Ayako Wakao (born 1933) is an iconic Japanese actress from the golden age of Japanese cinema, primarily associated with Daiei Studios. Recognized for her beauty and remarkable acting versatility, she was a muse for directors such as Yasuzo Masumura and Kon Ichikawa, working in over 150 films.

She often portrayed complex, modern, and independent women who challenged social conventions or faced tragic fates, embodying the transition between Japanese tradition and modernity. Among her most memorable roles are those in Masumura's *Giants and Toys* (1958) and *Manji* (1964), as well as Ichikawa's *An Actor's Revenge* (1963) and *Irezumi* (1966). Her style, subtle yet incisive, allowed her to explore a wide range of characters, from innocent ingenues to femme fatales, making her one of the most captivating and enduring figures in Japanese cinema.