[1] Wakao began her career contracted to Daiei Studios in 1951 as part of the fifth "New Face" group.

She has gone on to appear in over 100 feature films, plus numerous television movies and series.

In addition to her many collaborations with Masumura, she was a favorite of Kon Ichikawa, having starred or co-starred in seven of the director's works.

[3] Yuzo Kawashima made three films Women Are Born Twice, The Temple of Wild Geese and The Graceful Brute with her.

In 2007, both ran unsuccessful campaigns for seats in the upper house of the Japanese Parliament, before Kurokawa died in October of that year.