Naoko Mori (Toshiko Sato)
Quite simply, Tosh is a genius. She specialises in all things technical –from her computer terminal in the Torchwood hub, she can make it look like you never existed.
Torchwood pushes all the right buttons for Naoko Mori. She is hoping to strike a blow for geeks everywhere as she stars as technical expert Toshiko Sato in Torchwood. It’s a commendable stance but, as the bubbly young actress freely admits, not entirely altruistic. “I think geeks get a really bad press but I’m a bit of a geek myself,” laughs Naoko. “I love computers and gadgetry or anything technical. I always have to have the latest thing – I’m Japanese, so it’s in the blood!”
It’s no surprise, then, that Naoko is so fond of Toshiko, Torchwood’s computer and surveillance specialist. “It’s the perfect job for Tosh,” explains the actress as she takes a break from filming at the series’ futuristic set in Cardiff. “She’s at the cutting edge of technology and with Torchwood she’s always coming across new things. She loves the challenge of trying to work things out.”
More often than not, she reveals, Tosh is pitting her wits against alien artefacts that could help the team in their fight against criminals – both human and alien. “Tosh gets her hands on lots of alien gadgets and they’re brilliant,” says Naoko, who covets a rather handy device that can pick any type of lock in seconds. “I’d quite like some of them in real life!”
At first glance, Tosh appears to be the straight man of the Torchwood team, who are based in the institute’s headquarters, The Hub, in subterranean Cardiff. “She seems to be a bit square and quiet but she’s actually just a very private person. She’s more of a thinker than a feeler but that doesn’t mean she doesn’t feel, she just doesn’t share it,” says Naoko. “She keeps her private life private and work is work. But work is the biggest thing – she loves her job, as everyone in the team does.”
Brainbox Tosh was snapped up by a Government science think-tank straight from university, before being recruited by Torchwood to work with Captain Jack Harkness (John Barrowman) three years ago. Both of her parents were in the RAF, while her grandfather worked in Bletchley Park, the top-secret wartime code-cracking facility – so she’s no stranger to subterfuge.
“Tosh has good relationships with everyone, especially Jack, the leader. She’s not scared of expressing her opinions with him. She’s very honest – if she feels something’s wrong, be it morally wrong or whatever, she’ll say so. But theirs is a very strong bond.” The computer expert also has a soft spot for handsome medic Owen, played by Bleak House star Burn Gorman. “Owen is … well, he’s gorgeous but he’s a pain,” laughs Naoko. “He’s that guy at school who’s a bit cocky. There’s a healthy banter there and he’s always coming up with cheeky quips but he’s one of those guys you can’t help but really like … and fancy a little bit.”
The actress was born in the industrial city of Nagoya, Japan. When she was four, her businessman father was transferred to the US, so the family moved to New Jersey, where Naoko and her brother and sister learnt to speak English. Eight years later, the Moris moved to the UK, settling in Surrey, where Naoko began to take singing lessons. By the age of 13, she had left her childhood dream of becoming a golf pro at the first hole and decided her future was in singing and acting.
Naoko got her big break at the age of 17 when she landed the lead role in the West End production of Miss Saigon – opposite Torchwood’s John Barrowman. “It’s so nice to work with John again and we get on really well,” says the actress, who is perhaps best known to British TV audiences as Sarah, Saffy’s best friend in the hit comedy Absolutely Fabulous.
Naoko got a taste for sci-fi when she appeared in the first series of Russell T Davies’s new Doctor Who. She was delighted to be cast in the episode Aliens Of London –although she wasn’t quite sure what to expect. “I didn’t know too much about Doctor Who. I grew up in the States, so I’d never seen it as a kid,” she says. “When I got the script, I phoned my agent and said, ‘What’s a TARDIS? I’ve looked it up in the dictionary and I can’t find it’. He was laughing so hard he actually put the phone down on me.” But Torchwood, Naoko points out, is an altogether darker prospect. “It’s been a real challenge and also very exciting at the same time, because Tosh goes through a heck of a lot and some very emotionally heavy scenes.
“I’ve always wanted to do a science-fiction thing and an action thing – they’re on my list of things to do before I die – and with Torchwood I’ve managed to tick both boxes.”
It’s no surprise, then, that Naoko is so fond of Toshiko, Torchwood’s computer and surveillance specialist. “It’s the perfect job for Tosh,” explains the actress as she takes a break from filming at the series’ futuristic set in Cardiff. “She’s at the cutting edge of technology and with Torchwood she’s always coming across new things. She loves the challenge of trying to work things out.”
More often than not, she reveals, Tosh is pitting her wits against alien artefacts that could help the team in their fight against criminals – both human and alien. “Tosh gets her hands on lots of alien gadgets and they’re brilliant,” says Naoko, who covets a rather handy device that can pick any type of lock in seconds. “I’d quite like some of them in real life!”
At first glance, Tosh appears to be the straight man of the Torchwood team, who are based in the institute’s headquarters, The Hub, in subterranean Cardiff. “She seems to be a bit square and quiet but she’s actually just a very private person. She’s more of a thinker than a feeler but that doesn’t mean she doesn’t feel, she just doesn’t share it,” says Naoko. “She keeps her private life private and work is work. But work is the biggest thing – she loves her job, as everyone in the team does.”
Brainbox Tosh was snapped up by a Government science think-tank straight from university, before being recruited by Torchwood to work with Captain Jack Harkness (John Barrowman) three years ago. Both of her parents were in the RAF, while her grandfather worked in Bletchley Park, the top-secret wartime code-cracking facility – so she’s no stranger to subterfuge.
“Tosh has good relationships with everyone, especially Jack, the leader. She’s not scared of expressing her opinions with him. She’s very honest – if she feels something’s wrong, be it morally wrong or whatever, she’ll say so. But theirs is a very strong bond.” The computer expert also has a soft spot for handsome medic Owen, played by Bleak House star Burn Gorman. “Owen is … well, he’s gorgeous but he’s a pain,” laughs Naoko. “He’s that guy at school who’s a bit cocky. There’s a healthy banter there and he’s always coming up with cheeky quips but he’s one of those guys you can’t help but really like … and fancy a little bit.”
The actress was born in the industrial city of Nagoya, Japan. When she was four, her businessman father was transferred to the US, so the family moved to New Jersey, where Naoko and her brother and sister learnt to speak English. Eight years later, the Moris moved to the UK, settling in Surrey, where Naoko began to take singing lessons. By the age of 13, she had left her childhood dream of becoming a golf pro at the first hole and decided her future was in singing and acting.
Naoko got her big break at the age of 17 when she landed the lead role in the West End production of Miss Saigon – opposite Torchwood’s John Barrowman. “It’s so nice to work with John again and we get on really well,” says the actress, who is perhaps best known to British TV audiences as Sarah, Saffy’s best friend in the hit comedy Absolutely Fabulous.
Naoko got a taste for sci-fi when she appeared in the first series of Russell T Davies’s new Doctor Who. She was delighted to be cast in the episode Aliens Of London –although she wasn’t quite sure what to expect. “I didn’t know too much about Doctor Who. I grew up in the States, so I’d never seen it as a kid,” she says. “When I got the script, I phoned my agent and said, ‘What’s a TARDIS? I’ve looked it up in the dictionary and I can’t find it’. He was laughing so hard he actually put the phone down on me.” But Torchwood, Naoko points out, is an altogether darker prospect. “It’s been a real challenge and also very exciting at the same time, because Tosh goes through a heck of a lot and some very emotionally heavy scenes.
“I’ve always wanted to do a science-fiction thing and an action thing – they’re on my list of things to do before I die – and with Torchwood I’ve managed to tick both boxes.”
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