Merle Talvik (born 6 June 1954) is an Estonian stage, film and television actress whose career began in the mid-1970s.

Early life and education

Merle Talvik was born in Tallinn to Herbert and Asta Talvik (''née'' Tomson). She attended primary and secondary schools in Tallinn and in 1973, at age nineteen, began performing as part of an ensemble cast with the Viru Varietee; a variety show established at Tallinn's Viru Hotel. She then enrolled at 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 ...

), graduating in 1978.

Career

Stage

Following her graduation from the Tallinn State Conservatory, Talvik began a year-long engagement as a stage actress at the

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 ...

theatre in

Tartu Tartu is the second largest city in Estonia after the Northern European country's political and financial capital, Tallinn. Tartu has a population of 91,407 (as of 2021). It is southeast of Tallinn and 245 kilometres (152 miles) northeast of ...

. Talvik then spent over twenty years with 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, performing in over fifty stage roles.

Film

Talvik's first significant film role was as Tonya in the 1977

Russian language Russian (russian: русский язык, russkij jazyk, link=no, ) is an East Slavic languages, East Slavic language mainly spoken in Russia. It is the First language, native language of the Russians, and belongs to the Indo-European langua ...

film ''The Sun, the Sun Again'', directed by

Svetlana Druzhinina Svetlana Sergeevna Druzhinina (russian: Светла́на Серге́евна Дружи́нина ; born 16 December 1935 in Moscow) is a Soviet and Russian actress, film director, screenwriter, film producer. She is best known for directing th ...

for

Mosfilm Mosfilm (russian: Мосфильм, ''Mosfil’m'' ) is a film studio which is among the largest and oldest in the Russian Federation and in Europe. Founded in 1924 in the USSR as a production unit of that nation's film monopoly, its output incl ...

. The following year, she appeared in her first Estonian film, ''Reigi õpetaja'', directed by Jüri Müür. In 1981, she had a starring role as Katrina Leet in the

Arvo Kruusement Arvo Kruusement (born 20 April 1928) is an Estonian actor, theatre and film director who has made some of Estonia's classic novels into films; ''Spring'' (1969), ''Summer'' (1976), and ''Fall'' (1990) The movie ''Spring'' has been noted as the be ...

-directed drama ''Karge meri'', based on the 1938 novel of the same name by author

August Gailit August Gailit (9 January 1891 – 5 November 1960) was an Estonian writer.Endel Nirk, Arthur Robert Hone, Oleg Mutt, ''Estonian Literature: Historical Survey with Biobibliographical Appendix'', Published by Perioodika, 1987, p177 Life Georg ...

. In 1983, she appeared as Krista Tammet in a leading role in the Dmitri Svetozarov-directed Russian-language

Lenfilm Lenfilm (russian: link=no, Ленфильм) is a Russian production company with its own film studio located in Saint Petersburg (the city was called Leningrad from 1924 to 1991, thus the name). It is a corporation with its stakes shared betwee ...

drama ''Speed''. Other film roles include Daisy in the 1985 Ago-Endrik Kerge-directed

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 During Worl ...

musical-drama ''Savoy Ball'' and smaller roles in the 1980

Kaljo Kiisk Kaljo Kiisk (3 December 1925 – 20 September 2007) was a Soviet and Estonian actor, film director, screenwriter and politician. He was best known for his roles as Kristjan Lible from ''Spring'' ( et, Kevade), ''Summer'' (''Suvi'') and ''Autu ...

-directed drama ''Metskannikesed''; the 1987

Lembit Ulfsak Lembit Ulfsak (4 July 1947 – 22 March 2017) was a prominent Estonian stage and film actor. Ulfsak starred in the 2014 film ''Tangerines'' which was nominated for the Best Foreign Language Film at the 87th Academy Awards. It was also among the f ...

-directed comedy-drama ''Keskea rõõmud''; the 1990 Kaljo Kiisk-directed drama ''Regina'', based on the 1978 novel ''Valikuvõimalus'' by

Aimée Beekman Aimée Beekman ( Malla; born 20 April 1933) is an Estonian writer noted in her country for several books said to present realistic depictions of modern life. Amongst her works is ''Valikuvõimalus'' or ''An Opportunity for Choice'', which involves ...

; and in the 2009 Hannu Salonen-directed crime-drama ''Vasha''.

Television

In addition to stage and film roles, Talvik has frequently appeared on Estonian television. In 1981, she appeared as Ilga in the seven-part Aloizs Brenčs-directed

Latvian language Latvian ( ), also known as Lettish, is an Eastern Baltic language belonging to the Baltic branch of the Indo-European language family, spoken in the Baltic region. It is the language of Latvians and the official language of Latvia as well as ...

television melodrama miniseries '' Ilgais ceļš kāpās''. In 1982, she had a starring role in the Leo Karpin-directed television comedy film ''Teisikud'' opposite singer

Jaak Joala Jaak Joala (26 June 1950 – 25 September 2014) was an Estonian singer, musician and a member of two bands: Kristallid and Virmalised. He began as a flautist, later adding singing and bass guitar. Biography Early life Jaak Joala was born i ...

, which was subsequently released theatrically. From 1994 until 1996, she had a recurring role as Helgi in the popular, long-running

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 Televisi ...

(ETV) drama ''

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 2002, she played the role of Valentina on the

TV3 Channel 3 or TV 3 may refer to: Television *Canal 3 (Burkina Faso), a commercial television channel in Burkina Faso *Canal 3 (Guatemala), a commercial television channel in Guatemala *Channel 3 (Algeria), a public Algerian TV channel owned by EPTV ...

series ''Nurjatud tüdrukud''. From 2012 until 2016, she played a recurring role as Tiiu Pärn on the 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 ...

''. From 2013, she has played the role of Maria on 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-drama series ''Naabriplika''.

Personal life

Merle Talvik has been married twice. Her second husband was musician Margus Kappel. The couple have a son, Karl Olaf, and later divorced.Õhtuleht
''Merle Talvik - vapper eesti naine, keda raskused ei murra'' 17 April 2015. Retrieved 22 August 2018.

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Talvik, Merle 1954 births Living people Estonian film actresses Estonian television actresses Estonian stage actresses Actresses from Tallinn 20th-century Estonian actresses 21st-century Estonian actresses Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre alumni