Finnish actresses born in 1956
Here are 6 famous actresses from Finland were born in 1956:
Erja Manto
Erja Manto (December 8, 1956 Kotka-) also known as Erja Maaria Manto is a Finnish actor.
She began her acting career in the 1970s with small roles in Finnish television shows and films. In 1983, she became a household name in Finland with her role as Pirkko in the television series "Muumit" (The Moomins). She also starred in the popular Finnish crime series "Kesäyön uni" (Midsummer Dream), where she played the main character Anja Kaitala.
In addition to her acting career, Manto has worked as a director and screenwriter. She has directed and written several short films and documentaries, and her work has been shown at film festivals around the world.
Manto has also been active in politics, serving as a member of the Finnish Parliament from 1995 to 2007. She was a member of the Left Alliance Party and focused on issues such as social welfare and the environment.
Today, Manto is considered one of Finland's most respected actors and cultural figures. She has received numerous awards for her work in the arts, including the Pro Finlandia Medal in 2012, which is awarded for outstanding artistic achievement in Finland.
Manto was born in Kotka, a coastal town in southern Finland. Her father was a sea captain and her mother was a homemaker. Manto grew up in a creative and artistic household, where she was encouraged to pursue her passion for the arts. She attended the Theatre Academy Helsinki in the late 1970s, where she studied acting and directing.
In addition to her acting and directing work, Manto has also been involved in the Finnish music scene. She has collaborated with several Finnish musicians and composers, including Kimmo Pohjonen and Mika Vainio.
Manto has been a vocal advocate for feminist and environmental causes throughout her career. She has spoken out against gender inequality in the film and television industries and has been a strong proponent of sustainable environmental policies.
In recent years, Manto has continued to act in Finnish television shows and films. She has also expanded her international presence, appearing in productions in Europe and the United States. Despite her successes, she remains deeply connected to her Finnish roots and continues to be a beloved figure in the Finnish cultural landscape.
Teija Auvinen
Teija Auvinen (February 28, 1956 Oulu-) otherwise known as Teija Anita Auvinen, Teija Anita Lappalainen or Teija Lappalainen is a Finnish actor.
She has worked extensively in Finnish theater, film and television. Auvinen graduated from the Theatre Academy Helsinki in 1982 and began her acting career in the theater. She has performed in numerous productions in various theaters across Finland, including the Finnish National Theatre and the Helsinki City Theatre.
In addition to her work in theater, Auvinen has appeared in several Finnish films and television series, such as "Badding" (2000), "The Man Without a Past" (2002), and "Bordertown" (2016). She has also worked as a voice actor in several animated films and television shows.
Auvinen has been recognized for her contributions to Finnish theater and film, having received the Jussi Award for Best Supporting Actress in 1987 and the Finnish State Prize for Theatre in 2006. She is considered one of the most talented and versatile actors in Finland.
Auvinen is also known for her work as a director and playwright. She has directed several plays in Finnish theaters, including a production of Eugene O’Neill’s “Long Day’s Journey Into Night” at the Finnish National Theatre in 2009. She has also written several plays, such as “Totuus kuntosalista” and “Väärät veikot”. In addition to her work in the arts, Auvinen has been an advocate for social and political issues, including the rights of women and minorities. She has also been involved in environmental activism and has supported the cause of climate change awareness. Despite her many accomplishments, Auvinen remains humble and dedicated to her craft, often citing her passion for acting as the driving force behind her success.
Anu Panula
Anu Panula (October 21, 1956 Tampere-) also known as Anu Eerika Panula is a Finnish actor.
She graduated from the Theatre Academy of Finland in 1985 and has since worked in both theatre and TV productions. Panula has appeared in numerous Finnish TV shows, including the popular crime series "Bordertown". In addition to acting, she has also worked as a director and writer for theatre productions. Panula is known for her versatile acting skills and her ability to portray complex characters. She has received several awards for her work in theatre, including the Finnish State Prize for Theatre in 2009.
Panula began her acting career at Suomen Kansallisteatteri (The National Theatre of Finland), where she performed in many plays between 1985 and 1992. Afterward, she worked as a freelance actress, appearing in various theatres in Finland. She also directed and wrote scripts for several plays, including "Maria Stuart," which was performed at the Lilla Teater in Helsinki in 1994.
Panula has also acted in many movies, including "Rööperi," "Vares," and "Love and Other Troubles." In 2009, she featured in the Finnish-Swedish television series "The Hunters," which was critically acclaimed in both countries.
Apart from her acting career, Panula is also an advocate of animal rights and has worked for several charitable organizations that support the rights of animals. She has also actively participated in environmental initiatives and campaigns in Finland.
Panula continues to work on new projects in TV, film, and theatre. She recently appeared in the Finnish crime drama "Deadwind" in 2020, and in 2021, she will be starring in the upcoming film "Stupid Young Heart." Panula remains one of the most respected and admired actors in Finland, given her achievements across different fields of the entertainment industry.
Tiina Weckström
Tiina Weckström (August 1, 1956 Helsinki-) also known as Tiina Marjaana Weckström is a Finnish actor. She has two children, Valpuri Raappana and Arttu Raappana.
Tiina Weckström started her acting career in the 1970s and has since appeared in numerous films, TV shows, and theater productions in Finland. Some of her most notable roles include the TV series "Pohjantähti" and the movies "Finnish Blood Swedish Heart" and "The Unknown Soldier". Weckström has also worked as a voice actor, dubbing foreign films and TV shows into Finnish. In addition to her work in the entertainment industry, she has been actively involved in ecological and environmental movements. Weckström is also known for her love of animals and has frequently spoken out against animal cruelty.
She has won several awards for her acting, including a Jussi Award for Best Actress in 2007 for her role in the film "Matti: Hell Is for Heroes". Weckström is also a trained psychologist and has worked in the field of mental health. She has used her platform as a public figure to promote mental health awareness and has been involved in campaigns to reduce the stigma surrounding mental illness. In 2018, Weckström was awarded the Pro Finlandia Medal of the Order of the Lion of Finland for her contributions to Finnish culture and society. She continues to be an active performer and advocate for social and environmental causes.
Elina Hurme
Elina Hurme (May 18, 1956 Turku-) is a Finnish actor.
She is most well-known for her extensive work in theater, having acted in numerous productions in Finnish theaters since the 1980s, including the KOM theater in Helsinki and the Turku City Theater. She has also appeared in several Finnish TV series and films, such as the popular TV series "Kotikatu" and "Siskonpeti." In addition to her acting, Hurme has also worked as a director and instructor in various theater productions and workshops. She has received numerous accolades throughout her career, including the prestigious Jussi Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role for her performance in the film "Paratiisi" (1986).
Hurme graduated from the Theatre Academy of Finland in 1981 and has since become a well-respected figure in the Finnish theatre scene. Some of her notable performances include playing the lead role in Henrik Ibsen's "A Doll's House" and performing in the Finnish-language premiere of "The Vagina Monologues." She has also acted in international productions, such as "The Three Musketeers" in Sweden and "Hamlet" in Denmark. In addition to her acting career, Hurme has been involved in activism and has been a member of the Finnish Theatre Union's equality and diversity working group. Despite being diagnosed with breast cancer in 2011, Hurme continued to work in theater and received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Finnish Actor's Union in 2020.
Leena Havukainen
Leena Havukainen (May 15, 1956 Lahti-) is a Finnish actor.
She graduated from the Theatre Academy of Finland in 1980 and then began working at the Helsinki City Theatre. Havukainen has performed in a number of Finnish films, television shows, and plays, and is particularly known for her work in comedic roles. She has won several awards for her acting, including Jussi Awards for Best Supporting Actress in 1986 and Best Actress in 1995. In addition to her work as an actor, Havukainen has also worked as a voice actor, dubbing foreign films and television shows into Finnish.
One of Leena Havukainen's most notable roles was in the Finnish television series "Riidankylväjät" (1988-1993), where she played the character of Leena Järvinen. She also appeared in the television series "Kotikatu" (1995-2012), one of the longest-running television dramas in Finland. Havukainen's film roles include the comedy "Häpy endkö?" (1999) and the drama "Sairaan kaunis maailma" (1997), which was directed by her husband, Kari Paljakka. In addition to her work in the entertainment industry, Havukainen has been an advocate for social and environmental issues, and has worked with the Finnish Association for Nature Conservation and other organizations.