Erika Ikuta (生田 絵梨花, Ikuta Erika; born January 22, 1997) is a Japanese actress, singer, and former first generation member of the Japanese idol girl group Nogizaka46. In addition to her work with Nogizaka46, Ikuta has appeared in multiple television and stage productions, including playing Cosette, Éponine and Fantine in a Japanese production of Les Misérables and voicing Asha in the Japanese dubbing of the Disney film Wish.
She is affiliated with Ohta Production from 2007 to 2009 and once again since 2022.
Early life and career
Ikuta was born on January 22, 1997, in Düsseldorf, Germany. She began taking piano lessons at the age of four under the influence of her older sister, who had taken them before her. Her family moved to Tokyo when she was five.
She made her entertainment debut as a child actress in 2007, starring in the musical Coco Smile: Asu e no Rock 'n' Roll. She was affiliated with Ohta Production during that time.
In 2011, she auditioned for Nogizaka46 and was selected as one of the thirty-six first generation members. Her audition song was Aiko's "Star". She was chosen as one of the members performing on the group's debut single "Guruguru Curtain", released on February 22, 2012.
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