Hara started appearing in magazines and
TV commercials after being scouted as a model in 1996. She made her acting debut one year later in
Beach Boys with
Takashi Sorimachi. She took on various supporting roles before winning the lead role in the 2000
NTV drama,
Cinderella wa Nemuranai. Hara’s first film role was with
Yukie Nakama and
Hideaki Itō in the 2001 film
Love Song. In the same year, she appeared with
Yūko Takeuchi and
SMAP leader
Masahiro Nakai in the TV
medical drama,
Shiroi Kage. In 2002, she had to learn
sign language to prepare for her role as a
deaf-mute in
Shiawase no Shippo. Hara was then cast as Miyuki Kobayakawa in the
live action version of ''
You're Under Arrest. In 2005 she was cast alongside Yūki Amami and Mirai Shida in the dark grade school drama, Jyoou no Kyoushitsu''. In 2005 alone, she appeared in five films, including
Hinokio and
Semishigure. She made her first voice acting performance in the critically acclaimed
Japanese
animated film,
Toki wo Kakeru Shoujo in 2006. On April 25, 2007,
NHK announced that Hara would be part of its 77th
Asadora,
Chiritotechin. Hara’s role as
freelance writer Natsuko Ogata in
Chiritotechin was her first in a morning drama, and her longest, as the series ran for 151 episodes from October 1, 2007 to March 29, 2008. She often works with
Kazushige Nagashima,
Zaizen Naomi,
Emi Wakui,
Hideaki Itō,
Yōko Nogiwa, and
Yumiko Shaku, and is often cast as a teacher, lawyer, or nurse. She usually appears in TV dramas and specials, variety shows and cultural events. She also remains active as endorser. Aside from co-starring with
Hiroshi Abe in Sekisuiheim commercials, she is also doing promotional work for energy drink
Lipovitan Fine (with
Shun Oguri). ==Filmography==