Finnish actresses born in 1964
Here are 8 famous actresses from Finland were born in 1964:
Merja Larivaara
Merja Larivaara (July 4, 1964 Haukipudas-) also known as Larivaara, Merja or Merja Toivonen is a Finnish actor.
Merja Larivaara began her acting career in the early 1990s and quickly became a well-known face in Finnish cinema and television. She has appeared in numerous popular TV series and films, including "Kummeli", "Rölli", and "Vares". Larivaara is particularly known for her ability to portray complex and emotional characters, earning her critical acclaim and several award nominations. In addition to acting, she has also worked as a voiceover artist and narrator, lending her voice to documentaries and audiobooks. Outside of her acting career, Larivaara is a trained classical singer and has performed in various operas and musicals.
Her notable film credits include "The Man Without a Past" (2002), which won the Grand Prix award at the Cannes Film Festival, and "Levottomat"(2000), which was a commercial success in Finland. Larivaara has also worked extensively in theater, performing in productions of classics like "Hamlet" and "Antigone". In 2015, she received the prestigious Finnish State Prize for Performing Arts, recognizing her outstanding contributions to the field. Larivaara is also an advocate for animal welfare and frequently participates in campaigns to raise awareness about animal rights.
Auli Mantila
Auli Mantila (May 27, 1964 Jyväskylä-) is a Finnish film producer, film director, screenwriter and actor.
Auli Mantila started her career in the film industry as a producer in the late 1980s. She has produced or co-produced over 50 films, including several award-winning productions such as "Letters to Father Jacob" (2009) and "The Happiest Day in the Life of Olli Mäki" (2016) which was awarded the Un Certain Regard prize at the Cannes Film Festival.
In addition to producing, Auli Mantila has also directed and written several films. Her directorial debut, "Never again" (1995), won the Jussi Award for Best Debut Film. She has also acted in several films, including "Kun taivas putoaa" (2000) and "Sulka" (2014).
Aside from her film work, Mantila was one of the co-founders of the Helsinki-based production company Fisher King in the early 1990s. She has also worked as the head of the Finnish Film Foundation, which supports the production and distribution of Finnish films domestically and abroad.
Mantila's contributions to Finnish cinema have been widely recognized. She has won multiple awards for her work as a film producer, including the EAVE Producers Award in 2003 and the Finnish State Award for Film Production in 2012. In 2017, Mantila was awarded the Pro Finlandia medal, which is the highest honor that can be awarded to a Finnish artist or cultural figure for their contributions to promoting Finnish culture. Additionally, Mantila has been an advocate for gender equality in the film industry and has served as the chairperson of the Finnish Film Producers Association. She has also been a member of the board of the European Film Academy.
Anu Hälvä
Anu Hälvä (June 30, 1964 Hyvinkää-) also known as Anu Kristiina Hälvä-Sallinen is a Finnish actor and singer.
She began her career in entertainment in the 1980s as a vocalist for the pop group "Lennon Sport" before transitioning to acting. Hälvä had her breakthrough role in the 1994 film "Enskilda samtal" which earned her a nomination for a Jussi Award, the Finnish equivalent of an Academy Award. She has since appeared in numerous films and television series, including the popular Finnish crime drama "Bordertown" (Sorjonen in Finnish). Hälvä is also a well-known stage actress and has performed in theaters throughout Finland. In addition to her acting career, she has released several solo albums and collaborated with other musicians.
Hälvä has received critical acclaim for her roles in films such as "Lovers and Leavers" (1999) and "Fire-Eater" (2002), for which she won the Best Actress award at the Tampere Film Festival. She has also won awards for her theater performances, including the Kultainen Venla award for her role in the musical "The Sound of Music" in 2002. In 2013, Hälvä was awarded the Pro Finlandia Medal of the Order of the Lion of Finland for her contributions to Finnish culture. Despite her success, Hälvä has remained grounded and has been known to be an advocate for social and environmental causes. Her passion for animal welfare and preserving the environment has led her to work with several organizations dedicated to these issues.
Sari Siikander
Sari Siikander (June 26, 1964 Valkeakoski-) a.k.a. Sari Maarit Siikander is a Finnish actor and screenwriter. Her child is called Josefiina Petelius.
Siikander started her acting career at the Helsinki City Theatre in the 1980s and has since appeared in numerous theater productions, television series, and movies. She is best known for her roles in the popular Finnish TV drama series "Salatut elämät" (Secret Lives) and the film "Pelon maantiede" (Geography of Fear) for which she received critical acclaim.
Apart from acting, Siikander has also written screenplays for TV dramas and co-written a Finnish movie called "Tyttö nimeltä Varpu" (Little Wing).
Siikander is known for her strong personality and commitment to social issues. She is an advocate for gender equality and has been actively involved in promoting environmental sustainability. She has also been a spokesperson for the Finnish Heart Association and a board member of the Finnish National Theatre.
Siikander was born in Valkeakoski, Finland in 1964 to parents who were both actors. Her father, Martti Siikander, was a well-known Finnish actor who had a long career in theater, television, and film. Raised in a creative and artistic household, Siikander developed a passion for acting at an early age and went on to study theater at the Helsinki Theatre Academy.
After completing her studies, Siikander joined the Helsinki City Theatre where she quickly established herself as a talented and versatile actor. Over the years, she has appeared in a wide range of productions, from classical plays to contemporary dramas, showcasing her range and depth as an actor.
Apart from her acting career, Siikander has also made a name for herself as a screenwriter, penning scripts for numerous television dramas and movies. Her work has been praised for its sharp dialogue, complex characters, and nuanced storytelling.
In addition to her creative pursuits, Siikander is also known for her commitment to social and environmental causes. She has been a vocal advocate for gender equality and has spoken out against domestic violence and sexual harassment. She has also been involved in various initiatives to promote sustainability and combat climate change.
Today, Siikander continues to be one of Finland's most respected and beloved actors, known for her talent, integrity, and activism.
Henriikka Salo
Henriikka Salo (May 3, 1964 Kokemäki-) also known as Henriikka Maria Salo is a Finnish actor.
She graduated from the Theatre Academy in Helsinki in 1993 and has since appeared in numerous films, TV series, and theater productions. Some of her notable film roles include "Onnen maa" (1993), "Ariel" (1988), and "Vares – Yksityisetsivä" (2004). She has also received critical acclaim for her theater performances, including her role in "Kätilö" (2014) for which she was awarded the prestigious Venla Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role. In addition to acting, Salo is also a theater director and has directed several productions in Finland, including "Pentti Saarikoski – Runoilija" (2012) and "Tattisoppa" (2016). Salo is married to actor, writer, and director Juha Hurme, with whom she has two children.
Salo is known for her versatility as an actress, with her ability to portray a wide range of characters, from dramatic to comedic roles. She has also lent her voice to several animated films and TV series in Finnish, including the Finnish dubbing of the movie "The Incredibles" (2004).
Salo has been recognized for her contributions to Finnish theater and film, receiving several awards throughout her career, including the Jussi Award for Best Supporting Actress for her role in "Onnen maa" (1993). She has also served as a teacher at the Theatre Academy in Helsinki, where she teaches acting and directing.
Aside from her career in entertainment, Salo is also an advocate for environmental and social causes. She has been vocal about the effects of climate change and has participated in several campaigns to promote eco-friendly initiatives in Finland.
Jonna Järnefelt
Jonna Järnefelt (October 3, 1964 Espoo-) also known as Järnefelt, Jonna, Irja Johanna Järnefelt or Johanna Järnefelt is a Finnish actor. Her children are called Sampo Sarkola and Milja Sarkola.
Jonna Järnefelt began her acting career in the early 1990s and has since starred in numerous Finnish TV shows, films and theatre productions. She is particularly known for her work at the Helsinki City Theatre, where she has starred in productions of classic plays such as Les Liaisons dangereuses and Chekhov's Three Sisters.
In addition to her acting work, Järnefelt is also a writer and has published several novels, including Mamma muori (2004) and Tyttö ja naakkapuu (2016). She is also a co-founder of the Klockrike theatre company in Helsinki, which has produced several acclaimed productions.
Jonna Järnefelt's children Sampo Sarkola and Milja Sarkola have both followed in their mother's footsteps and become celebrated actors in Finland.
Jonna Järnefelt was born and raised in Espoo, Finland. She attended theatre school in Helsinki before beginning her professional acting career. Järnefelt has appeared in many popular Finnish TV shows, including Kotikatu, Syke, and Klikkaa mua. She has also starred in several Finnish films, including Pahat pojat (2003) and Sauna (2008).
In addition to her work as an actor, Järnefelt has written several books. Her novel Mamma muori was made into a TV series in 2008, and her young adult novel Tyttö ja naakkapuu was awarded the prestigious Finlandia Junior Prize in 2016.
Järnefelt is known for her commitment to the Finnish theatre scene. In addition to her work at the Helsinki City Theatre, she has also performed at several other theatres in Finland, including the Tampereen Teatteri and the Lilla Teatern. Along with two other actors, Järnefelt co-founded the Klockrike theatre company in 1999, which has produced several acclaimed productions in Helsinki and beyond.
Her children Sampo Sarkola and Milja Sarkola have also become notable actors in Finland. Sampo has appeared in several Finnish films, including Lovemilla (2015) and Tom of Finland (2017), while Milja has starred in the TV series Kummeli (2014) and Katto (2021).
Maija Junno
Maija Junno (July 17, 1964 Pello-) also known as Anna-Maija Junno is a Finnish actor.
Maija Junno began her acting career in the 1980s, starring in several Finnish TV shows and films. She became a household name in Finland for her roles in popular TV series such as "Kohtuuttomuuksia" and "Salatut elämät". In addition to her work in television, Junno has also acted in numerous Finnish films, including "Klaara ja Prinsessa" and "Invisible Heroes".
Outside of acting, Junno is also involved in theater, having performed in productions at various theaters across Finland. She has received critical acclaim for her performances, including a Jussi Award for Best Supporting Actress in 1999.
Junno has also worked as a voice actor, lending her voice to several Finnish-dubbed versions of popular movies and TV shows.
In addition to her successful career in entertainment, Junno is known for her charitable work. She has been involved with several organizations that support children and families in need.
Junno was born in Pello, a small town in Lapland, Finland. She grew up in a family of artists, as her father was a painter and her mother was a singer. Junno developed an interest in acting at an early age and began taking drama classes while she was still in school. After graduating from high school, she moved to Helsinki to pursue a career in acting.
In the early years of her career, Junno struggled to find steady work as an actor. She worked odd jobs to make ends meet while auditioning for various roles. Her big break came in the mid-1980s when she landed a role in the popular Finnish TV series "Kohtuuttomuuksia".
Junno's success on the small screen soon led to opportunities in film. She appeared in several critically acclaimed Finnish films in the 1990s, including "Ariel" and "Kivenpyörittäjän kylä". Her performance in the latter film earned her a Best Supporting Actress nomination at the Jussi Awards.
Junno is also a talented voice actor and has lent her voice to a number of beloved characters in Finnish-dubbed versions of films such as "Shrek" and "Toy Story".
Despite her busy career, Junno remains committed to making a positive impact in her community. She has been involved with charities such as UNICEF and the Finnish Association for Children with Cancer. In recognition of her humanitarian work, she was awarded the Order of the Lion of Finland in 2014.
Anneli Karppinen
Anneli Karppinen (June 24, 1964 Muhos-) also known as Anneli Sari Johanna Karppinen is a Finnish actor.
She trained at the Theatre Academy Helsinki before embarking on a successful acting career in both film and television. Karppinen has appeared in several notable Finnish films, including "Laukaus Tyhjään" (1982), "Isä (1984)" and "Punainen planeetta" (2000). She has also had recurring roles on popular television shows such as "Salatut elämät" (1999-2008) and "Kotikatu" (1995-2012). In addition to her acting work, Karppinen has also worked as a voice actor, dubbing foreign films and television shows into Finnish. She has won several awards for her work in the entertainment industry, including Best Actress at the Jussi Awards in 1993.
Karppinen's work as an actor has not only been limited to the big and small screens, as she has also made appearances on stage. Her notable roles in theater include parts in productions of "A Streetcar Named Desire" and "Pyhä Johanna" (Saint Joan). Over the course of her career, Karppinen has also diversified her skills by expanding into screenwriting and directing. She wrote and directed a short film called "Kuin uni ja varjo" (2002) and later directed an episode of the TV series "Sydänjää" (2019). Outside of her professional work, Karppinen has been an advocate for animal welfare and has been a spokesperson for animal rights organization Animalia.