Mao Inoue (井上 真央; born 9 January 1987) is a Japanese actress known for her roles as Akane Imai in the Kids War series, Tsukushi Makino in the Boys Over Flowers series, and as Sugi Fumi (ja) in the 54th taiga drama Burning Flower. She has also appeared in several films, including I Give My First Love to You, Rebirth, and The Snow White Murder Case.

Inoue was born on 9 January 1987 in Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture. At the age of four, her mother encouraged her to participate in acting, art, and music. Although acting was not her initial priority, she decided to continue upon receiving her first fan letter.^{[citation needed]}

In 2004, Inoue decided to suspend her acting career to prepare for her university entrance exams. At age 18, she enrolled in Meiji University, majoring in theatre and literature, with Chinese as her elective. She graduated in March 2009.

Inoue began her acting career at the age of five, appearing in the television series Kids War from 1999 to 2003. In 2005, she was awarded the Best Actress Award from the Television Drama Academy for her portrayal of Tsukushi Makino in Boys Over Flowers.

Inoue made her film debut in 2006 with Check It Out, Yo!

Inoue took on further television roles, such as the television drama First Kiss, co-starring Yūta Hiraoka. She played a maiko-turned-geisha in the drama special Hanaikusa. She starred in Anmitsu Hime (2008) and Anmitsu Hime 2 (2009), where she portrayed a princess and also contributed to the 2009 theme song alongside Shoko Nakagawa.^{[citation needed]}

Following Boys Over Flowers and its 2007 sequel, Inoue starred in the film adaptation, Boys Over Flowers: Final (2008). The film was the highest-grossing live action film released in Japan that year.

After university, Inoue returned to acting in Boku no Hatsukoi wo Kimi ni Sasagu (2009), in which she shared the lead with Masaki Okada.^{[citation needed]} In April of the following year, My Darling is a Foreigner was released in theaters with Inoue starring alongside Jonathan Sherr.^{[citation needed]}