Laura Pauliina Malmivaara (born 26 October 1973)[1] is a Finnish actress. Her acting career began in 1993 and includes dozens of roles in film and television productions, as well as stage appearances. In addition to acting, she has also worked as a singer, photographer, television host, blogger and model.

Laura Malmivaara
Malmivaara in 2012
Born
Laura Pauliina Malmivaara

(1973-10-26) 26 October 1973 (age 51)
Occupation(s)Actress, singer, photographer, television host, blogger, model
Years active1993–present (acting career)
Spouse
(m. 2003⁠–⁠2012)
Relatives

Career

edit

Early life and education

edit

Malmivaara was born into a clerical family in Kajaanin maalaiskunta [fi] (now Kajaani), Finland.[1][2] Before pursuing acting, she worked as a model in her youth.[2] After graduating from the Sibelius Upper Secondary School [fi] in 1992, she lived and worked as a model in Athens, Greece, for a period of time.[3] In 2002, Malmivaara graduated from the Helsinki Theatre Academy. She also studied photography at the School of Arts, Design and Architecture in Helsinki and theology at the University of Helsinki.[4]

Acting career: 1993–present

edit

Malmivaara made her acting debut in the 1993 film Harjunpää and the Persecutors [fi] and has since appeared in dozens of Finnish film and television productions.[5] Among her best-known roles are in the films Restless (2002), Lovers & Leavers (2002), Vares: Private Eye (2004) and FC Venus (2005).[6] For her performance in FC Venus, she was nominated for the Best Supporting Actress Award [fi] at the 60th [fi] Jussi Awards in 2006.[7] Malmivaara is also well-known for her role in the drama television series Kotikatu, in which she played the priest Tuija Kangasharju from 2002 to 2012.[8][9][10]

In addition to her roles in Finnish productions, Malmivaara has also played lead roles in two Italian films written and directed by Anne Riitta Ciccone [fi; it]: L'amore di Màrja [fi; it] (2002) and Thy Neighbor [it] (2008).[11][12] She also appeared in the 2006 Swedish comedy film Baba's Cars [fi; sv], written and directed by Rafael Edholm.[13]

Onstage

edit

Malmivaara was a founding member of the theatre group Akseli Ensemble [fi], which was active from 2004 to 2008.[14][15] Since 2008, she has been affiliated with KOM-teatteri, located in Helsinki.[4]

Musical career debut in 2005

edit

Malmivaara's debut album, Myytävänä elämä [fi], was released in 2005 by Elements Music. The ten-track album features pop songs,[16] and both before and after its release, the singles "Nukkumaan" and "Myytävänä elämä" were released in 2005 and 2006, respectively. "Nukkumaan" peaked at number seventeen on the Official Finnish Singles Chart,[17] while "Myytävänä elämä" did not chart. Before her recording career, Malmivaara performed the song "Daa da daa da" with other actors in the film Restless and wrote and performed the song "Sadepilvet" for the film Lovers & Leavers.[18][19]

Photography

edit

In addition to her film acting career, Malmivaara has worked as a still photographer for several films.[5] Moreover, three exhibitions featuring her photographic works have been held: Mikä minusta tulee isona (2004), Lauran matkakuvia: Tukholma (2012, 2013) and Taiteilijakuvia (2015).[4]

Non-fiction television

edit

Malmivaara has hosted two television programs. She hosted Peili, a show based on a board game, which ran for two seasons and aired on MTV3 AVA from 2009 to 2010.[20][21] From 2012 to 2013, Malmivaara hosted the travel series Lauran matkakuvia: Tukholma [fi], which also ran for two seasons on Liv. In each episode of the series, she travelled to Stockholm, Sweden, with an alternating celebrity guest.[22]

In 2017, Malmivaara participated in the tenth season of Tanssii tähtien kanssa, the Finnish version of Dancing with the Stars, with dancer Mikko Ahti [fi] as her partner.[23]

Blogging

edit

Malmivaara frequently blogged for the women's magazine Evita [fi],[24] published by Bonnier Publications Oy from 2010 to 2013.

Personal life

edit

Malmivaara's younger brother, Olli, is a former professional ice hockey player,[25][26] and actress and singer Malla Malmivaara (also born Laura Malmivaara) is her second cousin.[27]

Malmivaara has two daughters, born in 2004 and 2006, with director Aku Louhimies, to whom she was married from 2003 to 2012.[28][29] As of 2017, she lives in Helsinki.[9]

Filmography

edit

Feature film performances

edit
Year Title Role Notes
1993 Harjunpää and the Persecutors [fi] (Harjunpää ja kiusantekijät) Model
1993 The Romanov Stones [fi] (Romanovin kivet) Girl at the party
2000 Restless (Levottomat) Tiina Also performed the song "Daa da daa da" with other actors
2002 Lovers & Leavers (Kuutamolla) Laura Also wrote and performed the song "Sadepilvet"
2002 L'amore di Màrja [fi; it] Màrja
2003 Young Gods (Hymypoika) Helena Pääkkönen
2004 Vares: Private Eye (Vares – yksityisetsivä) Eeva Sunila
2004 Uuno Turhapuro – This Is My Life Television show judge
2005 Frozen Land (Paha maa) Social worker
2005 FC Venus Carita
2006 Baba's Cars [fi; sv] (Babas bilar) Elena
2006 Man Exposed (Riisuttu mies) Vilma
2008 Stormheart [fi] (Myrsky) Mother
2008 Late Fragments [fi] Woman Short film
2008 Thy Neighbor [it] (Il prossimo tuo) Eeva
2009 The Hour of Prayer (Rukoushetki) Narrator Short film
2011 Ella & Aleksi [fi][30] (Ella & Aleksi – Yllätyssynttärit) Hely Huuhkaja Animated film (voice role)
2013 Open Up to Me (Kerron sinulle kaiken) Women's shelter's director
2013 Miten meistä tuli ystäviä [fi] Tiina Also co-wrote the film
2014 The Island of Secrets [fi] (Lomasankarit) Annika Oksala
2015 Urban Family [fi] (Ollaan vapaita) Party hostess
2016 Ricky Rapper and the Nighthawk (Risto Räppääjä ja yöhaukka) Klaudia Kämäräinen
2016 Born in Heinola [fi] (Teit meistä kauniin) Mervi Wirtanen
2017 The Darkness Moment (Pimein hetki) Elina Short film
2021 Omerta 6/12 Iiris Huovinen-Lång

Television

edit
Year Title Role Notes
1994 Kultainen salama [fi] Janne Mäki's wife TV series: 1 episode
1994 Love Story Woman in the sailboat TV miniseries: 1 episode
1997 Siivoton juttu [fi] TV film
1997 Tähtilampun alla [fi] Annika Leino TV series: 10 episodes
1998–2000 Samaa sukua, eri maata [fi] Anne Kilappa TV series: 48 episodes
2002 Jurismia! [fi] Esmeralda TV series: 2 episodes
2002 Isänmaan toivot [fi] Irina TV series: 1 episode
2002 Helsingin olympiakisat 1952 – Muistojuhla Rauhanenkeli TV special
2002–2012 Kotikatu Tuija Kangasharju TV series: 199 episodes
2003 Irtiottoja [fi] Venla TV series
2003 Me olemme taas Various characters TV film
2006 Ranta Susanna TV film
2009–2010 Peili Herself as the host Two-season game show
2010 SEX ABC, The Secret Files of Dr. Zukovski [fi][31] (Seksin ABC – tri Zukovskin salaiset kansiot) Animated documentary series (voice role)
2012–2013 Lauran matkakuvia: Tukholma [fi] Herself as the host Two-season travel series: 20 episodes
2014 Toisen kanssa [fi] Helena Parikka TV series: 6 episodes
2015–2016 Ihon alla [fi] Essi Salonen TV series: 12 episodes
2016–2019 Bordertown (Sorjonen) Anneli Ahola TV series: 22 episodes
2017 Presidentti Anna Talvio TV series: 12 episodes
2017 Tanssii tähtien kanssa Herself as a competitor TV dance contest: 10th season
2018 Bullets Kerttu Kavén TV series: 9 episodes
2019 Kellot soi [fi] Anne Asikainen-Kariluoma-Ståhlberg TV series: 10 episodes
2020 All the Sins (Kaikki synnit) Anu Leinonen TV series: 6 episodes
2021 Fast [fi] (Karkurit) Maria TV series: 1 episode
2021 Kentän laidalla [fi] Kristiina Heiskanen TV series: 8 episodes
2021 Detective Maria Kallio [fi] (Maria Kallio) Katri Tanner TV series: 1 episode
2021 Dough [fi; sv] (Deg) Karita TV series: 5 episodes
2021 Karuselli [fi] Kaija Böök TV series: 2 episodes
2022 Mobile 101 [fi] (Made in Finland) Liisa Ollila TV series: 2 episodes
2022 Poikani Joel [fi] Roosa TV miniseries
2022 Helsinki Syndrome [fi] Anne Laukko TV series: 8 episodes

Still photography

edit
Year Title Notes
1997 The Blind Spot (Sokea piste) Feature film
2000 Restless (Levottomat) Feature film
2003 Irtiottoja [fi] Television series
2006 Frozen City (Valkoinen kaupunki) Feature film
2006 Man Exposed (Riisuttu mies) Feature film
2008 Tears of April (Käsky) Feature film
2012 Hush (Ja saapuu oikea yö) Feature film
2017 Kuudes kerta [fi] Feature film

Discography

edit

Albums

edit

Singles

edit

Photography exhibitions

edit
  • Mikä minusta tulee isona (2004)
  • Lauran matkakuvia: Tukholma (2012, 2013)
  • Taiteilijakuvia (2015)

References

edit
  1. ^ a b "Passikuva – 26.7. Laura Malmivaara". YleQ (in Finnish). Yleisradio. Retrieved 24 March 2017.
  2. ^ a b Gustafsson, Marko (8 September 2006). "Miten minusta tuli minä, Laura Malmivaara". Elävä arkisto (in Finnish). Yleisradio. Retrieved 24 March 2017.
  3. ^ "Laura Malmivaara malliajoistaan: Kokeilin Kreikassa siipiäni alalla". MTV Uutiset (in Finnish). Bonnier AB. 21 October 2014. Retrieved 24 March 2017.
  4. ^ a b c "Taiteilijakuvia – Laura Malmivaara". LUOVA.fi (in Finnish). Archived from the original on 24 March 2017. Retrieved 24 March 2017.
  5. ^ a b "Laura Malmivaara". Elonet (in Finnish). National Audiovisual Institute. Retrieved 24 March 2017.
  6. ^ "Laura Malmivaara". Iltalehti (in Finnish). Alma Media. Retrieved 24 March 2017.
  7. ^ "Paha maa kahmi eniten Jussi-ehdokkuuksia". Hämeen Sanomat (in Finnish). Hämeen Sanomat Oy. 16 January 2006. Archived from the original on 24 March 2017. Retrieved 24 March 2017.
  8. ^ Wirtavuori, Sanna (21 December 2016). "Talousvaikeuksia ja avioeron kokenut näyttelijä Laura Malmivaara: "Terapiassa oivalsin asioita, joita olin peittänyt itseltäni"". Anna (in Finnish). Otavamedia. Retrieved 24 March 2017.
  9. ^ a b Kemppinen, Pirjo (2 March 2017). "Näyttelijät Inka Kallén ja Laura Malmivaara "Yllytämme toisiamme uskaltamaan"". Seura (in Finnish). Otavamedia. Retrieved 24 March 2017.
  10. ^ Ora, Ulla (2013). "Laura Malmivaara voisi asua Loviisassa". Uusimaa kesälehti 2013 (in Finnish). Etelä-Suomen Media [fi]. Archived from the original on 24 March 2017. Retrieved 24 March 2017.
  11. ^ Heiskanen, Outi (8 September 2005). "Marjan rakkaus (L'Amore di Marja)". MTV Uutiset (in Finnish). Bonnier AB. Retrieved 24 March 2017.
  12. ^ "Anne Riitta Cicconen elokuva Sinun kanssasi". Finland.it (in Finnish). Embassy of Finland in Rome. 2009. Archived from the original on 24 March 2017. Retrieved 24 March 2017.
  13. ^ "Babas bilar (2006)". Elonet (in Finnish). National Audiovisual Institute. Retrieved 24 March 2017.
  14. ^ Haapanen, Irmeli (20 February 2006). "Akseli Ensemble uskoo yhteisöllisyyteen". Turun Sanomat (in Finnish). TS-Yhtymä [fi]. Retrieved 24 March 2017.
  15. ^ "Teatteriryhmä Akseli Ensemble lopettaa". Yle Uutiset (in Finnish). Yleisradio. 6 October 2008. Retrieved 24 March 2017.
  16. ^ "Myytävänä elämä". Finna [fi] (in Finnish). National Library of Finland. Retrieved 24 March 2017.
  17. ^ "Laura Malmivaara: Nukkumaan" (in Finnish). IFPI Finland. Archived from the original on 24 March 2017. Retrieved 24 March 2017.
  18. ^ "Levottomat (2000)". Elonet (in Finnish). National Audiovisual Institute. Retrieved 24 March 2017.
  19. ^ "Kuutamolla (2002)". Elonet (in Finnish). National Audiovisual Institute. Retrieved 24 March 2017.
  20. ^ "Laura Malmivaarasta ja Hanna Partasesta tv-tähtiä MTV3 AVAlle". MTV Uutiset (in Finnish). Bonnier AB. 8 December 2008. Retrieved 24 March 2017.
  21. ^ Häkli, Vesa (4 December 2009). "Laura Malmivaara lupaa hauskuutta". Telvis.fi (in Finnish). Aller Media. Archived from the original on 24 March 2017. Retrieved 24 March 2017.
  22. ^ "Laura Malmivaaran matkassa tutustutaan Tukholmaan". Nelonen Media (in Finnish). Sanoma. 2 September 2013. Archived from the original on 5 March 2016. Retrieved 24 March 2017.
  23. ^ "Laura Malmivaara ja Mikko Ahti". MTV Uutiset (in Finnish). Bonnier AB. 23 January 2017. Archived from the original on 24 March 2017. Retrieved 24 March 2017.
  24. ^ "Laura Malmivaara bloggaa Evitan uusilla verkkosivuilla" (in Finnish). Bonnier Publications Oy. 26 April 2011. Archived from the original on 24 May 2012. Retrieved 24 March 2017.
  25. ^ "Todellinen SM-liigaikoni Olli Malmivaara lopettaa uransa". Iltalehti (in Finnish). Alma Media. 3 October 2016. Retrieved 8 August 2017.
  26. ^ Kaartamo, Outi (5 October 2013). "Näyttelijä Laura Malmivaara pelkää jääkiekkoilijaveljensä puolesta". Helsingin Sanomat (in Finnish). Sanoma Media Finland. Retrieved 24 March 2017.
  27. ^ Marila, Rosanna (20 March 2014). "Näyttelijä Malla Malmivaara: "Minulla on muutakin elämänkokemusta kuin työ"". Me Naiset (in Finnish). Sanoma Media Finland. Archived from the original on 24 March 2017. Retrieved 24 March 2017.
  28. ^ Wirtavuori, Sanna (2 January 2017). "Näyttelijä Laura Malmivaara paljastaa: Ihastuin urani alussa vastanäyttelijöihini". Anna (in Finnish). Otavamedia. Retrieved 24 March 2017.
  29. ^ Hiiri, Miia (2 January 2013). "Avioero viimein virallista". Ilta-Sanomat (in Finnish). Sanoma Media Finland. Retrieved 24 March 2017.
  30. ^ "Ella & Aleksi". Finnish Film Foundation. Archived from the original on 24 March 2017. Retrieved 24 March 2017.
  31. ^ "SEX ABC, The Secret Files of Dr. Zukovski". Finnish Film Foundation. Archived from the original on 24 March 2017. Retrieved 24 March 2017.
edit