Laura Malmivaara

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.

Not to be confused with the actress and singer Malla Malmivaara, who was born Laura Malmivaara in 1982 and is also known as Laura Malmberg and Belle Who.

Laura Malmivaara
Malmivaara in 2012
Born	Laura Pauliina Malmivaara (1973-10-26) 26 October 1973 (age 51) Kajaanin maalaiskunta [fi], Finland
Occupation(s)	Actress, singer, photographer, television host, blogger, model
Years active	1993–present (acting career)
Spouse	Aku Louhimies ​ (m. 2003⁠–⁠2012)​
Relatives	Olli Malmivaara (brother) Malla Malmivaara (second cousin)

Career

Early life and education

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Personal life

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

Feature film performances

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

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

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

Albums

• Myytävänä elämä [fi] (2005)

Singles

• "Nukkumaan" (2005) – peaked at #17 on the Official Finnish Singles Chart
• "Myytävänä elämä" (2006)

Photography exhibitions

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

References

1. "Passikuva – 26.7. Laura Malmivaara". YleQ (in Finnish). Yleisradio. Retrieved 24 March 2017.
2. 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. "Taiteilijakuvia – Laura Malmivaara". LUOVA.fi (in Finnish). Archived from the original on 24 March 2017. Retrieved 24 March 2017.
5. "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. 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.

External links

• Laura Malmivaara at IMDb
• Laura Malmivaara at Elonet (in Finnish)