Acting

Elina Salo

Born March 9, 1936 · Sipoo, Finland

Died November 4, 2025 · aged 89

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Elina Salo (born March 9, 1936 in Sipoo, Finland; died November 4, 2025) was a Finnish film, theatre and television actress who has also done work in radio as a voice actor in children’s programming. In her career that began in 1956, Salo appeared in over 50 films and television shows but she is best known for her work in Aki Kaurismäki’s films. She has been…

Known For

The Man Without a Past

The Man Without a Past · 2002

The Man Without a Past

MovieDramaRomance

Arriving in Helsinki, a nameless man is beaten within an inch of his life by thugs, miraculously recovering only to find that he has completely lost his memory. Back on the streets, he attempts to begin again from zero, befriending a moody dog and becoming besotted with a Salvation Army volunteer.

The Match Factory Girl

The Match Factory Girl · 1990

The Match Factory Girl

Iris is a shy and dowdy young woman stuck in a dead-end job at a match factory, who dreams of finding love at the local dancehall. Finding herself pregnant after a one-night stand and abandoned by the father, Iris finally decides the time has come to get even and she begins to plot her revenge.

Le Havre

Le Havre · 2011

MovieDramaComedy

In the French harbor city of Le Havre, an elderly shoeshiner with an ailing wife crosses paths with a young African refugee pursued by the police for deportation.

The Snow Queen

The Snow Queen · 1986

MovieFantasyFamily

A Finnish live action adaptation of Hans Christian Andersen's fairy tale, The Snow Queen. The tale centers on the struggle between good and evil as experienced by a little boy and girl, Kai and Kerttu.

Drifting Clouds

Drifting Clouds · 1996

Drifting Clouds

The ever-poker-faced Ilona loses her job as a restaurant hostess, as her tram driver husband, Lauri, also finds himself out of work. Together they must hit the streets of Helsinki, facing up to hardship and humiliation in their quest for survival, guided through the gloom by a ray of hope.

Hamlet Goes Business

Hamlet Goes Business · 1987

Hamlet Goes Business

MovieComedyDrama

When Hamlet discovers his father’s deceased body, he finds himself pulled into a power struggle as his scheming uncle attempts to secure a monopoly on the Scandinavian rubber duck industry. Will Hamlet avenge his father? Will he become the king of rubber ducks? Does any of it really matter?

Poet and Muse

Poet and Muse · 1978

MovieDramaRomance

Semi-fictitious biopic of Finnish poet Eino Leino, made with a large budget to celebrate the 100th anniversary of his birth. The film concentrates on his relationships with first wife Freya Schoultz and later muse, poetess L. Onerva. His friends include equally central figures of the Finnish cultural scene in the early 1900s, such as painters Halonen and Gallén-Kallela, and composer Sibelius.

A Worker's Diary

A Worker's Diary · 1967

A Worker's Diary

Juhani, a welder and Ritva, a right-wing backgrounded, future clerk get married. Soon we see that their marriage seems to be all about long business trips, housing problems, concerns about the money and political disagreements.

Filmography

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The Man Without a Past

The Man Without a Past · 2002

The Man Without a Past

MovieDramaRomance

Arriving in Helsinki, a nameless man is beaten within an inch of his life by thugs, miraculously recovering only to find that he has completely lost his memory. Back on the streets, he attempts to begin again from zero, befriending a moody dog and becoming besotted with a Salvation Army volunteer.

Dock Clerk

The Match Factory Girl

The Match Factory Girl · 1990

The Match Factory Girl

Iris is a shy and dowdy young woman stuck in a dead-end job at a match factory, who dreams of finding love at the local dancehall. Finding herself pregnant after a one-night stand and abandoned by the father, Iris finally decides the time has come to get even and she begins to plot her revenge.

Mother

Le Havre

Le Havre · 2011

MovieDramaComedy

In the French harbor city of Le Havre, an elderly shoeshiner with an ailing wife crosses paths with a young African refugee pursued by the police for deportation.

Claire

The Snow Queen

The Snow Queen · 1986

MovieFantasyFamily

A Finnish live action adaptation of Hans Christian Andersen's fairy tale, The Snow Queen. The tale centers on the struggle between good and evil as experienced by a little boy and girl, Kai and Kerttu.

Pohjoisen velho

Drifting Clouds

Drifting Clouds · 1996

Drifting Clouds

The ever-poker-faced Ilona loses her job as a restaurant hostess, as her tram driver husband, Lauri, also finds himself out of work. Together they must hit the streets of Helsinki, facing up to hardship and humiliation in their quest for survival, guided through the gloom by a ray of hope.

Mrs. Sjöholm

Hamlet Goes Business

Hamlet Goes Business · 1987

Hamlet Goes Business

MovieComedyDrama

When Hamlet discovers his father’s deceased body, he finds himself pulled into a power struggle as his scheming uncle attempts to secure a monopoly on the Scandinavian rubber duck industry. Will Hamlet avenge his father? Will he become the king of rubber ducks? Does any of it really matter?

Gertrud

Poet and Muse

Poet and Muse · 1978

MovieDramaRomance

Semi-fictitious biopic of Finnish poet Eino Leino, made with a large budget to celebrate the 100th anniversary of his birth. The film concentrates on his relationships with first wife Freya Schoultz and later muse, poetess L. Onerva. His friends include equally central figures of the Finnish cultural scene in the early 1900s, such as painters Halonen and Gallén-Kallela, and composer Sibelius.

L. Onerva

A Worker's Diary

A Worker's Diary · 1967

A Worker's Diary

Juhani, a welder and Ritva, a right-wing backgrounded, future clerk get married. Soon we see that their marriage seems to be all about long business trips, housing problems, concerns about the money and political disagreements.

Ritva Margaret Vehoniemi, o.s. Mattila

Petos

MovieDramaCrime

The very first American-style Post Office robbery in Finland. In the midst of the 60's a gangster quartet led by Hilarius Ruokonen splits up and go into hiding after the heist.

postikonttorin kassanhoitaja

Herr Puntila And His Servant Matti

Herr Puntila And His Servant Matti · 1979

Herr Puntila And His Servant Matti

Based on the Bertolt Brecht play, the movie follows the farmer Puntila, who when he's sober is a real pig but whenever he gets drunk becomes very generous. Puntila is trying to get his daughter to get married, but the problem is that his drunk self wants her to marry another man than his sober personality wants.

Take Care of Your Scarf, Tatjana

Take Care of Your Scarf, Tatjana · 1994

Take Care of Your Scarf, Tatjana

MovieComedyRomance

Two Finnish men agree to drive an Estonian woman and a Russian woman to a harbor.

Hotel Receptionist

Inspector Palmu's Error

Inspector Palmu's Error · 1960

Inspector Palmu's Error

MovieComedyCrime

A closed room mystery begins when an infamous tycoon is found dead in his bath tub. The famous police lieutenant Palmu is summoned to investigate.

Airi Rykämö

Eight Mirrors

Eight Mirrors · 1982

Mean girls bully Anna-Maija after she is seen kissing a boy. Her parents notice that the girl's affairs are not in order, but they did not know the reason for their melancholy. Mother buys eight mirrors, one for each member of the family.

Aiti

Tre långa år

Tre långa år · 1969

MovieTV MovieDrama

A family father gets caught drunk driving.

Rintamalotta

Rintamalotta · 1956

Irma has been sent to the front immediately after her marriage to Erik Vuori. Irma and her new "Lotta" companions find themselves in many dangerous situations during the fighting of the Continuation War. Irma is also concerned about Erik's loyalty.

Soilikki

Naiset, jotka minulle annoit

Naiset, jotka minulle annoit · 1962

Naiset, jotka minulle annoit

A triangular drama set in the world of theater.

Kati Korpi

The Little Angel

The Little Angel · 1989

The Little Angel

MovieAnimationFamily

It's holiday season and Christmas decorations come alive again. As her first Christmas Eve approaches, the Little Angel is eager to find her own place in the world. But to her surprise, all the Christmas positions seem to be filled.

Narrator (voice)

Nitro League

Nitro League · 1993

MovieTV MovieComedy

An jolly gang of elderly people plan to rob a bank.

Juha

MovieComedyDrama

A farmer's wife is seduced into running away from her stolid older husband by a city slicker, who enslaves her in a brothel.

Shemeikka's Sister

Tähtisumua

Tähtisumua · 1961

Pirkko Mannola and Esko Salminen play young pop stars of the same name, who develop a secret romance that is kept hidden from the other musicians in the pop orchestra. Between musical scenes, Pirkko introduces Esko to Ville Salminen, Toivo Kärki, and Reino Helismaa, among others, and gets him a spot in a big pop music show.

Nonstop

Nonstop · 1987

A revolver changes hands seven times, each time serving a different purpose shot in a film style which tests the traditional story-telling form of film.

Mother (voice)

I Have a Tiger

I Have a Tiger · 1979

A little boy has a tiger as a pet, but it's a secret. The widemouth of the apartment building is Miss Kotilainen, who is always complaining about everything. Other people in the building have their own secrets too. After a lot of those secrets are uncovered, a party is held that melts the heart of Miss Kotilainen. After that, Kalle the Tiger won't have to be hidden no more.

Äänet (voice)

The Farewell

The Farewell · 1982

Set between 1930s and 50s, The Farewell the story of Valerie, who lives in a household totally repressed by her stern father. When Valerie has a brief affair with another woman, her father is extremely angry and tries to end the affair with physical force. However Valerie’s determination, independence and lesbian feelings cannot be crushed.

Fräulein, kotiopettajatar

Patarouva

Patarouva · 1959

MovieDramaRomance

Kaius Kannisto a bachelor who has experienced hard on the love front, goes through his relationships with his four former female friends, the four queens of the deck of cards.

Kastehelmi Seppälä, patarouva

Mumintrollet

Mumintrollet · 1969

Moomintroll was a Swedish television series about the Moomins 1969 directed by Vivica Bandler and Ulla Berglund. The series, which is in 13 parts, is written by Tove and Lars Jansson, and produced by Swedish Radio. The premier was December 5, 1969 on TV2. The series became known for Moomins took off their heads a bit into the series. In 2008 the series was up as the play "The King of Moomin Valley" at the Swedish Theatre in Helsinki.

Lilla My

Vandrande skugga

Vandrande skugga · 1984

Vandrande skugga

Cecilia Reding