Merle Palmiste (born 1 November 1970) is an Estonian stage, film and television actress.

Early life and education

Merle Palmiste was born in

Tallinn Tallinn is the capital city, capital and List of cities in Estonia, most populous city of Estonia. Situated on a Tallinn Bay, bay in north Estonia, on the shore of the Gulf of Finland of the Baltic Sea, it has a population of (as of 2025) and ...

and raised in the Tallinn subdistrict of

Õismäe Õismäe (Estonian for ''"Blossom Hill"'') is a subdistrict () in the district of Haabersti, Tallinn Tallinn is the capital city, capital and List of cities in Estonia, most populous city of Estonia. Situated on a Tallinn Bay, bay in nor ...

.Postimees
''Merle Palmiste pooltoonid'' 26 January 2008. Retrieved 20 July 2017. Her father was an engineer and her mother was an accountant.Eesti Entsüklopeedia
Retrieved 29 July 2017. She attended primary and secondary schools in Tallinn, graduating from Tallinn's 9th Secondary School in 1988. Following graduation, she enrolled in the Tallinn 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 1992. Palmiste's diploma production roles included

Helena Helena may refer to: People *Helena (given name), a given name (including a list of people and characters with the name) *Katri Helena (born 1945), Finnish singer * Saint Helena (disambiguation), this includes places Places Greece * Helena ...

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's ''

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'' and Nina Mikhailovna Zarechnaya in

Anton Chekhov Anton Pavlovich Chekhov (; ; 29 January 1860 – 15 July 1904) was a Russian playwright and short-story writer, widely considered to be one of the greatest writers of all time. His career as a playwright produced four classics, and his b ...

's ''

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''.Eesti Draamateater
Retrieved 29 July 2017. Among her graduating classmates were

Andres Raag Andres Raag (born 24 June 1970) is an Estonian stage, film, radio and television actor and singer with the band L'Dorado since 1993. Early life and education Andres Raag was born and attended schools in Tallinn. His mother is actress Kersti Kr ...

Kristel Leesmend Kristel Leesmend (born 30 August 1968 in Tallinn) is an Estonian actress. From 1987 until 1988, Leesmend worked at the Vanalinnastuudio in Tallinn as a costume designer and as a freelance actress. In 1992 she graduated from Estonian Academy of Mu ...

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 band Velikije Luki. Early life and education Ivo Uukkivi was born i ...

, Jaanus Rohumaa,

Üllar Saaremäe Üllar Saaremäe (born November 23, 1969) is an Estonian actor, director, politician, and punk band singer. Biography Üllar Saaremäe was born 23 November 1969 in Kohtla-Nõmme. He has two children from his relationship with actress Tiina Mäl ...

, Kaili Närep,

Dan Põldroos Dan Põldroos (6 March 1970 – 5 May 2007) was an Estonian stage, television and film actor who began performing on stage at age fifteen. Although mostly known for comedic roles, he was also an accomplished dramatic actor. Põldroos' career ende ...

, Sten Zupping,

Tiina Mälberg Tiina Mälberg (born 16 March 1970) is an Estonian actress. Tiina Mälberg was born and raised in Tallinn. She graduated from Saku Secondary School in 1988, then enrolled at the Tallinn State Conservatory, studying under instruction of theatre and ...

and

Garmen Tabor Garmen Tabor ( Garmen Suurmets; born on 19 April 1968 in Rakvere) is an Estonian actress and theatre director. In 1992 she graduated from the Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre, Tallinn State Conservatory's Performing Arts Department. From 1992 ...

Career

Stage

Following her graduation from the Tallinn Conservatory in 1992, Palmiste began a professional engagement as an actress at the

Estonian Drama Theatre The Estonian Drama Theatre () 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 originally built for the ...

in Tallinn, where she remains. Throughout her career at the Estonian Drama Theatre, she has performed in roles of works by such international authors and playwrights as:

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Tankred Dorst Tankred Dorst (19 December 1925 – 1 June 2017) was a German playwright and storyteller. Dorst lived and worked in Munich. His farces, parables, one-act-plays and adaptations were inspired by the theatre of the absurd and the works of Ionesco ...

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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 great writers in the French language and world liter ...

Alan Ayckbourn Sir Alan Ayckbourn (born 12 April 1939) is a prolific British playwright and director. As of 2025, he has written and produced 90 full-length plays in Scarborough and London and was, between 1972 and 2009, the artistic director of the Stephen ...

Terry Pratchett Sir Terence David John Pratchett (28 April 1948 – 12 March 2015) was an English author, humorist, and Satire, satirist, best known for the ''Discworld'' series of 41 comic fantasy novels published between 1983 and 2015, and for the Apocalyp ...

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 received three ...

, Hristo Boytchev,

Evgeny Schwartz Evgeny Lvovich Schwartz (, , Kazan, Russian Empire, January 15, 1958, Leningrad, Soviet Union) was a Soviet writer and playwright, whose works include twenty-five plays, and screenplays for three films (in collaboration with Nikolai Erdman). L ...

, John Patrick,

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, Paul Lucas,

Henrik Ibsen Henrik Johan Ibsen (; ; 20 March 1828 – 23 May 1906) was a Norwegian playwright, poet and actor. Ibsen is considered the world's pre-eminent dramatist of the 19th century and is often referred to as "the father of modern drama." He pioneered ...

Conor McPherson Conor McPherson (born 6 August 1971) is an Irish playwright, screenwriter and director of stage and film. In recognition of his contribution to world theatre, McPherson was awarded an honorary doctorate of literature in June 2013 by University C ...

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 the ...

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and Jordi Galceran. Roles in productions of works by Estonian authors and playwrights include:

Andrus Kivirähk Andrus Kivirähk (born 17 August 1970) is an Estonian writer, a playwright, topical satirist, and screenwriter. As of 2004, 25,000 copies of his novel ''Rehepapp ehk November'' (''Old Barny or November'') had been sold, making him the most popul ...

, Merle Karusoo,

Madis Kõiv Madis Kõiv (5 December 1929 – 24 September 2014) 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 degree in nuclear physics. Kõiv wo ...

Eduard Vilde Eduard Vilde ( – 26 December 1933) was an Estonian writer, a pioneer of critical realism in Estonian literature, and a diplomat. He was the author of classics such as ''The War in Mahtra'' and ''The Milkman from Mäeküla''. He was one of the ...

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, Eva Koff, Toomas Kall, Hendrik Toompere, and

Vaino Vahing Vaino Vahing (15 February 1940 – 23 March 2008) was an Estonian writer, prosaist, psychiatrist and playwright. Starting from 1973, he was a member of the Estonian Writers Union. Early life Vlahing was born in Aravu, Põlva County. In 1963 he ...

, among others.Estonian National Opera
Retrieved 20 July 2017. Additionally, Palmiste has performed onstage at several other theatres in Estonia, chiefly, the

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 (play), Salome". Ugala's Artistic Directors *1925 - 1926: Andres Särev *1926 – 1928 ...

theatre in

Viljandi Viljandi (, , , , ) is a Populated places in Estonia, town and Municipalities of Estonia, municipality in southern Estonia with a population of 17,255 in 2024. It is the capital of Viljandi County and is geographically located between two major ...

and the Tartu Theatre Lab in

Tartu Tartu is the second largest city in Estonia after Tallinn. Tartu has a population of 97,759 (as of 2024). It is southeast of Tallinn and 245 kilometres (152 miles) northeast of Riga, Latvia. Tartu lies on the Emajõgi river, which connects the ...

Film

Merle Palmiste made her full-length feature film debut in the role of Evelin in the 1994

Jaan Kolberg Jaan Kolberg (born 21 November 1958) is an Estonian film director and producer. Jaan Kolberg was born in Pärnu, where he attended primary and secondary schools. In 1976, he enrolled at Tartu State University, majoring in English. While at univ ...

-directed historical action-drama ''Jüri Rumm''; based on the life of the 19th-century Estonian brigand and folk hero Rummu Jüri. This was followed by the role of Grey One in the 2001

Arvo Iho Arvo Iho (born 21 June 1949) is an Estonian film director, cinematographer, actor and photographer, who has worked in the areas of documentary and drama.Rollberg, Peter (2016) ''Historical Dictionary of Russian and Soviet Cinema'', Rowman & Litt ...

-directed romantic drama ''

Karu süda ''The Heart of the Bear'' () is a 2001 Estonian, Czech, German, Russian co-produced romantic drama film directed by Arvo Iho. It was Estonia's submission to the 74th Academy Awards for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film, but was not ...

''. In 2006, she appeared as Rutt in the Jüri Sillart-directed and Hans Luik penned melodrama ''Kuldrannake'' for

Taska Film Taska Film OÜ sometimes credited as Taska Productions (owned by Kristian Taska) is an Estonian film production company responsible for producing the number 1 Estonian box office hit during the last decade: '' Names in Marble''. '' Candles in th ...

. In 2001, Palmiste had a small role as an adjutant in the

Sulev Keedus Sulev Keedus (born 21 July 1957 in Tallinn) is an Estonian film director who studied at the Gerasimov Institute of Cinematography The Gerasimov Institute of Cinematography, officially the S. A. Gerasimov All-Russian University of Cinematograph ...

-directed drama ''

Kirjad Inglile ''Letters to Angel'' () is a 2010 Estonian comedy film directed by Sulev Keedus. The film was selected as the Estonian entry for the Best Foreign Language Film at the 84th Academy Awards, but it did not make the final shortlist. It was also nom ...

'', starring

Tõnu Oja Tõnu Oja (born 4 July 1958 in Tallinn) is an Estonian actor. In 1980 he graduated from Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre. Since 2003 he has worked at the Estonian Drama Theatre. He has also played in films. His elder brother is actor and dir ...

and

Rain Simmul Rain Simmul (born 18 August 1965, in Tartu) is an Estonian actor. In 1988 he graduated from the Tallinn State Conservatory's Performing Arts Department. 1988–1999 he worked at Vanemuine Theatre. Since 1999 he is working at Tallinn City Theatre. ...

. That same year, she voiced the character Benita the Cow in the Heiki Ernits and Janno Põldma-directed animated children's film ''

Lotte and the Moonstone Secret ''Lotte and the Moonstone Secret'' () is a 2011 Estonian animated film directed by Heiki Ernits Heiki Ernits (born 24 March 1953) is an Estonian animator, illustrator, and film director. He graduated from the Tallinn Pedagogical Institute a ...

'' (Estonian: ''Lotte ja kuukivi saladus''), which was the second full-length feature film of the popular Estonian '' Lotte'' franchise. In 2013, she appeared in the role of Karin Viisla in the René Vilbre-directed family-fantasy film ''Väikelinna detektiivid ja valge daami saladus'', produced by Balti Video and

Eesti Rahvusringhääling Eesti Rahvusringhääling (ERR) – ''Estonian Public Broadcasting'' – is a publicly funded and owned radio and television organisation created in Estonia on 1 June 2007 to take over the functions of the formerly separate Eesti Raadio ...

. In 2016, she appeared in a small role as Mari in the Triin Ruumet-directed tragicomedy ''Päevad, mis ajasid segadusse'', about a young, disaffected man played by Hendrik Toompere Jr. Jr. on a frantic journey through midsummer Estonia in the late 1990s trying to discover purpose and meaning in his life. In 2019, she appeared in the role of Marianne Büttel in the Mart Sander directed fantasy-horror film ''Kõhedad muinaslood''. In 2020, she voiced several characters in the Meelis Arulepp and Karsten Kiilerich directed animated feature film '' Sipsik'', based on the popular 1962 children's book of the same title by

Eno Raud Eno Raud (15 February 1928 – 10 July 1996) was an Estonian children's writer. His works are considered classics in Estonia as well as in the other former Soviet countries. Raud was included in International Board on Books for Young People (IBBY ...

. In addition to Estonian films, Palmiste has appeared in several foreign language films, including; the 2003

Russian language Russian is an East Slavic languages, East Slavic language belonging to the Balto-Slavic languages, Balto-Slavic branch of the Indo-European languages, Indo-European language family. It is one of the four extant East Slavic languages, and is ...

feature-length romantic drama ''Yantarnye krylya'' directed by Andrey Razenkov; the 2004

German language German (, ) is a West Germanic language in the Indo-European language family, mainly spoken in Western Europe, Western and Central Europe. It is the majority and Official language, official (or co-official) language in Germany, Austria, Switze ...

film short ''Willkommen in Tallinn'' directed by Oliver Frohnauer; and the 2008

Ukrainian language Ukrainian (, ) is an East Slavic languages, East Slavic language, spoken primarily in Ukraine. It is the first language, first (native) language of a large majority of Ukrainians. Written Ukrainian uses the Ukrainian alphabet, a variant of t ...

family feature-length film ''Prykolna Kazka'' directed by Roman Shirman. Beginning in the early 2000s, Palmiste has also appeared in a number of Estonian short films.

Television

Merle Palmiste's career in television began in 1993 on the Toomas Kirss-directed

Eesti Televisioon Eesti Televisioon (ETV) () 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 Television'') was launched on ...

(ETV) drama series ''Salmonid''. In the mid-1995 she appeared in small role in the

Dietmar Bär Dietmar Bär (born 5 February 1961) is a German actor. Since 1997 he has starred as ''Freddy Schenk'' in the popular television crime series and in ''Ärzte'' (a TV series in 1994). He has been in several films, including ''Männer'' by Doris D ...

directed German television drama film ''Nadja - Heimkehr in die Fremde''. Her next several roles were all in foreign television productions: as Irina in the 1996 Finnish television crime-drama miniseries ''Sergein totuus'', as Gertrude Sellers in the 1997 Finnish television drama-thriller film ''Nurkkapöytä Kämpissä'', and a small role in the 1999

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 ...

television comedy-drama film ''Torsk på Tallinn - en liten film om ensamhet'' in 1999. Other substantial television film roles include the 2001

TV3 Channel 3 or TV 3 may refer to: Television *Canal 3 (Burkina Faso), a commercial television channel in Burkina Faso * Canal 3 Niger, a commercial television channel in Niger * Canal 3 (Guatemala), a commercial television channel in Guatemala * Can ...

spy-comedy ''Kodumaa parim poeg ehk eriagent 1188'', and the character of Ingrid in the 2005

Rainer Sarnet Rainer Sarnet (born March 3, 1969) is an Estonian film director whose work started in animation. He then worked in advertising and publishing. His works include ''November November is the eleventh and penultimate month of the year in the J ...

-directed ETV feature-length comedy-drama ''Libahundi needus''. Notable roles in television series include Riina in the 1998–1999 TV3 television serial drama ''Kired'', Vilve in the 2005–2006 TV3 comedy series ''Hajameelselt abielus'', Kertu in seven episodes of the

Kanal 2 Kanal 2 is a privately owned Estonian television channel. Its literal name in English is "Channel 2". History The channel was established by Ilmar Taska. The channel started broadcasting on 1 October 1993, the first program seen on the new ...

crime series ''Kelgukoerad'' between 2006 and 2007, as Riina on the TV3 drama television series ''Kälimehed'' from 2011 until 2012, and several appearances on the popular TV3 comedy-crime series ''

Kättemaksukontor ''Kättemaksukontor'' or in English ''The Vengeance Bureau'' and even ''Revenge Office'' is an Estonian comedy-crime television series. In the series, a group of women have a organization called "Kättemaksukontor". This organization helps to solv ...

'' between 2013 and 2015. In 2016, Palmiste appeared on the Kanal 2 reality series ''Suur Komöödiaõhtu'', in which several Estonian celebrities compete in a variety of weekly comedic challenges. In 2017, she appeared as Anna in the TV3 mystery-drama series ''Merivälja''. The same year she was cast to appear in a starring role as Madame Kukk in the 2018 TV3 period drama ''Litsid'', based on the 2015 novel of the same name by Mart Sander. In May 2018, Palmiste was awarded the Best Actress in a TV Series for her role on ''Litsid'' at the 2018 Estonian Entertainment Awards.

Personal life

Merle Palmiste was formerly involved in a long-term relationship with Alex Lepajõe. Their daughter is the fashion model Elisabeth Berthel who was born in 1996. Palmiste currently resides in Tallinn.Õhtuleht
''KUIDAS EMA, NÕNDA TÜTAR: Merle Palmiste tütrest on sirgunud tõeline kaunitar'' 25 May 2015. Retrieved 29 July 2017.

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Palmiste, Merle 1970 births Living people Estonian stage actresses Estonian film actresses Estonian television actresses Actresses from Tallinn Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre alumni 20th-century Estonian actresses 21st-century Estonian actresses