Maaya Sakamoto is a highly esteemed Japanese actress, voice actor, and singer with a career spanning over three decades. Born on March 31, 1980, in Tokyo, she began her entertainment career at a young age, working in theatre and foreign film dubbing as a child. She is a graduate of Toyo University, where she earned a degree in sociology. In 2011, she married fellow voice actor Kenichi Suzumura.

Sakamoto's professional voice acting debut came in 1992 when she voiced the character Chifuru in the anime OVA Little Twins. Her first major leading role, and the performance that brought her widespread recognition, was as Hitomi Kanzaki in the 1996 television series The Vision of Escaflowne. This role was pivotal not only for her acting career but also for launching her singing career, as she performed the series' opening theme song.

Throughout her career, Sakamoto has built an extraordinary and diverse filmography, taking on a vast range of characters. She is known for bringing depth and nuance to protagonists, antagonists, and enigmatic figures alike. Some of her most iconic and varied roles include the cheerful Haruhi Fujioka in Ouran High School Host Club, the androgynous and troubled Ciel Phantomhive in Black Butler, the immortal vampire Shinobu Oshino in the Monogatari series, the reserved and powerful Shiki Ryōgi in The Garden of Sinners, the calculating witch Echidna in Re:ZERO -Starting Life in Another World-, and the powerful yet whimsical Merlin in The Seven Deadly Sins. She also voices Quinella in Sword Art Online: Alicization and the artificial intelligence Aigis in the Persona 3 game and movie series.

In addition to anime, Sakamoto is the regular Japanese dubbing voice for actress Natalie Portman and has provided the Japanese voice for Padmé Amidala in the Star Wars prequel films. Her talents extend to the stage, where she has performed the role of Éponine in the Japanese production of the musical Les Misérables.

A defining aspect of Sakamoto's career is her long and fruitful collaboration with composer Yoko Kanno. Kanno produced her debut single "Yakusoku wa Iranai" and much of her early music, a partnership that continued for many years and was revived for the hit single "Triangler" for Macross Frontier. This collaboration cemented her dual identity as a successful voice actor and a top-tier recording artist. Her musical work has earned her significant acclaim, including having multiple albums reach the top of the Oricon charts and winning the Heisei Anisong Grand Prix for her song "Platinum" from Cardcaptor Sakura.

Over her long career, Maaya Sakamoto has been recognized with numerous accolades, including nominations at the first Seiyu Awards for Best Main Character and Best Single. She is widely regarded as one of the most popular and talented voice actors in Japan, celebrated for her versatile vocal range, her sensitive portrayals of complex characters, and her significant contributions to both anime and music.