralion (http://www.dralion.jp/) (2006-)
* Kateikyoushi no Try (http://www.trygroup.co.jp/) (2006-2007)
* MIZUHO (http://www.mizuhobank.co.jp/) (2006-)