15 Actresses Perfect for the Role of the Katana in the DCU

Katana is one of DCs most distinctive street level heroes. The character is Tatsu Yamashiro, a master swordswoman who carries the Soultaker blade and serves on squads like the Outsiders and the Birds of Prey. On screen fans have already seen versions of the character in ‘Suicide Squad’ and ‘Arrow’, which sets a clear template for the mix of grounded action and sharp character beats the role demands.

With a new DCU taking shape, it helps to look at performers who already bring multilingual fluency, proven action work, and comfort with comic book worlds. The names below have logged meaningful time in genre projects, trained with stunt teams or dance companies, and built résumés that show they can handle the physical and dramatic sides of Tatsu without missing a beat.

Karen Fukuhara

Karen Fukuhara played Katana in ‘Suicide Squad’ and brought physical credibility after extensive preparation with stunt coordinators. She also stars as Kimiko on ‘The Boys’, a role that has required regular screen combat and precise movement across multiple seasons.

Fluent in English and Japanese, she has worked in both live action and animation, including lead voice work in ‘Kipo and the Age of Wonderbeasts’. Her background includes press and convention appearances tied to major franchises, which shows familiarity with the pace and demands of large scale comic book productions.

Rila Fukushima

Rila Fukushima portrayed Yukio in ‘The Wolverine’, which involved sword work and fast paced action sequences. She later appeared as Tatsu on ‘Arrow’, giving her direct experience with the characters tone and backstory across multiple episodes.

Her film and television credits also include ‘Ghost in the Shell’, where she worked inside a visually driven cyberpunk world. She has modeled and acted internationally, and she works in English and Japanese, which supports production requirements on global shoots.

Tao Okamoto

Tao Okamoto starred as Mariko Yashida in ‘The Wolverine’, sharing scenes that balanced intimate drama and sudden bursts of action. She later joined DC on screen as Mercy Graves in ‘Batman v Superman’, which put her inside a major studio superhero production.

Her television work includes ‘Hannibal’ and ‘Westworld’, projects known for careful choreography and precise storytelling. She has a long international career that spans fashion and film, which helps when productions move quickly between locations.

Shioli Kutsuna

Shioli Kutsuna played Yukio in ‘Deadpool 2’, where she handled sword ready movement in an ensemble built around effects heavy action. She appears in the science fiction series ‘Invasion’ and carries a key role that often requires physical storytelling with minimal dialogue.

She is Japanese Australian and bilingual, which supports character beats that involve cultural fluency. Her credits cover film and television in multiple countries, and her recent work has involved recurring schedules that match the cadence of franchise storytelling.

Jessica Henwick

Jessica Henwick led fight heavy episodes in ‘Iron Fist’ and returned to action in ‘The Defenders’. She also appeared in ‘Game of Thrones’ as a member of the Sand Snakes, which involved weapons training and location work across several countries.

Her film roles include ‘The Matrix Resurrections’ and ‘Glass Onion’, giving her a balance of action and character driven projects. She trained extensively for her martial arts centered television work, which translates to clean technique on camera and efficient rehearsal on set.

Kiki Sukezane

Kiki Sukezane broke out as Miko Otomo in ‘Heroes Reborn’, a character tied closely to sword work and quick movement. She later appeared in ‘Westworld’, which maintained her connection to stylized action and meticulous production design.

Her preparation for ‘Heroes Reborn’ included focused sword training to meet the shows action needs. She works in English and Japanese and has experience with publicity and fan events, which are common for comic book roles.

Haruka Abe

Haruka Abe played Akiko in ‘Snake Eyes’, a role that required close quarters action and weapons familiarity. She has appeared in British and Japanese productions, which reflects language versatility and comfort on sets with different working styles.

Her background includes commercials, television, and film, and she has logged time in projects that mix drama with stunt sequences. She is Tokyo and London raised, which supports roles that call for an international profile.

Rinko Kikuchi

Rinko Kikuchi earned an Academy Award nomination for ‘Babel’, then led large scale action as Mako Mori in ‘Pacific Rim’. That film placed her inside extensive training and coordination with visual effects and practical sets.

She has continued to alternate between independent dramas and genre projects, including ‘Kumiko, the Treasure Hunter’. She speaks English and Japanese and has worked with directors across the world, which is helpful on global franchise productions.

Sonoya Mizuno

Sonoya Mizuno trained at the Royal Ballet School and brought that precision to roles in ‘Ex Machina’ and ‘Annihilation’. She carried a central part in ‘Devs’, which required controlled physical presence and stillness that reads well on camera.

She appears in ‘House of the Dragon’ and has maintained a steady presence in prestige television. Her dance foundation supports fast uptake of fight choreography and consistent movement that stays readable for stunt teams and camera crews.

Pom Klementieff

Pom Klementieff plays Mantis in ‘Guardians of the Galaxy’ and has worked across multiple ensemble films in that series. She has trained for action heavy sequences and has continued to add combat preparation for recent projects.

Her career spans European and American productions, and she speaks several languages, including French and English. She has experience with press tours tied to blockbuster releases, which helps when a role sits at the center of a shared universe.

Jamie Chung

Jamie Chung starred as Clarice Fong in ‘The Gifted’, where she performed effects matched action across two seasons. She voiced GoGo Tomago in ‘Big Hero 6’ and returned to the role in subsequent projects linked to that world.

She appeared in ‘Once Upon a Time’ and ‘Lovecraft Country’, which kept her active in genre storytelling on television. Her credits include features and series work that involve wire rigs and fight beats, and she has long experience working inside ensemble casts.

Chiaki Kuriyama

Chiaki Kuriyama is known worldwide for her work in ‘Kill Bill’, where she performed complex weapons choreography. She also starred in ‘Battle Royale’, a landmark genre film that demanded intense physical performance from a young cast.

Her career includes film, television, and music in Japan, and she has experience with international press tied to her breakout roles. She maintains a screen presence associated with action projects, and she continues to work in a variety of formats.

Miki Ishikawa

Miki Ishikawa appeared in ‘The Terror’, where she handled period drama demands and ensemble storytelling. She later joined the Marvel world in ‘The Falcon and the Winter Soldier’, which gave her additional exposure to franchise scale production.

She has film and television credits in the United States and works in English and Japanese. Her schedule across recent years shows steady work with studios that build interconnected stories, which matches the production rhythms of a shared universe.

Anna Akana

Anna Akana played Raikou in ‘Jupiters Legacy’, a character known for expert sword work and disciplined movement. She also appears in projects like ‘Let It Snow’, which broadened her film experience beyond action and into ensemble drama.

She is a writer and producer in addition to acting, and she has directed short form projects that travel through festivals. Her background includes stand up and online work, which supports the constant media presence that comes with a comic book role.

Lana Condor

Lana Condor led the series ‘Deadly Class’ as Saya Kuroki, a character built around precise weapons training and stunt coordination. She also headlined the ‘To All the Boys Ive Loved Before’ films, which gave her wide recognition with a global audience.

Her early film work includes roles in action oriented productions such as ‘Alita Battle Angel’. She continues to move between film and television and maintains a public profile that aligns with franchise marketing cycles.

Share your own Katana picks in the comments and tell us who you would cast in the DCU.