Aili Ansa Inkeri Ikonen (19 December 1913, in

Saint Petersburg Saint Petersburg ( rus, links=no, Санкт-Петербург, a=Ru-Sankt Peterburg Leningrad Petrograd Piter.ogg, r=Sankt-Peterburg, p=ˈsankt pʲɪtʲɪrˈburk), formerly known as Petrograd (1914–1924) and later Leningrad (1924–1991), i ...

– 23 May 1989, in

Helsinki Helsinki ( or ; ; sv, Helsingfors, ) is the Capital city, capital, primate city, primate, and List of cities and towns in Finland, most populous city of Finland. Located on the shore of the Gulf of Finland, it is the seat of the region of U ...

) was a Finnish film and theater actress. Ikonen was an intelligent comedian and a skillful character actress. In a film career spanning three decades, Ikonen appeared in dozens of films, and was one of the most popular actresses of her time. Ansa Ikonen and

Tauno Palo Tauno Valdemar Palo (born Tauno Brännäs; 25 October 1908 – 24 May 1982) was a Finnish actor and singer in what some consider the golden age of Finnish cinema. In ''Guide to the Cinema of Sweden and Finland'' Peter von Bagh names Palo as the ...

became the golden couple of Finnish cinema. She was one of the first four Finnish women film directors.

Life and career

Ikonen was born to Finnish parents in

St. Petersburg Saint Petersburg ( rus, links=no, Санкт-Петербург, a=Ru-Sankt Peterburg Leningrad Petrograd Piter.ogg, r=Sankt-Peterburg, p=ˈsankt pʲɪtʲɪrˈburk), formerly known as Petrograd (1914–1924) and later Leningrad (1924–1991), i ...

, Russia, in 1913, but after the

October Revolution The October Revolution,. officially known as the Great October Socialist Revolution. in the Soviet Union, also known as the Bolshevik Revolution, was a revolution in Russia led by the Bolshevik Party of Vladimir Lenin that was a key moment ...

her family moved to Finland. She studied to become a music teacher but never worked in that occupation. Instead she aimed for career in cinema. After some minor roles the famous director

Valentin Vaala Valentin Vaala (born Valentin Yakovich Ivanoff, Russian: Валентин Якович Иванов; 13 October 1909 in Helsinki – 21 November 1976 in Helsinki) was a Finnish film director, screenwriter and film editor. His career spanned sever ...

cast her as a leading lady in ''Kaikki rakastavat'' ("Everybody's Love", 1935).

was the leading man. Next year Ikonen and Palo performed in another marriage comedy. Both films became successful, and Ansa Ikonen became a star. For years she was among the best known film actresses in Finland. Ikonen and Palo made altogether 12 films together, most of them comedies. Although not romantically linked in real life, the two nevertheless captured the audiences' imagination as the golden couple of Finnish cinema. At the same time with her film career, Ikonen was also hired in the Finnish national theatre. Her career there lasted for 44 years. She played in classical play by Finnish and foreign authors. She played in 16 Shakespeare plays, six plays by Molière and Nora in Ibsen's Doll's house. Ikonen was an intelligent comedian and a skillful character actress. Writers sometimes wrote roles specially for her. She did not have any formal education for theatre, but as a film star she quickly learned the tricks of the trade. In 1949 she got a stipendium and attended Old Vics Theatre school in London. Ikonen also directed a romantic comedy ''Nainen on valttia'' ("The Woman Is the Trump") in 1944. Ikonen was married to actor

Jalmari Rinne Jalmari is a Finnish male given name which derives from the Old Norse male name ''Hjalmar'' or ''Hjálmarr'' (''hjalmr'' 'helmet' + ''arr'' 'warrior/army'). Notable people with the name ''Jalmari'' include: * Jalmari Eskola (1886–1958), Finnish ...

and had two daughters: Katriina Rinne and Marjatta Rinne. Because the husband was 20 years older than Ikonen, she often had a role of his daughter in the plays where they worked together.

Filmography (selection)

*''Minä ja ministeri'' (1934) *''Syntipukki'' ("The Scapegoat") (1935) *''Koskenlaskijan morsian (1937) *''Kuriton sukupolvi'' (1937) *''Rykmentin murheenkryyni'' (1938) *''SF-paraati'' ("SF Parade") (1940) *''Runon kuningas ja muuttolintu'' (1940) *''Oi, kallis Suomenmaa'' (1940) *''Kulkurin valssi'' ("The Vagabond's Waltz") (1941) *''Vaivaisukon morsian'' (1944; Winner of the

Jussi Award The Jussi Awards are Finland's premier film industry prizes, awarded annually to recognize the achievements of directors, actors, and writers. History The first Jussi Awards ceremony was held on 16 November 1944 at the Restaurant Adlon in Hels ...

for Best Actress) *''Nainen on valttia'' ("The Woman Is the Trump") (1944); also director *''

Soot and Gold ''Soot and Gold'' (Finnish: ''Nokea ja kultaa'') is a 1945 Finnish drama film directed by Edvin Laine and starring Laine, Ansa Ikonen and Veli-Matti Kaitala.Holmstrom p.487 Partial cast * Ansa Ikonen as Sirkka Lehmus * Edvin Laine as Jalmari ...

'' (1945) *'' Pikajuna pohjoiseen'' (1947) *''Gabriel, tule takaisin'' (''

Gabriel, Come Back ''Gabriel, Come Back'' (Finnish: ''Gabriel, tule takaisin'') is a 1951 Finnish comedy film directed by Valentin Vaala and starring Tarmo Manni, Emma Väänänen and Salli Karuna.Kääpä p.44 Cast * Tarmo Manni as Gabriel Vihervuori * Emma Vä� ...

'') (1951) *''

The Girl from Moon Bridge ''The Girl from Moon Bridge'' (Finnish: ''Tyttö kuunsillalta'') is a 1953 Finnish drama film directed by Matti Kassila and starring Tyyne Haarla, Ansa Ikonen and Paavo Jännes.Qvist & von Bagh p.257 Cast * Tyyne Haarla as Eva Boman * Ansa ...

'' (1953) *''Rakas lurjus'' ("Beloved Rascal") (1955) *''Ratkaisun päivät'' (1956) *''Äidittömät'' (1958) *'' Telefon'' (1977)

Selected stage credits

*Roxane (

Edmond Rostand Edmond Eugène Alexis Rostand (, , ; 1 April 1868 – 2 December 1918) was a French poet and dramatist. He is associated with neo-romanticism and is known best for his 1897 play ''Cyrano de Bergerac''. Rostand's romantic plays contrasted with t ...

: ''Cyrano de Bergerac'') *Catherine (

Muriel Spark Dame Muriel Sarah Spark (née Camberg; 1 February 1918 – 13 April 2006). was a Scottish novelist, short story writer, poet and essayist. Life Muriel Camberg was born in the Bruntsfield area of Edinburgh, the daughter of Bernard Camberg, an ...

: ''Doctors of Philosophy'') *Lady Teazle (

Richard Sheridan Richard Sheridan may refer to: * Richard Bingham Sheridan (1822–1897), Australian civil servant *Richard Brinsley Sheridan (1751–1816), Irish playwright *Richard Brinsley Sheridan (politician) (1806–1888), Irish politician See also *Dick Sher ...

: ''

The School for Scandal ''The School for Scandal'' is a comedy of manners written by Richard Brinsley Sheridan. It was first performed in London at Drury Lane Theatre on 8 May 1777. Plot Act I Scene I: Lady Sneerwell, a wealthy young widow, and her hireling Sna ...

'') *Katarina Thorwöst ( Serp: ''Katarina, kaunis leski'') *Isabella (

William Shakespeare William Shakespeare ( 26 April 1564 – 23 April 1616) was an English playwright, poet and actor. He is widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's pre-eminent dramatist. He is often called England's nation ...

: ''

Measure for Measure ''Measure for Measure'' is a play by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written in 1603 or 1604 and first performed in 1604, according to available records. It was published in the ''First Folio'' of 1623. The play's plot features its ...

'') *Nora (

Henrik Ibsen Henrik Johan Ibsen (; ; 20 March 1828 – 23 May 1906) was a Norwegian playwright and theatre director. As one of the founders of modernism in theatre, Ibsen is often referred to as "the father of realism" and one of the most influential playw ...

: ''

A Doll's House ''A Doll's House'' (Danish and nb, Et dukkehjem; also translated as ''A Doll House'') is a three-act play written by Norwegian playwright Henrik Ibsen. It premiered at the Royal Theatre in Copenhagen, Denmark, on 21 December 1879, having bee ...

'') *Kirsti Mara ( Tuuli Reijonen: ''Ovi avautuu'') *Beatrice (William Shakespeare: ''

Much Ado About Nothing ''Much Ado About Nothing'' is a comedy by William Shakespeare thought to have been written in 1598 and 1599.See textual notes to ''Much Ado About Nothing'' in ''The Norton Shakespeare'' ( W. W. Norton & Company, 1997 ) p. 1387 The play ...

'') *Marja Myllymies (

Ilmari Turja Ilmari Turja (28 October 1901 – 6 January 1998) was a Finnish writer, best known as a journalist and playwright, with a career spanning nearly eight decades from the 1920s to the 1990s. Early life and education Kaarlo Ilmari Turja was born t ...

: ''Raha ja sana'') *Hilde (Henrik Ibsen: ''

The Master Builder ''The Master Builder'' ( no, Bygmester Solness) is a play by Norwegian playwright Henrik Ibsen. It was first published in December 1892 and is regarded as one of Ibsen's more significant and revealing works. Performance The play was published ...

'') *Julia (William Shakespeare: ''

Romeo and Juliet ''Romeo and Juliet'' is a Shakespearean tragedy, tragedy written by William Shakespeare early in his career about the romance between two Italian youths from feuding families. It was among Shakespeare's most popular plays during his lifetim ...

'') *Juulia ( Maria Jotuni: ''Tohvelisankarin rouva'') *Portia (William Shakespeare: ''

The Merchant of Venice ''The Merchant of Venice'' is a play by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written between 1596 and 1598. A merchant in Venice named Antonio defaults on a large loan provided by a Jewish moneylender, Shylock. Although classified as ...

'')

References

External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Ikonen, Ansa 1913 births 1989 deaths 20th-century Finnish actresses Finnish film directors Finnish women film directors