Elisabet Reinsalu (until 2012, Elisabet Tamm; born 21 April 1976) is an

Estonia Estonia, formally the Republic of Estonia, is a country by the Baltic Sea in Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by the Gulf of Finland across from Finland, to the west by the sea across from Sweden, to the south by Latvia, a ...

n stage, television, voice, and film actress.

Early life and education

Elisabet Reinsalu was born Elisabet Tamm in

Tallinn Tallinn () is the most populous and capital city of Estonia. Situated on a bay in north Estonia, on the shore of the Gulf of Finland of the Baltic Sea, Tallinn has a population of 437,811 (as of 2022) and administratively lies in the Harju ' ...

to Tõnu Tamm and

Mari Lill Mari Lill (born 21 December 1945) is an Estonian stage, film and television actress whose career began onstage in the late 1960s. Early life and education Mari Lill was born in Tallinn to Felix Lill and Asta Lill (''née'' Multer) just after th ...

, both actors. She has an older sister named Katariina. Her maternal uncle is glass artist Ivo Lill. Tamm graduated from secondary school in 1994 from Tallinn

Õismäe Õismäe ( Estonian for ''"Blossom Hill"'') is a subdistrict ( et, asum) in the district of Haabersti, Tallinn Tallinn () is the most populous and capital city of Estonia. Situated on a bay in north Estonia, on the shore of the Gulf of F ...

Humanitarian Gymnasium. She spent three years studying advertising and media at Tallinn Pedagogical University (now,

Tallinn University Tallinn University (TLU; et, Tallinna Ülikool, ''TLÜ'') is a public research university in Estonia. Located in the centre of Tallinn, the capital city of Estonia, Tallinn University is one of the three largest institutions of higher education ...

) before entering the

Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre The Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre (''Eesti Muusika- ja Teatriakadeemia'') began as a mixed choir of the Estonia Society Musical Department (EMD) on the eve of World War I. The assembly of the Estonia Society created the Tallinn Higher Musi ...

's Drama School, graduating in 2002. Among her graduating classmates were

Priit Võigemast Priit Võigemast (born 18 April 1980) is an Estonian film, television and stage actor. Between 2002 and 2007 he has performed in the Ugala, Tallinna Linnateater and other theatres. He is probably best known for the role of Henn Ahas in the 2002 ...

Ott Aardam Ott Aardam (born 1 July 1980) is an Estonian stage, television, and film actor. Early life Born and raised in Orissaare on the island of Saaremaa, he graduated from primary school in 1995 from Orissaare Gymnasium. In 1998, he graduated from seco ...

Hele Kõrve Hele Kõrve (until 2009, Hele Kõre; born 7 January 1980) is an Estonian stage, television, film and voice actress and singer. Early life and education Hele Kõrve was born Hele Kõre in 1980 in the town of Jõgeva, in Jõgeva County. She graduat ...

Karin Rask Karin Rask (until 2005, Karin Lätsim; born 21 April 1979) is an Estonian stage, film and television actress, theatre teacher and clothing designer. Early life and education Karin Rask was born as Karin Lätsim in Haapsalu, in Lääne County ...

Mart Toome Mart Toome (born 7 March 1980) is an Estonian stage, television, and film actor. Early life and education Mart Toome was born Enge, Halinga Parish, in Pärnu County in 1980. He is a 2002 graduate of the EMA Higher Drama School (now the Estoni ...

Evelin Võigemast Evelin Võigemast (until 2007, Evelin Pang; born 22 May 1980) is an Estonian stage, film television and voice actress and singer. Early life and education Born Evelin Pang in Tallinn, her parents were Valdur Pang and Eda Pang (''née'' Taska). Sh ...

, Maria Soomets, and Argo Aadli.

Stage career

Following graduation, Elisabet Tamm joined the

Tallinn City Theatre Tallinn City Theatre ( et, Tallinna Linnateater) is a repertory theatre located in the medieval old town of Tallinn, Estonia. Tallinn City Theatre was established in 1965 as Estonian SSR State Youth Theatre. In 1992, after the reindependence of ...

in 2002; where she is still presently engaged. She made her stage debut while still a student in the role of Edith in a 2000 production of

Mark Twain Samuel Langhorne Clemens (November 30, 1835 – April 21, 1910), known by his pen name Mark Twain, was an American writer, humorist, entrepreneur, publisher, and lecturer. He was praised as the "greatest humorist the United States has p ...

's 1881 novel ''

The Prince and the Pauper ''The Prince and the Pauper'' is a novel by American author Mark Twain. It was first published in 1881 in Canada, before its 1882 publication in the United States. The novel represents Twain's first attempt at historical fiction. Set in 1547, ...

''. Her stage debut as an actress engaged at the theatre was in the role of Catherine in a 2002 production of David Auburn's 2000 play '' Proof''. Other notable stage appearances include roles in productions by authors and playwrights such as:

Alexandre Dumas Alexandre Dumas (, ; ; born Dumas Davy de la Pailleterie (), 24 July 1802 – 5 December 1870), also known as Alexandre Dumas père (where '' '' is French for 'father', to distinguish him from his son Alexandre Dumas fils), was a French writer ...

Jaan Tätte Jaan Tätte (born 24 March 1964 in Viljandi Viljandi (, german: Fellin, sv, Fellin) is a town and municipality in southern Estonia with a population of 17,407 in 2019. It is the capital of Viljandi County and is geographically located betw ...

, A. H. Tammsaare,

William Butler Yeats William Butler Yeats (13 June 186528 January 1939) was an Irish poet, dramatist, writer and one of the foremost figures of 20th-century literature. He was a driving force behind the Irish Literary Revival and became a pillar of the Irish liter ...

Luigi Pirandello Luigi Pirandello (; 28 June 1867 – 10 December 1936) was an Italian dramatist, novelist, poet, and short story writer whose greatest contributions were his plays. He was awarded the 1934 Nobel Prize in Literature for "his almost magical power ...

Carlo Gozzi __NOTOC__ Carlo, Count Gozzi (; 13 December 1720 – 4 April 1806) was an Italian ( Venetian) playwright and champion of Commedia dell'arte. Early life Gozzi was born and died in Venice; he came from a family of minor Venetian aristocracy, the T ...

Jón Atli Jónasson Jón Atli Jónasson (born 1972 in Reykjavík) is an Iceland Iceland ( is, Ísland; ) is a Nordic island country in the North Atlantic Ocean and in the Arctic Ocean. Iceland is the most sparsely populated country in Europe. Iceland's ca ...

, and

J. B. Priestley John Boynton Priestley (; 13 September 1894 – 14 August 1984) was an English novelist, playwright, screenwriter, broadcaster and social commentator. His Yorkshire background is reflected in much of his fiction, notably in ''The Good Compa ...

Film career

Tamm made her film debut at age 15 in 1991 as Rita in the

Roman Baskin Roman Baskin (25 December 1954 – 13 September 2018) was an Estonian actor and director of stage and screen. His parents were Eino Baskin and Ita Ever. Baskin's credits as an actor included '' Lotte from Gadgetville'' (2006), '' 186 Kilometres'' ...

directed drama ''

Rahu tänav ''Rahu tänav'' ( en, Peace Street) is a 1991 Estonian film directed by Roman Baskin. Awards: * 1992: FilmFestival Cottbus (Germany), 1992, main prize - best film * 1992: European Film Awards, nomination: European Supporting Actor of the Year 19 ...

'' for

Tallinnfilm Tallinnfilm is the oldest surviving film studio in Estonia. It was founded as Estonian Culture Film in 1931, and was nationalized in 1940 after Estonia was forced into the Soviet Union. During the first year of Soviet Occupation (1940–1941) ...

, starring

Mikk Mikiver Mikk Mikiver (4 September 1937 – 9 January 2006) was a prominent Estonians, Estonian stage and film actor and theater director. Biography Mikiver was born in Tallinn, Estonia. He graduated from the State Conservatory of Tallinn in 1961. He t ...

and

Jüri Järvet Jüri Järvet (18 June 1919 – 5 July 1995) was an Estonian actor. His name sometimes appears as Yuri Yevgenyevich Yarvet, an incorrect back-transliteration from the Russian transliteration Юри Евгеньевич Ярвет. His birthna ...

. Following this role, she returned to her studies and didn't appear in another film until receiving a small roll in the 2002

Elmo Nüganen Elmo Nüganen (born on date 15 February 1962 in Jõhvi) is an Estonian theatre director, film director, and actor. He has been the artistic Director of the Tallinn City Theatre since 1992. He was a graduate of the Estonian Academy of Music a ...

directed historical drama ''

Nimed marmortahvlil ''Names in Marble'' ( et, Nimed marmortahvlil) is an Estonian war novel written by Albert Kivikas. It was published in 1936, and its subject is the Estonian War of Independence. Kivikas received an award by the Estonian Literature Society for the ...

'', adapted from the 1936

Albert Kivikas Albert Kivikas ( in Groß-St. Johannis, Livonia, Russian Empire – 19 May 1978 in Lund) was an Estonian writer and journalist. He is best known as the author of the book '' Names in Marble'' ( et, "Nimed marmortahvlil"), the subject of which i ...

novel of the same name about the 1918–1920

Estonian War of Independence The Estonian War of Independence ( et, Vabadussõda, literally "Freedom War"), also known as the Estonian Liberation War, was a defensive campaign of the Estonian Army and its allies, most notably the United Kingdom, against the Bolshevik westwa ...

. In 2006, she played the role of Ottilie in the Roman Baskin directed ''

Vana daami visiit ''Vana daami visiit'' (English: ''The Visit of the Old Lady'') is a 2006 Estonian film directed by Roman Baskin and based on the 1956 play '' The Visit'' by Friedrich Dürrenmatt Friedrich Dürrenmatt (; 5 January 1921 – 14 December 1990) was ...

''; based on 1956

tragicomic Tragicomedy is a literary genre that blends aspects of both tragic and comic forms. Most often seen in dramatic literature, the term can describe either a tragic play which contains enough comic elements to lighten the overall mood or a serious ...

play '' The Visit'' by Swiss dramatist

Friedrich Dürrenmatt Friedrich Dürrenmatt (; 5 January 1921 – 14 December 1990) was a Swiss author and dramatist. He was a proponent of epic theatre whose plays reflected the recent experiences of World War II. The politically active author's work included avant-g ...

, and starring

Ita Ever Ita Ever (born Ilse Ever; 1 April 1931, Paide, Järva County) is an Estonian film, radio, theater and television actress. She is widely regarded as a Grand Old Lady of Estonian theatre. Biography She began her career in 1953 as a stage actress ...

and

Aarne Üksküla Aarne Üksküla (21 September 1937 Tallinn – 29 October 2017) was an Estonian actor and theatre instructor. In 1961 he graduated from Tallinn State Conservatory's Performing Arts Department. Career: * Rakvere Theatre (1961-1968) * Endla Theatr ...

. Other small film roles include, the Marko Raat directed '' Agent Sinikael'' in 2002; the Mart Arjukese directed film short ''Viimane öö'' in 2003; as a voice actress in the

Hardi Volmer Hardi Volmer (born 8 November 1957 in Pärnu) is an Estonian film director, puppet theatre set decorator and musician. Volmer is the singer in the Estonian punk rock band Singer Vinger. Animated cartoons *"Imeline nääriöö" (Wonderful Ne ...

directed animated film short ''Barbarid'' in 2003; in the 2005 Leeni Linna directed dramatic short film ''Personal Space''; and the Sander Allikmäe directed dramatic short film ''Kastis'' in 2012. In addition to film roles, she has also had a career as a voice actress; often dubbing foreign animated film characters into Estonian. She has voiced the characters Colette Tatou in

Pixar Pixar Animation Studios (commonly known as Pixar () and stylized as P I X A R) is an American computer animation studio known for its critically and commercially successful computer animated feature films. It is based in Emeryville, Californi ...

's 2007 American computer-animated comedy film ''

Ratatouille Ratatouille ( , ), oc, ratatolha , is a French Provençal dish of stewed vegetables which originated in Nice, and is sometimes referred to as ''ratatouille niçoise'' (). Recipes and cooking times differ widely, but common ingredients include ...

''; Vanellope von Schweetz in the American 3D computer-animated fantasy-comedy film ''

Wreck-It Ralph ''Wreck-It Ralph'' is a 2012 American computer-animated comedy film produced by Walt Disney Animation Studios and released by Walt Disney Pictures. The 52nd Disney animated feature film, it was directed by Rich Moore (in his feature director ...

'', produced by

Walt Disney Animation Studios Walt Disney Animation Studios (WDAS), sometimes shortened to Disney Animation, is an American animation studio that creates animated features and short films for The Walt Disney Company. The studio's current production logo features a scene fro ...

; and Maggie in the 2013 3D Belgian-French computer-animated fantasy-comedy film ''

The House of Magic ''The House of Magic'' (''Thunder and The House of Magic'' in the United States. French: ''Le Manoir magique'') is a 2013 3D Belgian-French English-language computer-animated fantasy-comedy film produced by Nadia Khamlichi, Adrian Politowski, ...

'', among others.

Television career

Tamm's first prominent television role as an actress was as Rita Leidpalu in the 2006–2007

ETV ETV may stand for: Television * e.tv, a South African terrestrial television channel * Educational Television (Hong Kong), a television series * Educational television, the use of television in education * Enhanced TV, an interactive television ap ...

crime drama serial ''

Ohtlik lend ''Ohtlik lend'' (English: ''Dangerous Flight'') is an Estonian television crime series. In the series, detective Andres (Marko Matvere) and his colleague Rita (Elisabet Reinsalu) solve crime cases. In the first series, the activities take place in ...

''. In 2008, she appeared in the role of Helmi Reiman in the ETV twelve-part television historical mini-series ''

Tuulepealne maa ''Tuulepealne maa'' ("Windward Land") is a twelve-part Estonian television mini-series about the pre-World War II history of Estonia, its birth as a country, the Estonian War of Independence, post-war life throughout 1920 up to 1941 and World ...

'', which focused on the pre-

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...

history of

, its birth as a country, the

, post-war life throughout 1920 up to 1941 and

. Since 2010, she has appeared as Mari Murakas in the popular

Kanal 2 Kanal 2 is a privately owned Estonian television channel. Its literal name in English is "Channel 2". The channel was established by Ilmar Taska. The channel began broadcasting on 1 October 1993. History The channel started broadcasting on O ...

drama series ''Pilvede all''. In 2013, she played a central character named Vivian in the TV3 drama series ''Kartulid ja apelsinid''.

Personal life

In 2012, Elisabet Tamm married Ardo Reinsalu. The couple had been in a long-term relationship and have two children; a daughter, born in 2004; and a son, born in 2008. Since 2012, she has used her married surname Reinsalu.Õhtuleht
''PALJU ÕNNE! Elisabet Tamm sõudis abieluranda!'' 4 May 2012. Retrieved 26 December 2016.

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Reinsalu, Elisabet 1976 births Living people Estonian stage actresses Estonian film actresses Estonian child actresses Estonian television actresses Actresses from Tallinn Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre alumni 21st-century Estonian actresses