Harriet Toompere (born 22 May 1975) 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, and film actress. She is also the author of two children's books.

Early life and education

Harriet Toompere was born 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 actor and director Hendrik Toompere Sr. and actress Maie Toompere (''née'' Kruusenberg). Her older brother is actor

Hendrik Toompere Jr. Hendrik Toompere Jr. (born 5 June 1965) is an Estonian actor and director. Toompere was born in Tallinn to actor and director Hendrik Toompere Sr. and actress Maie Toompere (''née'' Kruusenberg). His sister is actress Harriet Toompere and his so ...

, and her nephew is actor Hendrik Toompere Jr. Jr.director
''Harriet Toompere – elupusadest läbi tulnud'' 1 April 2014. Retrieved 13 January 2017 Her maternal grandfather was wrestler

Herman Kruusenberg Herman Kruusenberg (23 July 1898 – 5 June 1970) was a Greco-Roman wrestler from Estonia who competed in the light heavyweight event at the 1920 Summer Olympics. Kruusenberg was born to farmer Joosep Kruusenberg and his wife Leena Marie Kruus ...

. She studied acting at the EMA Higher Drama School (now, 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 ...

), graduating in 1998. Among her graduating classmates were actors

Hilje Murel Hilje Murel (born 17 December 1975) is an Estonian stage, film, and television actress. Early life and education Hilje Murel was born in the town of Võru in Võru County. She is a 1998 graduate of the EMA Higher Drama School (now, the Estonian ...

Jan Uuspõld Jan Uuspõld (born 14 December 1973) is an Estonian stage, television, radio and film actor and musician. Early life and music career Jan Uuspõld was born in Tallinn, the eldest of three sons of Ingar and Heidi Uuspõld. His mother is an accou ...

Tiit Sukk Tiit Sukk (born 21 November 1974) is an Estonian stage, television, voice, and film actor, director and television presenter. Early life and education Tiit Sukk was born and raised in Jõgeva, Jõgeva County, where he attended primary and secon ...

Veikko Täär Veikko Täär (born 7 September 1971 in Tartu) is an Estonian actor, sport psychologist, athlete, educator and entrepreneur. Täär graduated from Tartu 10th Secondary School in 1989. From 1989 until 1991, he studied physics at the University of ...

Liina Vahtrik Liina Vahtrik (née Liina Sallo; born 8 August 1972 in Tallinn) is an Estonian actress. Liina Vahtrik was born in Tallinn to actress and singer Helgi Sallo and opera singer Uno Heinapuu ( :et). She attended schools in Tallinn, graduating from Ta ...

, and

Andero Ermel Andero Ermel (born 6 August 1976) is an Estonian stage, film, television, and voice actor. Early life and education Andero Ermel was born in Tartu. His father was Meelis Ermel and his mother's maiden name was Uibopuu. He has two siblings. He at ...

. Her diploma productions at the EMA Higher Drama School were in stage performances in

Betti Alver Elisabet "Betti" Alver ( in Jõgeva – 19 June 1989 in Tartu), was one of Estonia's most notable poets. She was among the first generation to be educated in schools of an independent Estonia. She went to grammar school in Tartu. Writing S ...

's ''Lugu valgest varesest'' in 1996,

Alan Jay Lerner Alan Jay Lerner (August 31, 1918 – June 14, 1986) was an American lyricist and librettist. In collaboration with Frederick Loewe, and later Burton Lane, he created some of the world's most popular and enduring works of musical theatre bot ...

and

Frederick Loewe Frederick Loewe (, originally German Friedrich (Fritz) Löwe ; June 10, 1901 – February 14, 1988) was an Austrian-United States, American composer. He collaborated with lyricist Alan Jay Lerner on a series of Broadway musicals, including ''Br ...

's ''

My Fair Lady ''My Fair Lady'' is a musical based on George Bernard Shaw's 1913 play ''Pygmalion'', with a book and lyrics by Alan Jay Lerner and music by Frederick Loewe. The story concerns Eliza Doolittle, a Cockney flower girl who takes speech lessons f ...

'' in 1997, and

Madis Kõiv Madis Kõiv (5 December 1929, Tartu, Estonia – 24 September 2014, Tartu, Estonia) was an Estonian writer, philosopher and physicist. Education Kõiv attended school in Tartu after the second World War, graduating in the early 1950s with a d ...

's ''Peiarite õhtunäitus'', also in 1997.Eesti Draamateater.
Retrieved 13 January 2017.

Stage career

Harriet Toompere began her career as stage actress in 1998 at the

Estonian Drama Theatre The Estonian Drama Theatre ( et, Eesti Draamateater) is a theatre in Tallinn, Estonia. It has the role of a national theatre for Estonia. The Estonia Theatre is located next door. History The building that houses the Estonian Drama Theatre was or ...

, where she is still currently engaged. Her first stage role for the theatre was as Susanna Hall in a 1998 production of

Peter Whelan Peter Whelan (3 October 1931 – 3 July 2014) was a British playwright. Whelan was born and raised in Stoke-on-Trent, England. As a student from 1951–55 Whelan was an inspirational figure in the newly-formed Drama Society at the experimental ...

's historical drama ''

The Herbal Bed ''The Herbal Bed'' (1996) is a play by Peter Whelan, written specifically for the Royal Shakespeare Company. The play is set in the year 1613 and is about Susanna Hall, daughter of William Shakespeare, who is accused of adultery with local haberd ...

''. During her may years at the theatre, she has performed in a number of roles by Estonian and international authors and playwrights. Among her more memorable roles at the Estonian Drama Theatre are in works by:

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 ...

Molière Jean-Baptiste Poquelin (, ; 15 January 1622 (baptised) – 17 February 1673), known by his stage name Molière (, , ), was a French playwright, actor, and poet, widely regarded as one of the greatest writers in the French language and world ...

Chekhov Anton Pavlovich Chekhov (; 29 January 1860 Old Style date 17 January. – 15 July 1904 Old Style date 2 July.) was a Russian playwright and short-story writer who is considered to be one of the greatest writers of all time. His career ...

Tom Stoppard Sir Tom Stoppard (born , 3 July 1937) is a Czech born British playwright and screenwriter. He has written for film, radio, stage, and television, finding prominence with plays. His work covers the themes of human rights, censorship, and politi ...

Torgny Lindgren Gustav Torgny Lindgren (16 June 1938 – 16 March 2017) was a Swedish writer. Lindgren was the son of Andreas Lindgren and Helga Björk. He studied in Umeå to become a teacher and worked as a teacher until the middle of the 1970s. For several y ...

, Andrus Kivirähk,

Brian Friel Brian Patrick Friel (c. 9 January 1929 – 2 October 2015) was an Irish dramatist, short story writer and founder of the Field Day Theatre Company. He had been considered one of the greatest living English-language dramatists. (subscription req ...

, Mihkel Ulman,

Astrid Lindgren Astrid Anna Emilia Lindgren (; ; 14 November 1907 – 28 January 2002) was a Swedish writer of fiction and screenplays. She is best known for several children's book series, featuring Pippi Longstocking, Emil of Lönneberga, Karlsson-on- ...

Joseph Kesselring Joseph Otto Kesselring (July 21, 1902 – November 5, 1967) was an American playwright who was best known for writing '' Arsenic and Old Lace'', a hit on Broadway from 1939 to 1944 and in other countries as well. Biography He was born in ...

Neil Simon Marvin Neil Simon (July 4, 1927 – August 26, 2018) was an American playwright, screenwriter and author. He wrote more than 30 plays and nearly the same number of movie screenplays, mostly film adaptations of his plays. He has received mo ...

Jean-Claude Grumberg Jean-Claude Grumberg (born 1939) is a French playwright and author of children's books. Early life Before becoming a playwright, Jean-Claude Grumberg held several jobs, including working as a tailor. This work provided the setting for his best ...

Roland Schimmelpfennig Roland Schimmelpfennig (born 19 September 1967) is a German theatre director and playwright. His plays are performed in more than 40 countries. Biography Schimmelpfennig was born in Gottingen. He began his career as a journalist in Istanbul, b ...

Selma Lagerlöf Selma Ottilia Lovisa Lagerlöf (, , ; 20 November 1858 – 16 March 1940) was a Swedish author. She published her first novel, ''Gösta Berling's Saga'', at the age of 33. She was the first woman to win the 1909 Nobel Prize in Literature, Nobel Pr ...

Urmas Lennuk Urmas Lennuk (born 16 October 1971, in Tamsalu) is an Estonian theatre director, playwright and dramaturg. In 2000 he graduated from Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre' Stage Art Department. 2000–11 he worked at Rakvere Theatre. 2011–13 he ...

Bogusław Schaeffer Bogusław Julian Schaeffer (also Schäffer) (6 June 1929 – 1 July 2019) was a Polish composer, musicologist, and graphic artist, a member of the avantgarde "Cracow Group" of Polish composers alongside Krzysztof Penderecki and others. Schaeffe ...

Ingmar Bergman Ernst Ingmar Bergman (14 July 1918 – 30 July 2007) was a Swedish film director, screenwriter, Film producer, producer and playwright. Widely considered one of the greatest and most influential filmmakers of all time, his films are known ...

Paul-Eerik Rummo Paul-Eerik Rummo (born January 19, 1942) is an Estonian poet, playwright, translator and politician who was the former Estonian Minister of Culture and Education, as well as the former Estonian Minister of Population Affairs. Rummo was born in T ...

Yasmina Reza Yasmina Reza (born 1 May 1959) is a French playwright, actress, novelist and screenwriter best known for her plays '' 'Art and ''God of Carnage''. Many of her brief satiric plays have reflected on contemporary middle-class issues. The 2011 bla ...

Carin Mannheimer Carin Mannheimer (born Karin Birgitta Jacobson; 17 August 1934 – 11 July 2014) was a Swedish dramatist, screenwriter, author and film director, born in Osby, Sweden. She garnered acclaim with '' Rapport om kvinnor'' (swedish: ''Report on Wome ...

, and

Martin Algus Martin Algus (born 25 December 1973 in Jõgeva) 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 ...

, among others.

Television and film career

Toompere has appeared in several Estonian television serials. Her first notable role on television was an appearance on the

Eesti Televisioon Eesti Televisioon (ETV) ( en, Estonian Television) is an Estonian free-to-air television channel owned and operated by Estonian Public Broadcasting. It made its first broadcast on 19 July 1955. History Eesti Televisioon (''Estonian Televis ...

(ETV) crime drama series ''Ohtlik lend'' as Maarja in 2006. Other memorable appearances include the role of Anna Moorus on an episode of the popular TV3 comedy-crime series ''

Kättemaksukontor ''Kättemaksukontor'' (English: ''Revenge Office'') is an Estonian comedy-crime television series. In the series, a group of women have the organization called "Kättemaksukontor". This organization helps to solve murder cases for the police. The ...

'' in 2010; a starring role as Anne Kõrvits in the TV3 comedy series ''Unistuste agentuur'' in 2010, as Stella in the

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 ...

comedy series ''Mägede Varjud'' in 2013; and as Riina Mägi in the ETV drama series ''Mustad lesed''. Toompere's first role in film was as the character Anne in the 2001

Peeter Urbla Peeter Urbla (born 2 June 1945 in Türi) is an Estonian film director, producer and screenwriter. In 1969 he graduated from University of Tartu in art history speciality. In 1977 he finished his two-year courses for screenwriters and directors in ...

directed film short ''Ränk ja Kilk'' for

Exitfilm Exitfilm is an Estonian movie studio established in 1992 that produces and distributes feature films, short films and documentaries. Exitfilm's international co-productions include Lilja 4-Ever by Lukas Moodysson (Sweden), ''Unforgettable'' by A ...

. This was followed by narrating the 2002

Peeter Simm Peeter Simm (born 24 February 1953 in Kiviõli) 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 ...

directed documentary ''Sõda pärast sõda'', which chronicled the lives of some of Estonia's

Forest Brothers The Guerrilla war in the Baltic states was an armed struggle which was waged by the Latvian, Lithuanian, and Estonian partisans, called the Forest Brothers (also: the "Brothers of the Wood" and the "Forest Friars"; et, metsavennad, lv, mež ...

; individuals who had waged a

guerrilla war Guerrilla warfare is a form of irregular warfare in which small groups of combatants, such as paramilitary personnel, armed civilians, or irregulars, use military tactics including ambushes, sabotage, raids, petty warfare, hit-and-run tactic ...

against

Soviet The Soviet Union,. officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. (USSR),. was a List of former transcontinental countries#Since 1700, transcontinental country that spanned much of Eurasia from 1922 to 1991. A flagship communist state, ...

rule during the Soviet invasion and occupation of the Estonia during, and after,

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 ...

. In 2006, she voiced the character Sophie in the popular animated Estonian children's film '' Leiutajateküla Lotte''.Eesti Filmi Andmebaas
Retrieved 13 January 2017. In 2011, she had a supporting role as Mari, the daughter of a lonely elderly man (played by

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 ...

) contemplating suicide following the death of his wife in the

Mart Kivastik Mart Kivastik (born 4 March 1963 in Tartu) is an Estonian film director, screenwriter, playwright and novelist. 1981-1991 he worked as an editor in Tallinnfilm Tallinnfilm is the oldest surviving film studio in Estonia. It was founded as E ...

directed Exitfilm '' Üks mu sober''. The following year, she appeared in a small role in the Kristo Viiding directed Exitfilm romantic mystery ''Gracias a la Vida'', inspired by the

Albert Camus Albert Camus ( , ; ; 7 November 1913 – 4 January 1960) was a French philosopher, author, dramatist, and journalist. He was awarded the 1957 Nobel Prize in Literature at the age of 44, the second-youngest recipient in history. His work ...

novel '' A Happy Death''. In 2016, she appeared as Ruth in the feature-length comedy-drama ''Õnn tuleb magades'', directed by Mart Kivastik, and starring Katariina Unt and

Ivo Uukkivi Ivo Uukkivi (born 11 October 1965) is an Estonian stage, film, radio, and television actor, television producer and, under the nickname Munk, founder of and singer with the punk rock, punk band Velikije Luki. Early life and education Ivo Uukkivi ...

. In 2017, she appeared as Doris Toivonen in the

Finnish Finnish may refer to: * Something or someone from, or related to Finland * Culture of Finland * Finnish people or Finns, the primary ethnic group in Finland * Finnish language, the national language of the Finnish people * Finnish cuisine See also ...

-Estonian-

Swedish Swedish or ' may refer to: Anything from or related to Sweden, a country in Northern Europe. Or, specifically: * Swedish language, a North Germanic language spoken primarily in Sweden and Finland ** Swedish alphabet, the official alphabet used by ...

historical war drama ''Ikitie'', directed by Antti-Jussi Annila for Finland's Matila Röhr Productions (MRP). Later that year, she appeared as Nurse Maria in the

Andres Puustusmaa Andres Puustusmaa (born 19 July 1971) is an Estonian film director, actor, screenwriter, professor, and photographer who began his career in the early 1990s. He has worked extensively in his native Estonia, as well as in Russia. Early life and e ...

directed drama ''Rohelised kassid''. In 2018, she appeared as Marleen in the

René Vilbre René Vilbre (born 17 May 1970 in Rakvere) is an Estonian film director René Vilbre has received the Children's Film Prize of the Nordic Film Institutes at the Lübeck Nordic Film Days in 2005 and the Don Quixote Award - Special Mention at th ...

directed comedy ''Klassikokkutulek 2: Pulmad ja matused''; the sequel to the 2016 comedy ''

Klassikokkutulek ''Klassikokkutulek'' (English: ''Class Reunion'') is a 2016 Estonian comedy film directed by René Vilbre. Cast * Mait Malmsten - Mart * Ago Anderson - Andres * G-Enka - Toomas * Maarja Jakobson - Juta * Franz Malmsten - Joonas * Märt Pius - ...

''. In 2021, she had a starring role as Eva in the Ergo Kuld directed comedy film ''Jahihooaeg'' alongside

Mirtel Pohla Mirtel Pohla (born 28 January 1982) is an Estonian stage, film and television actress. Early life and education Mirtel Pohla was born in Tartu. She attended secondary school at the Tartu Karlova Gümnaasium, graduating in 2000. Afterward, she app ...

and Grete Kuld.

Author

In 2005, Harriet Toompere penned the children's book ''Väike Põhjapõder''. The book was illustrated by Anu Kalm and published in December 2005 by

Varrak Varrak is an Estonian book publishing company founded in 1991, which quickly grew to one of the most popular book publishers in Estonia. It publishes both Estonian and translated works, including children's books, biographies, fiction and hist ...

. In 2007, she wrote a second book, ''Väikese põhjapõdra uued lood'', also illustrated by Anu Kalm and published by Varrak in November 2007.

Personal life

Harriet Toompere has been in a long-term relationship with actor

Mait Malmsten Mait Malmsten (born 6 September 1972 in Viljandi) is an Estonian actor. Malmsten comes from a family of actors. His father is actor Rein Malmsten. His paternal grandparents were actors Franz Malmsten and Eva Meil. His great-uncle was actor Hugo ...

for over twenty years. The couple have two sons, Hugo and Franz. They reside in the small village of

Andineeme Andineeme is a village in Kuusalu Parish, Harju County in northern 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 Fi ...

, in

Kuusalu Parish Kuusalu Parish ( et, Kuusalu vald) is a rural municipality in northern Estonia, the largest in Harju County. After joining with the adjacent Loksa Parish in 2005, the municipality has now a population of 6,863 (as of 1 January 2009) and covers an ...

Harju County Harju County ( et, Harju maakond or ''Harjumaa''), is one of the fifteen counties of Estonia. It is situated in Northern Estonia, on the southern coast of the Gulf of Finland, and borders Lääne-Viru County to the east, Järva County to the sou ...

.Postimees
''Mait Malmsten ja Harriet Toompere ostsid väega talu'' 4 May 2014. Retrieved 13 January 2017.

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Toompere, Harriet 1975 births Living people Estonian stage actresses Estonian film actresses Estonian television actresses Actresses from Tallinn Writers from Tallinn Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre alumni 20th-century Estonian women writers Estonian children's writers Estonian women children's writers 20th-century Estonian actresses 21st-century Estonian actresses 21st-century Estonian writers 21st-century Estonian women writers