Pääru Oja

Pääru Oja (born 16 May 1989) is an Estonian stage, film, voice, and television actor.

Pääru Oja
Born (1989-05-16) 16 May 1989
Tallinn, Estonia
NationalityEstonian
OccupationActor
Years active2010 – present
ParentTõnu Oja (father)
RelativesRein Oja (uncle)

Early life and education

Pääru Oja was born in Tallinn, the youngest of two sons. His father is actor Tõnu Oja and his older brother is Estonian Theatre Festival CEO and theatre manager Kaarel Oja, who is married to actress Ursula Ratasepp. His uncle is actor, director and theatre instructor Rein Oja.[1] He attended primary and secondary schools in Tallinn before being accepted to the Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre in Tallinn, where he graduated from in 2012 under course supervisor Elmo Nüganen.[2] Oja's diploma roles included Father of Toulon in Peter Barnes' Red Noses (2010), Joseph Wykowski in Neil Simon's Biloxi Blues, and Argante in Molière's The Imaginary Invalid (2011).[3][4] Among his graduating classmates were: Henrik Kalmet, Karl-Andreas Kalmet, Priit Pius, Märt Pius, Liis Lass, Piret Krumm, Maiken Schmidt, and Kaspar Velberg.[2]

Career

Stage

Following his graduation from the Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre, Pääru Oja began an engagement at the Estonian Drama Theatre in Tallinn, where he is still currently employed. Some of Oja's more memorable roles at the Estonian Drama Theatre to date have been:[5]

Oja has also appeared performed as Franz in Jaan Kruusvall's Tasandikkude helinad at the Saueaugu Theatre in Ohtla in 2011, and as Alexander Herzen in Tom Stoppard's The Coast of Utopia at the Tallinn City Theatre in 2013.[6]

Film

Pääru Oja's first film appearance was in the role of Kristjan in the 2010 short Ei oska filmi teha, directed by Hardi Keerutaja and featuring Mikk Jürjens and Viire Valdma. Over the next few years, he appeared in a number of other film shorts. In 2013, he made his feature-length film debut in the small role of Evaristus in the René Vilbre directed children's fantasy film Väikelinna detektiivid ja valge daami saladus.[7]

In 2015, Oja appeared as Sanitar Elmar 'Säinas' in the Elmo Nüganen directed war film 1944 for Matila Röhr Productions (MRP) and Taska Film. Set in World War II, the film is shown through the eyes of Estonian soldiers who had to choose sides and thus fight against their fellow countrymen. It was selected as the Estonian entry for the Best Foreign Language Film at the 88th Academy Awards but it was not nominated.[8] The following year, he appeared as Siim in the Toomas Hussar directed political thriller Luuraja ja luuletaja, starring Jan Uuspõld. In 2017, it was announced he would appear in the Kaur Kokk directed period drama Põrgu Jaan.[9] In 2018, he appeared as the title character in the Ari Alexander Ergis Magnússon directed Icelandic-Estonian drama Mihkel opposite Tómas Lemarquis and as the character Ott in the Siim Tamm directed drama-thriller Hölma All.[10]

In 2020, Oja had a starring role as Rupi in the Veiko Õunpuu directed joint Estonian-Finnish comedy crime-drama Viimased, shot on location in Lapland. The film was selected as the Estonian entry for the Best International Feature Film at the 93rd Academy Awards.[11] The same year, he appeared in the role of Peeter Parik in the Margus Paju directed World War II spy film O2.[12] In 2023, he appeared as Ivo in the Ergo Kuld directed comedy film Suvitajad.[13]

Oja has also worked as a voice actor, dubbing foreign animated films into the Estonian language. In 2013, he lent his voice to the Estonian dubbing of the Canadian-American 3D computer-animated science fiction-comedy film Escape from Planet Earth (Estonian: Põgenemine planeedilt Maa).[14][15]

Television

Between 2014 and 2015, Pääru Oja had a recurring role as Markus Heng on the popular TV3 comedy-crime series Kättemaksukontor.[16] In 2018, he began a starring role as Alex in the TV3 crime series Lõks. In 2020, he had a recurring role as Matti in the Finnish television crime series Cold Courage.[17]

In 2021, Oja was cast as the character Arne Gormsson in the Netflix historical action-fiction drama television series Vikings: Valhalla.[18]

Radio

In 2016, Pääru Oja was one of 77 Estonian actors to honor the 400th year of William Shakespeare's death with the radio series "154 Sonnets of William Shakespeare" on Estonian Public Broadcasting stations Vikerraadio, Klassikaraadio, and Raadio 2. All sonnets were translated into the Estonian language by Harald Rajamets and each actor recited a sonnet daily.[19]

Personal life

Pääru Oja currently resides in Tallinn. He is a jazz and flamenco guitarist and often performs sets with fellow guitarist Indrek Kruusimaa at venues in Estonia.[20][21]

Recognition

References
  1. "Tõnu Oja: mulle meeldis, kui isa end purju jõi, siis ta muutus lahkeks". Eesti Rahvusringhääling (ERR) (in Estonian). 1 April 2019. Retrieved 8 February 2021.
  2. "XXV Lend". Eesti Muusika- ja Teatriakadeemia (in Estonian). 2012. Retrieved 29 August 2021.
  3. Õhtuleht Mullu hõivatuim näitleja Tõnu Oja: "Kui naerda ei saa, siis mina ei mängi!" 17 January 2012. Retrieved 12 February 2017.
  4. Õhtuleht Tähtede lapsed tähtede teel 7 July 2008. Retrieved 12 February 2017.
  5. Eesti Draamateater PÄÄRU OJA Retrieved 12 February 2017.
  6. Eesti Draamateater PÄÄRU OJA Retrieved 12 February 2017.
  7. Eesti Filmi Andmebaas. Retrieved 12 February 2017.
  8. Hollywood Reporter Estonia Nominates '1944' for Foreign-Language Category 14 September 2015. Retrieved 12 February 2017.
  9. Homeless Bob Productions Põrgu Jaan Retrieved 12 February 2017.
  10. Haraldur Guðmundsson (20 October 2014). "Byggir söguþráðinn á líkfundarmálinu". Vísir.is (in Icelandic). Retrieved 8 October 2018.
  11. Barraclough, Leo (30 October 2020). "Oscars: 'The Last Ones' to Represent Estonia in International Feature Film Category". Variety. Retrieved 30 October 2020.
  12. "Pääru Oja valiti noorte näitlejate talendiprogrammi European Shooting Stars". Eesti Rahvusringhääling (in Estonian). 9 January 2020. Retrieved 19 November 2020.
  13. Puust, Raiko (20 February 2023). "Mis mõttes „Suvitajad" ei olegi halb? Kuidas see võimalik on?". Õhtuleht (in Estonian). Retrieved 24 February 2023.
  14. Kanal2/Postimees Põgenemine planeedilt Maa Retrieved 12 February 2017.
  15. Eesti rahvusbibliograafia Escape from planet Earth/Põgenemine planeedilt Maa Retrieved 12 February 2017.
  16. Sakala, nr. 223, 18 November 2011. Retrieved 12 February 2017.
  17. Postimees "Lõks": nõid näägutab nohikut Uue telesarja arvustu 24 April 2018. Retrieved 17 September 2018.
  18. "Pääru Oja osaleb uues Netflixi sarjas "Vikings: Valhalla"". Eesti Rahvusringhääling (in Estonian). 27 January 2021. Retrieved 6 May 2021.
  19. kultuur.err.ee Shakespeare'i sonett. Loeb Pääru Oja 30 May 2016. Retrieved 12 February 2017.
  20. Postimees Esmaspäevaõhtune Jazziklubi: Indrek Kruusimaa & Pääru Oja 23 January 2017. Retrieved 12 February 2017.
  21. Estonian Music Festivals Sõru Jazz kutsub taas! 16. -19. juuni 2016 Retrieved 12 February 2017.
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