Laine Mägi (born Laine Michelson-Adamson; 3 February 1959) 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, film and television actress, dancer and choreographer and dance pedagogue who began her career as a teenager. She is the founder of the Laine Mägi School of Dance, based in

Pärnu Pärnu () is the fourth largest city in Estonia. Situated in southwest Estonia, Pärnu is located south of the Estonian capital, Tallinn, and west of Estonia's second largest city, Tartu. The city sits off the coast of Pärnu Bay, an inlet ...

Early life

Laine Michelson-Adamson was born in

Kehra Kehra is a town in Anija Parish, Harju County, Estonia, most known for its pulp and paper mill. The town is situated on the banks of the Jägala river, and has a station on the Tallinn-Narva railway. As of January 1, 2021, the town had a popu ...

to Peeter and Elli-Anniki Michelson-Adamson (''née'' Pennie). She has one brother who is two years younger. Her first cousin is actress Terje Pennie-Kolberg. She became interested in ballet at an early age and began taking lessons at the Tallinn Ballet School at age nine, taking the train from Kehra to

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 ' ...

. She made her debut at the

Estonia Theatre Estonia Theatre is an historic building in Tallinn, Estonia, which houses the Estonian National Opera and the Estonian National Symphony Orchestra. The original Jugendstil building was designed by Finnish architects Armas Lindgren Armas Elie ...

at the age of ten in a stage production of

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- ...

's ''

Pippi Longstocking Pippi Longstocking ( sv, Pippi Långstrump) is the fictional main character in an eponymous series of children's books by Swedish author Astrid Lindgren. Pippi was named by Lindgren's daughter Karin, who asked her mother for a get-well story wh ...

''. She later had to abandon ballet classes in 1973 due to poor health. From 1976 until 1981, she performed as a dancer in various venues throughout Tallinn. She attended secondary school in Tallinn, graduating in 1977, then enrolling in the Tallinn State Conservatory (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 ...

) to study acting under instruction of

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 ...

, graduating in 1982. Among her graduating classmates were

Margus Oopkaup Margus Oopkaup (born 11 March 1959) is an Estonian stage, film and television actor and playwright who was engaged at the Endla Theatre from 1982 to 2000. In 1983, he was awarded the Best Young Actor award for his performance in the film '' Nipe ...

Jaan Rekkor Jaan Rekkor (born 3 April 1958) is an Estonian stage, film and television actor. Early life and education Jaan Rekkor was born in the small village of Hõreda in Rapla County. He attended schools in Märjamaa, graduating from the Ants Lauter ...

, Anu Lamp,

Sulev Teppart Sulev Teppart (born on 13 September 1960 in Viljandi) is an Estonian actor. In 1982 he graduated from the Tallinn State Conservatory's Performing Arts Department. From 1982 until 1985, he worked at the Estonian Youth Theatre, and from 1985 until 2 ...

Andrus Vaarik Andrus Vaarik (born 14 May 1958) is an Estonian film, television, and theater actor and theater director. He is best known for his portrayal of Andrus Kivirähk's fictional character Ivan Orav, Raul in the film '' Agent Sinikael'', Osvald Kallast ...

, and Viire Valdma.

Stage career

In 1982, shortly after graduation from the Tallinn State Conservatory, she began an engagement at the

Endla Theatre Endla ( et, Endla teater) is a professional theatre in city of Pärnu, Estonia. The theatre was opened in 1911. The first performance was "Libahunt" ("Werewolf") by Estonian writer August Kitzberg. The Estonian Declaration of Independence was ...

that would last until 1999. She made her stage debut in the role of Susan at the Endla in a production of Stephen Poliakoff's ''City Sugar'' in 1982. Other notable roles at the Endla have been in works by:

August Strindberg Johan August Strindberg (, ; 22 January 184914 May 1912) was a Swedish playwright, novelist, poet, essayist and painter.Lane (1998), 1040. A prolific writer who often drew directly on his personal experience, Strindberg wrote more than sixty p ...

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 Nobel Prize in Literature, which she wa ...

Oskar Luts Oskar Luts ( – 23 March 1953) was an Estonian writer and playwright. Biography Oskar Luts was born into a middle-class family in Järvepera, central Estonia, at that time in the governorate of Livonia (Russian Empire). His younger brother was ...

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 ...

Jean-Paul Sartre Jean-Paul Charles Aymard Sartre (, ; ; 21 June 1905 – 15 April 1980) was one of the key figures in the philosophy of existentialism (and phenomenology), a French playwright, novelist, screenwriter, political activist, biographer, and litera ...

and

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 ...

. Since 1999, she has been engaged as an actress and choreographer 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 ...

in Tallinn. Prominent roles as an actress at the Estonian Drama Theatre have been in works by:

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 ...

, A. H. Tammsaare,

Enn Vetemaa Enn Vetemaa (June 20, 1936March 28, 2017) was an Estonian writer sometimes referred to as a "forgotten classic",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 ...

, Oskar Luts,

Peter Shaffer Sir Peter Levin Shaffer (; 15 May 1926 – 6 June 2016) was an English playwright, screenwriter, and novelist. He wrote numerous award-winning plays, of which several were adapted into films. Early life Shaffer was born to a Jewish family in L ...

Juan Rulfo Juan Nepomuceno Carlos Pérez Rulfo Vizcaíno, best known as Juan Rulfo ( ; 16 May 1917 – 7 January 1986), was a Mexican writer, screenwriter, and photographer. He is best known for two literary works, the 1955 novel ''Pedro Páramo'', and th ...

and

Jane Bowles Jane Bowles (; born Jane Sydney Auer; February 22, 1917 – May 4, 1973) was an American writer and playwright. Early life Born into a Jewish family in New York City on February 22, 1917, to Sydney Auer (father) and Claire Stajer (mother), Jane ...

. She has also appeared in stage productions at the R.A.A.A.M. theatre and the

Vanalinnastuudio Vanalinnastuudio (literally 'Old Town Studio') was a theatre in Tallinn, Estonia. The theatre was established in 1980. At the beginning, it operated at Estonian State Philharmony (nowadays Eesti Kontsert). The founder and artistical leader was Ein ...

in Tallinn, as well as smaller theaters throughout Estonia.

Dance

Since 1982, Mägi has been teaching dance; initially with a small number of students. In 1989, Mägi founded the dance troupe Lancy. In 1996, she founded the Laine Mägi Dance School (''Laine Mägi Tantsukool'') where she acts as an instructor. Based in Pärnu, the school grew to over three hundred students and another school was opened in Tallinn. Since 1993, she has been faculty member at the Estonian Drama Theatre's school of dance and choreography and an associate professor at the school since 1998. Mägi has also worked as a choreographer for stage productions at the Endla Theatre, Estonian Drama Theatre, Vanalinnastuudio,

Vanemuine Vanemuine () is a theatre in Tartu, Estonia. It was the first Estonian language theatre. History ''1870–1906 The Beginning of the Beginning. Koidula’s Theatre, Wiera’s Theatre.'' On June 24, 1870 was the first day in Estonian theatre ...

Ugala Ugala is a theatre in Viljandi, Estonia. The theatre was founded in 1920 opening on January 10 of that year. The first production was Oscar Wilde's " Salome". Ugala's Artistic Directors *1925 - 1926: Andres Särev *1926 – 1928: Eduard Le ...

and smaller theatres.

Film and television

Laine Mägi made her television film debut as Miili in the 1987

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 historical drama ''

Tants aurukatla ümber '' Tants aurukatla ümber'' (''eng. lit'' "Dance Around the Steam Boiler") is a novel by Estonian author Mats Traat. It was first published in 1971. The novel contains five chapters, wherein the "dance" illuminates five distinct eras of country ...

'', based on the 1971 novel of the same name by Estonian author

Mats Traat Mats Traat (23 November 1936 – 27 June 2022) was an Estonian poet, poetry translator, and author. Career Traat was born in Arula, Otepää Parish. He debuted in 1962 with a collection of poetry. He published over 20 anthologies of poetry. ...

. This was followed by the role of Mimi in the

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 drama ''Ma pole turist, ma elan siin'' in 1989; the role of Lagle in the 1991

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 ...

''; and in the Rao Heidmets directed comedy ''Kallis härra Q'' in 1998. Some of Mägi's more prominent film roles were in

Ilmar Raag Ilmar Raag (born 21 May 1968 in Kuressaare) is an Estonian media executive, actor, screenwriter and film director, best known for his socio-critical film '' The Class''. He has served as CEO of Estonian Television from 2002 to 2005. He is a we ...

's 2007 film '' Klass'' as Laine, the teacher, which explores school bullying and violence; and a starring role as Anne in Ilmar Raag's 2012 drama '' Eestlanna Pariisis'' ( French: ''Une Estonienne à Paris''), which paired Mägi opposite French actress Jeanne Moreau. Mägi's performance in ''Une Estonienne à Paris'' garnered her a Best Actress award at the 2012 Le Festival International des Jeunes Réalisateurs de Saint-Jean-de-Luz. Some of her more notable television appearances have been the recurring role of Eve in the popular

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 ...

dramatic series ''

Õnne 13 Õnne 13 is an Estonian dramatic TV series that airs on ETV. The series first aired on 30 October 1993 and was written by Astrid Reinla and as of 1996 by Teet Kallas Teet Kallas (born 6 April 1943, Tallinn) is an Estonian writer and former ...

'' in 2003; as Sirje Kadak in the historical comedy ''ENSV'', which reflects on life during the 1980s in the

Estonian Soviet Socialist Republic The Estonian SSR,, russian: Эстонская ССР officially the Estonian Soviet Socialist Republic,, russian: Эстонская Советская Социалистическая Республика was an ethnically based adminis ...

; and as Helve in the 2015

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 ''Restart''.

Personal life

Laine Mägi was married to musician and actor

Tõnis Mägi Tõnis Mägi (born 18 November 1948 in Tallinn) is an Estonian singer, guitarist, composer and actor. He is one of the most influential and remarkable names in Estonian rock music of the past 40 years. More recently, he is known for his politi ...

from 1980 until they divorced in 1988; they have one daughter, Liis-Katrin, born in 1983, who is married to actor

Märt Avandi Märt Avandi (born 26 February 1981) is an Estonian actor and comedian. Biography He is known in Estonia for his performances in TV show '' Tujurikkuja'' (2008–2015) with Ott Sepp, that made them household names in Estonia. Avandi has worked a ...

. She is a grandmother.

Acknowledgments

*Estonian Theatre Award (2000) *2000 Helmi Tohvelmann award (2000) *Pärnu Women's award (2000) *Väike Ants, Estonian Drama Theatre Prize (2008) *

Order of the White Star The Order of the White Star ( et, Valgetähe teenetemärk; french: Ordre de l'Etoile Blanche) was instituted in 1936. The Order of the White Star is bestowed on Estonia Estonia, formally the Republic of Estonia, is a country by the Baltic ...

, Class IV (2012) *Le Festival International des Jeunes Réalisateurs de Saint-Jean-de-Luz Best Actress Award (2012) *Foreign Ministry of Culture award (2012) *Cultural Endowment of Estonia (2012) *Pärnu Coat of Arms (2012) *Väike Ants, Estonian Drama Theatre Prize (2014)Eest Draamateater
Retrieved 2 December 2016.

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Magi, Laine 1959 births Living people Estonian film actresses Estonian stage actresses Estonian television actresses Estonian female dancers Estonian choreographers People from Kehra Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre alumni Recipients of the Order of the White Star, 4th Class 20th-century Estonian actresses 21st-century Estonian actresses