Hilkka Kinnunen

Hilkka Terttu Annikki Kinnunen (born 19 March 1925) is a Finnish actress and opera singer. She led the Operetti Theater from 1959 until 1996 and often even acted as a prima donna performing leading roles.[1]

Hilkka Kinnunen
Kinnunen in 1962
Born
Hilkka Terttu Annikki Kinnunen

(1925-03-19) 19 March 1925
Viipuri, Finland
Occupations
  • Actress
  • opera singer
Years active1948–1964
Spouse
Ekke Hämäläinen
​
​
(m. 1948; div. 1971)​
Children2

Life and career

Kinnunen began her studies in the first annual course of the Suomen Teatterikoulu during the Continuation War in 1943.[2] Before founding the Operetti Theater, she worked at, among others, the Äänislinna Theater, Helsinki's Tyväenteatteri and Kansanteatteri.[3] Before the Operetti Theater, she also appeared in several domestic films, among which is Huhtikuu tulee from 1953.

Aino Kukkonen edited the book Prima-Donna about Kinnusen's life in connection with her 80th birthday in 2005,[4] and the story of Hilkka Kinnusen's youth was told in Lotta-Sofia Saahko's book Coffee and Karelian pies, published in 2021. In 2010, the President of the Republic, Tarja Halonen, awarded theater director Hilkka Kinnune the title of theater councilor for her achievements for the benefit of Finnish musical theatre.

Personal life

Hilkka Kinnunen was married to actor Ekke Hämäläinen from 1948 to 1971 and to Bill Farrell from 1976 to 1979. Two children were born from the first union, the younger of whom is the actress Vesa Hämes.[5]

Filmography
  • Toukokuun taika (1948) - Inga Adlerfeldt
  • Vihaan sinua - rakas (1951) - Miss Laaksola
  • The Apple Falls (1952) - Susan
  • Maailman kaunein tyttö (1953) - Teacher
  • Song of Warsaw (1953) - Perämies Koskisen vaimo
  • Huhtikuu tulee (1953) - Annikki Teräs
  • Yhteinen vaimomme (1956) - Rouva
  • Syntipukki (1957) - Mrs. Beck
  • Jouluvene - tähtiparaati (1964)

References
  1. "Teatterineuvos, primadonna Hilkka Kinnunen 96 vuotta! – "Still going strong!"". yle.fi (in Finnish). Retrieved 2022-07-23.
  2. Majamaa, Maiju (2015-10-17). "Operettitähti Hilkka Kinnunen, 90, esitteli ISTV:lle hulppean kulttuurikotinsa – katso video". Ilta-Sanomat (in Finnish). Retrieved 2022-07-23.
  3. "Vierivät kivet - Aiheet". 2008-03-29. Archived from the original on 2008-03-29. Retrieved 2022-07-23.
  4. "KIRJAT | Primadonna on myös terävä sanailija Operettiteatterin johtaja Hilkka Kinnunen ei tärkeile eikä hienostele muistelmissaan". Helsingin Sanomat (in Finnish). 2005-08-26. Retrieved 2022-07-23.
  5. "Etusivu". kansallisbiografia.fi. Retrieved 2022-07-23.
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