Tao Okamoto (岡本 多緒) is a Japanese actress and fashion model known for her roles in movies such as Batman v Superman (2016), The Wolverine (2013), Hannibal (2013), and All of a Sudden (2026). She also goes by the mononym ‘Tao’ and was the face of the American fashion and lifestyle brand Ralph Lauren.
From Tao Okamoto’s husband to her movies, height, children, and age, this detailed biography covers everything you need to know about her.
| Basic Biography/Wiki | Information |
|---|---|
| Full name | Tao Okamoto (Okamoto Tao in Japanese naming order) Japanese Name: 岡本 多緒 |
| Born / Date of birth | May 22, 1985 |
| Current Age | 41 years old (as of 2026) |
| Nationality | Japanese |
| Profession/Career | Actress, Fashion Model |
| Famous for | Portraying Mariko Yashida in The Wolverine and Mercy Graves in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice |
| Debut movie | The Wolverine (2013) |
Tao Okamoto Family Background: Early Life, Parents & Siblings
Tao was born and raised in Ichikawa, Chiba, on the outskirts of Tokyo, Japan. She is one of the three sisters. She is the middle sister, with one elder sister and one younger sister. Her father is a tutor and owns an after-school tutoring center (also known as a cram school). Tao’s mother stayed home as a homemaker during her childhood days but later opened her own boutique shop.
Tao’s family members were of average height, whereas she was much taller than other girls her age. While giving an interview to SPH Razor TV, Tao explained that her height gave her a complex, as she thought a long height was a disadvantage to her. This insecurity further solidified when she realized she was not good at sports activities in school.
People would often tell Tao that you should become a model, although she didn’t like the idea of others telling her what to do. Then, a guy on the street asked Tao to do a talent show on TV. Such recommendations built her self-confidence and made her realize that she could do something in the entertainment industry. She told her parents that she would like to pursue her career in the fashion industry.
Tao’s parents sent her photos to talent agencies, and that’s how she started doing modeling work at the age of 14. She would often use modeling as an excuse for her height. Tao would say, “Yeah, I’m tall because I’m a model.” She was still dealing with insecurities about her height.
Tao Okamoto religion: Okamoto is a Buddhist who can be seen praying to Lord Buddha in her Instagram photos. In one such post on Tibetan New Year, Losar, she can be seen wishing for world peace while praying to Lord Buddha.
| Birthplace | Ichikawa, Chiba, Japan |
| Nickname or Popular Name | Tao |
| Father | Name unknown (worked at and owned an after-school tutoring center) |
| Mother | Name unknown (homemaker) |
| Brother | None |
| Sister | Two sisters, names unknown |
| Zodiac sign or Sun Sign | Gemini |
| Hometown | Ichikawa, Chiba, Japan |
| Current Residence / Address | Japan (she moved back to Japan in 2023 from the USA, where she lived in LA and New York) |
| Mother tongue/language | Japanese (also fluent in English) |
| Religion | Buddhist |
| Food Habits & Choices | Non-vegetarian, healthy diet |
| Hobbies & interests | Fashion, martial arts, and travelling |
Tao Okamoto Height, Weight & Measurements
People often search for Tao Okamoto height in feet and her lovely short hair, as these things are part of her attractive personality. In 2009, she changed her hairstyle and started keeping a unique “bowl cut”, which became her signature hairstyle. She also explained in an interview that she has lost some work opportunities because of her short hair. You can watch that interview clip below.
| Physical stats & more | Values |
| Height (approx) | in centimeters: 177 cm in feet and inches: 5 ft 9½ in in meters: 1.77 m |
| Weight (approx) | in kilograms: 54 kg in pounds: 119 lbs |
| Tao Okamoto Body measurements (approx) | 33-23.5-34 inches Chest size: 33 Waist size: 23.5 Hip size: 34 |
| Hair color | Black |
| Eye color | Brown |
| Shoe size | 39 EU / 9 US |
Education Background
While the particulars about her schooling are unknown, we do know that she completed her primary and secondary education in Chiba, Japan, before permanently moving to Europe for modeling. From her IMDB page, we also know that she also lived in England as an exchange student, although her field of study is unknown.
| School | Local schooling in Chiba, Japan |
| College / University | N/A (she stayed focused on her fashion modeling career) |
| Educational Qualification / Degree | High School Graduate |
Tao Okamoto Husband & Personal Life
Tao Okamoto married Tenzin Wild on May 1, 2016. This was a big celebrity wedding and was covered by various top fashion publications and the media. Tenzin Wild is the Swiss co-editor-in-chief and co-founder of The Last Magazine. The wedding took place on the Brissago Islands in Switzerland, and she wore a custom wedding dress designed by Phillip Lim.
Tao and Tenzin were long-time partners before their marriage and dated each other for several years before finally getting married. Okamoto keeps her personal life private, so we have no information about her past boyfriends or relationships.
Tao Okamoto children: When it comes to Tao Okamoto’s children, fans were already aware that Tao was pregnant, as her pregnancy pics were already posted on her social media accounts. On August 16, 2026, she confirmed that she recently gave birth to a child. Tao, alongside Tenzin, made an Instagram post regarding it too, with a photo of their baby in it. They have not revealed the child’s gender or name as of right now.
Tao’s IMDB profile also reveals that her first boyfriend was an Englishman from England. She used to watch movies with him. It was Tao Okamoto’s boyfriend who made her watch X-Men (2000) but later became jealous of the fact that Tao liked Hugh Jackman so much.
| Marital status | Married |
| Husband | Tenzin Wild (Married on May 1, 2016) |
| Past Relationship, Affair (boyfriends) | First boyfriend: An English boyfriend in England |
| Children | One, born in August 2026 |
Professional Life
| Years Active | 1999-present Modeling: 1999-Present Acting: 2013-Present |
Tao moved to Paris, France, in 2006 to make a name for herself and changed her modeling name from Tao Okamoto to just Tao, a headliner. She made her modeling debut on European runways, making her one of the few East Asian women to do so in her time. She quickly built a fan following, and over time, the internet became obsessed with Tao Okamoto’s hot photoshoots, topless pics, her designer boots, glamorous covers, and rampwalks. Later, she moved to New York City, USA, in 2009 to advance her career further.
At this point, Tao mostly worked in editorial projects and advertising. She led campaigns like Tommy Hilfiger with Craig MacDean, Emporio Armani by Alasdair McLellan, Dolce & Gabbana with Mario Testino, and Kenzo with Mario Sorrenti.
Okamoto’s new bowl haircut inspired fashion designer Phillip Lim so much so that he asked her to be the hair model for his whole Fall/Winter 2009 show. Not only that, but she also shot for various editorials like V Magazine (American fashion magazine), i-D Magazine (British semiannual magazine), W Magazine (American bi-monthly fashion magazine), and several international editions of Vogue and Harper’s Bazaar.
Vogue Nippon (Japanese Vogue) dedicated its November 2009 issue to Tao Okamoto. She was also announced as the Model of the Year by the Japan Fashion Editors’ Club in 2010. In the same year, she was also named Women of the Year in Vogue Nippon (Japanese Vogue).
Okamoto has also modeled for many more brands and businesses. Some of them are as follows:
| Brand / Entity | Type / Description | Collaboration Details |
|---|---|---|
| Alexander McQueen | British luxury fashion house | — |
| Alexander Wang | American fashion brand | Modeled for their Fall 2009 Ready-to-Wear Collection |
| Burberry Prorsum | British luxury fashion house | Walked the runway for their Spring/Summer 2010 Ready-to-Wear fashion show in London |
| Bottega Veneta | Italian luxury fashion house | Modeled wearing Bottega Veneta for a fashion editorial in Another magazine |
| Chanel | French luxury fashion house | Featured in a Chanel Spring 2018 editorial for Harper’s Bazaar Japan |
| Dolce & Gabbana | Italian luxury fashion house | Fronted campaigns shot by fashion photographer Mario Testino |
| Donna Karan | American fashion brand | Wore DKNY Jeans for a fashion editorial in Cosmopolitan USA |
| Emanuel Ungaro | French luxury fashion house | Modeled for their Spring 2007 Ready-to-Wear Fashion Show |
| Fendi | Italian luxury fashion house | Associated with the “Fendi Un Art Autre” event in Japan |
| Giorgio Armani | Italian luxury fashion house | Fronted the Emporio Armani Spring 2012 campaign alongside models Kendra Spears and Wang Xiao, photographed by Alasdair McLellan |
| Givenchy | French luxury fashion house | Featured in a 2016 piece titled “Tao in Givenchy” by Into The Gloss |
| Hermès | French luxury design house | Modeled for their Autumn/Winter 2014 Ready-to-Wear fashion show in Paris |
| Jean-Paul Gaultier | French haute couture and luxury fashion house | Modeled for their Fall 2010 Ready-to-Wear Fashion Show |
| Kenzo | French luxury fashion house | Fronted campaigns shot by Mario Sorrenti, including a 2011 project titled “Kenzo Volcano” |
| Louis Vuitton | French luxury fashion house | Featured wearing the brand in an April 2016 issue of Harper’s Bazaar Singapore, shot by Yu Tsai |
| Marc Jacobs | American fashion brand | Modeled for their Fall 2009 Ready-to-Wear Fashion Show |
| Maison Martin Margiela | French luxury fashion house | Modeled for their Spring 2008 Ready-to-Wear Fashion Show |
| Max Mara | Italian fashion brand | Appeared at a Max Mara Tokyo event in November 2013 |
| Miu Miu | Italian high fashion brand | Modeled for their Autumn/Winter 2019 Ready-to-Wear fashion show in Paris |
| Moschino | Italian luxury fashion house | Modeled for the Moschino Cheap And Chic Fall 2012 Ready-to-Wear Collection |
| Paul Smith | British fashion brand | Modeled for their Fall 2010 Ready-to-Wear Fashion Show |
| Phillip Lim | American fashion brand | Wore the brand to the Japan premiere of The Wolverine in August 2013 |
| Ralph Lauren | American fashion company | Chosen as one of the faces of the brand in 2009 |
| Salvatore Ferragamo | Italian luxury goods company | Modeled for their Fall 2007 Ready-to-Wear Fashion Show |
| Tommy Hilfiger | American premium clothing brand | Fronted campaigns shot by Craig McDean |
| Vivienne Westwood | British fashion designer and brand | Modeled for their Fall 2011 Ready-to-Wear Fashion Show |
| Yves Saint Laurent | French luxury fashion house | Modeled for the Saint Laurent Spring 2010 Ready-to-Wear Fashion Show |
Tao Okamoto movies and TV shows
- Okamoto made her film debut in the 2013 hit Marvel movie The Wolverine, where she played Mariko Yashida and worked alongside Hugh Jackman. She said in an interview that Hugh Jackman was always helping her on the movie set and gave her tips since this was her first movie.
- In 2014, Tao Okamoto appeared in the movie Crossroads (2015) and acted alongside Alodia Gosiengfiao.
- Then she took the role of Mercy Graves in the DC Universe movie Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016).
Tao Okamoto movies
| Year | Movie Name | Character Name / Role |
| 2013 | The Wolverine | Mariko Yashida |
| 2015 | Crossroads | Shiho Nomura |
| 2016 | Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice | Mercy Graves |
| 2017 | Manhunt | Kiko Tanaka |
| 2018 | Laplace’s Witch | Rei Kirimiya |
| 2019 | Lost Transmissions | Wendi |
| 2019 | She’s Just a Shadow | Irene |
| 2023 | The Silent Service | Ryoko Funao |
| 2023 | Sun & Moon (short film) | Served as Director, Writer, and Producer |
| 2025 | The Silent Service: The Battle of the Arctic Ocean | Ryoko Funao |
| 2025 | Out of Order | Lisa |
| 2025 | My Sweet Pala (short film) | Served as Director |
| 2026 | All of a Sudden | Mari Morisaki |
Tao Okamoto TV shows
- Not limiting herself to just the big screen, Tao Okamoto also worked in TV shows like Hannibal (2013), Westworld (2016), and The Man in the High Castle (2015).
- She joined Hannibal (TV Show) in 2014 for its third season, playing Hannibal Lecter’s family servant.
- In 2015, she played the role of Betty Kasoura in The Man in the High Castle (2015).
| Year | TV Show / Web Show Name | Character Name |
|---|---|---|
| 2014 | Chi no Wadachi (Mini-series) | Toko Sakagami |
| 2015 | Hannibal | Chiyoh |
| 2015 | The Man in the High Castle | Betty Kasoura |
| 2018-2020 | Westworld | Hanaryo |
| 2024 | The Silent Service | Ryoko Funao |
Political or Social Work
| Company or Institution for Social Causes | Advocates for authentic Asian representation in Hollywood |
| Political party affiliation or leaning | Ideologically left-leaning and pro-choice, does not support any political party openly |
Tao Okamoto has been very vocal about authentic Asian representation in global movies and media. She has also criticized and pushed back against all kinds of Asian stereotyping in Hollywood industry casting.
Furthermore, she also raised the issue of immigrant families’ struggle in the USA via her short film My Sweet Pala. While talking about it in her Instagram post’s caption, Tao wrote, “Today, the reality for people of color in America is increasingly complex, and I hope that this film will help foster greater empathy among us.”
In March 2016, while giving an interview to HuffPost Live, Tao explained how Asian actors are rarely involved in the conversations about diversity in Hollywood. She said that people often talk about how black people are often not represented among the Oscar nominees, but we (asians) are not even in that game. She further said that in Hollywood, we (asians) are a minority of the minorities, and because we are perceived as “shy and reserved”, people get the wrong idea that we are fine with the status quo.
On June 20, 2022, Tao celebrated World Refugee Day and went to a UNHCR event where a poem by Jennifer Toksvig, “What They Took With Them: a List,” was recited to create awareness about the world refugee crisis.
On November 3, 2024, Tao attended an event opening screening of the 19th Refugee Film Festival organized by Japan for UNHCR. This event addressed the refugee problem all over the world and featured movie pieces like The Walk: Amal’s 8,000 km Journey (a story about a Syrian refugee girl).
In January 2020, Tao also attended a Women’s March rally and supported the sociopolitical pro-choice movement, where she proudly raised a poster that said, “Our Bodies, Our Choice”.
In November 2019, she also attended a Climate Change awareness rally and showed her support by raising a poster that said, “There is no Planet B”. She has also raised the issue of plastic pollution on her Instagram and how it’s affecting sea life as well as people who consume microplastics indirectly by eating that same seafood.
Tao Okamoto Net Worth & Lifestyle
Being a top-tier model and actor for decades means that she has made a name and fortune for herself. Industry estimates suggest that Tao Okamoto’s net worth is estimated to be around $3 million to $10 million USD.
| Net Worth (approx) | $3 Million – $10 Million |
| Salary per episode (approx) | unknown |
| House, Bike, or Car Collection | Houses in New York and Los Angeles, USA |
Awards & Honous
At age 41, Tao won the Best Actress award at the Cannes Film Festival for her performance in All of a Sudden (2026). She became the first Japanese woman to win this award. Tao shared the prize with Virginie Efira (French actress), who was her co-star in All of a Sudden.
Tao’s drama short film My Sweet Pala was also selected for the 20th Sapporo International Short Film Festival. She was the director, writer, and producer of this short film. Her lead actress in this film, Metok Lhatso, also received the Best Children Actor Award.
| Year | Organization | Award Category | Nominated Movie/Show | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | Vogue Nippon | Women of the Year | – | Won |
| 2010 | Japan Fashion Editors’ Club | Model of the Year | – | Won |
| 2026 | Cannes Film Festival | Best Actress | All of a Sudden | Won |
| 2026 | Asia Pacific Screen Awards | Best Performance | All of a Sudden | To be decided |
Likes, Preferences, and Favourites
- Tao said that although Japanese people don’t like singing very much, she enjoys singing and sings everywhere, not just in her shower.
- She is also a fan of Broadway musicals. Tao even dreamt of one day singing on the stage in a Broadway musical.
| Food | Japanese cuisine (authentic) |
| Movies | French Drama, European Cinema |
| Subjects | Music, Arts, Literature |
| Book | Fashion Editorials |
| Music and Songs | Broadway musicals, Japanese Songs |
| Sports | Martial arts |
Lesser-known facts about Tao Okamoto
- There came a point in Tao Okamoto’s life in 2009 when she considered quitting her modeling career, until her career was revitalized by a drastic haircut, the “bowl cut”. At several points in her modeling life, she felt as if she was just a doll and others were controlling and telling her where to move.
- She did not speak fluent English at the start of her acting career and had to accelerate her English learning after landing a big Hollywood role in The Wolverine.
- She also made her directorial debut with a short film titled Sun & Moon (2023).
- Tao didn’t want anyone to describe her as a supermodel, as she thought it was an outdated term once used in the 80s and 90s to describe sexy, glamorous girls. She wanted her modeling work to reflect her identity rather than be seen as just a sexy model.
- In her modeling days, there came a point when Tao became a role model for other Asian models who wanted to make a name for themselves. She described an incident where other Chinese models got super excited after knowing that they would be working with Tao directly.
- Tao once described her modeling work as tiring, as she would have to travel a lot for her work and everything would be happening at the last minute. This meant that Tao would not get personal time or vacation for herself, even while traveling to new places and events.
- When Tao first moved to Paris for her modeling career, she lived there for one and a half years. During that time, she could not buy her favourite foods like baguettes or pastries because she couldn’t speak French at that time.
- Tao was chosen for the role of Mariko Yashida in The Wolverine (2013) only because the makers looked at many potential Japanese actresses, but she was the only one available who could speak English. However, with Hannibal (2013) and Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016), she got those roles only because of her own talent and the previous work she had done.
- Tao’s character, Mercy Graves in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016), was not supposed to be Japanese. However, Zach Snyder (director) had a different vision, as he had seen the work of Tao in The Wolverine (2013). Hearing that made Tao very happy.
- Getting used to the workings and ways of social media platforms is really difficult for Tao Okamoto, as she felt that by the time she learned a social media platform, another one pops up and takes the place of the old one.
- Tao Okamoto was really excited to get a chance to kiss Hugh Jackman, as he was a long-time crush of hers.
- Okamoto also owns a female cat, and her name is Aji. Tao shares her images with her cat from time to time on her Instagram.
- Tao Okamoto and IU relation: Fans often compare Tao Okamoto looks and beauty to South Korean singer/actress IU and say that ‘Tao Okamoto looks like IU’, because of their similar looks in certain angles and profiles. However, there is no relation between them, and they have never worked with each other on any projects.
- Name of Tao Okamoto agent: Currently, Tao is being represented by modeling agents Ashleah G. (North American region) and Lara C. (Europe and UK). In the past, she has been represented by many top-tier agencies, including Premier Model Management for her international representation and Tomorrow Tokyo for her domestic representation. Other agencies she has worked with are Elite Paris, Scoop Models, and Why Not Model Management.
Social media accounts
| Facebook page | Tao Okamoto (tao.okamoto) |
| X (formerly Twitter) | N/A |
| Instagram page | taookamoto (@taookamoto) |
| N/A | |
| Tumblr | N/A |
| Contact mail | N/A |
FAQs
How old was Tao Okamoto in The Wolverine?
Tao Okamoto was 27 years old during the filming of The Wolverine in 2012, and had recently turned 28 when the movie first premiered in July 2013.
Is Tao Okamoto married?
Yes, Tao Okamoto is happily married to Tenzin Wild, the co-founder and co-editor-in-chief of The Last Magazine. Their marriage took place on May 1, 2016, on the Brissago Islands in Switzerland.
What is Tao Okamoto’s most famous work?
She became most famous for playing the role of Mariko Yashida in Marvel’s movie The Wolverine (2013). She is also widely known for portraying the role of Mercy Graves in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016).
What languages does Tao Okamoto speak?
Tao Okamoto’s native language is Japanese, and she also speaks fluent English.
What is Tao Okamoto’s ethnicity?
Okamoto is of Japanese descent since she was born and raised in Ichikawa, Chiba, Japan.
Who is the Japanese girl in Wolverine?
There were two main Japanese girls in The Wolverine (2013). One of those two is Tao Okamoto in the role of Mariko Yashida, whereas the other girl is Rila Fukushima, who plays the role of Yukio.
How tall is Tao Okamoto?
Tao Okamoto’s height is 5 feet 9½ inches, which is 177 centimeters (1.77 meters).
What is Tao Okamoto known for?
She is known for her modeling work with fashion brands as well as her movies & tv shows like Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, The Wolverine, Westworld, and Hannibal.
Was Tao Okamoto in Wolverine?
Yes, in fact, Tao Okamoto made her debut in movies by playing the role of Mariko Yashida in The Wolverine.
Who is Tao Okamoto’s husband?
Tenzin Wild (the co-founder and co-editor-in-chief of The Last Magazine) is Tao Okamoto’s husband.
How old is Tao Okamoto?
Since she was born on May 22, 1985, she is currently 41 years old.
What are Tao Okamoto’s upcoming projects?
Her latest movie is the drama film All of a Sudden (2026). She has not announced any upcoming movie or TV show projects as of now.
Does Tao Okamoto speak English fluently?
Yes, Tao speaks fluent English, as she has been working in Hollywood movies and TV shows, which required her to speak English fluently.
Does Tao Okamoto speak French?
Yes, Tao Okamoto speaks French and was recently seen speaking it in the Japan-France co-production movie All of a Sudden (2026).
Where does Tao Okamoto live?
In 2009, Tao moved from Paris, France, to New York City, but later she moved to Los Angeles (USA) for her acting work. However, in 2023, she moved back to her home country, Japan, and has since set up a permanent base in Tokyo.
Is Tao Okamoto pregnant?
Tao Okamoto was pregnant and gave birth to a beautiful baby in August 2026. The gender or the name of the child has not been revealed yet.
What is the movie where Tao Okamoto and Virginie Efira star together?
It’s the movie project All of a Sudden (2026), where Tao Okamoto and Virginie Efira are both acting together.