Tokyo-born Akemi Negishi came to the attention of international audiences when she starred in the US/Japanese co-production Anatahan, her debut film.

Josef von Sternberg directed the tale of shipwrecked Japanese soldiers who refused to believe that World War II had ended six years after the bombing of Hiroshima.

Negishi made several films with the acclaimed Japanese film director Akira Kurosawa, including Donzoko (The Lower Depths), Dodesukaden, and Ikimono no kiroku (I Live in Fear).

Negishi also had a supporting role in Shurayukihime (Lady Snowblood), which was reportedly one of the main inspirations for Quentin Tarantino's film Kill Bill.

Other credits included Tokyo no kyujitsu (Tokyo Holiday), Half Human: The Story of the Abominable Snowman (aka Half Human, with John Carradine), King Kong vs. Godzilla and Kaidan hebi-onna (Snake Woman's Curse).