Actress Uehara Takako (28) of the Jpop group SPEED will be the lead in the movie “Koitanibashi La Vallee de l’amour.” The movie is set for a summer release and is directed by Godo Koichi.

The movie takes place at a hot spring in Misasa, Tottori and is centered around a soon-to-be proprietress (Uehara) who restores her family’s Japanese-style inn that’s located in her hometown.

Uehara did star in another movie back in 1999 called, “Dream Maker” but that project was related to her activities with SPEED. That same year she won the Japanese Academy award for best new actress. After that she’s polished off her acting skills in small roles in movies and dramas, now she’s taking on her first major role in a film.

They’ve been shooting in Tottori on location for the past 3 weeks. Actress Uehara commented, “I believe I will portray this character very honestly when it comes to facing this movie.”

The movie is set for a Summer release later this year.