Radio | Newsweek in plain Finnish | 8.11.2025

Actress Elina Salo has died

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The topic of this week’s news is Finnish actress Elina Salo. Salo has died at the age of 89.

Actress Elina Salo has died

![Elina Salo i Lottauniform med uppsträckta händer i en Skog i femtiotalsfilm.](https://images.cdn.yle.fi/image/upload/c_crop,h_1236,w_2196,x_0,y_0/ar_1.777777777777 7777,c_fill,g_faces,h_431,w_767/dpr_1.0/q_auto:eco/f_auto/fl_lossy/v1762510545/39-1550373690dc696bc96e)

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Rintamalotta (1956) was one of Elina Salo’s first films. It was directed by Aarne Tarkas. Photo: Yle kuvapalvelu

Actress Elina Salo has died. She was born in Sipoo in 1936.

Salo was an actor loved by Finns. Salo was a rare artist who managed to maintain a sense of mystery throughout his life. He gave few interviews.

No biography has been written about Salo because he did not want one.

Inspector Palms Salo became a movie star

Joel Rinne with his hands in the air and Elina Salo.

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Inspector Palmu’s Mistake (1960). It was directed by Matti Kassila. In the picture Joel Rinne (Inspector Palmu) and Elina Salo. Photo: Finnish Film Industry SF Oy

Elina Salo applied to the Theatre School a little bit for fun but was accepted.

Salo initially played many roles of kind and submissive people. Her real breakthrough came in the Komisario Palmu films. Their director, Matti Kassila, recognized Salo’s acting abilities.

Salo became a true film star, praised by film critics for his work. Salo also won the vote for favorite actor many times.

Elina Salo’s voice was unique

![Little Sell.](https://images.cdn.yle.fi/image/upload/c_crop,h_650,w_1155,x_0,y_22/ar_1.7777777777777777,c_f ill,g_faces,h_431,w_767/dpr_1.0/q_auto:eco/f_auto/fl_lossy/v1670935116/14-svyle-27296556c1e0e98c3ea)

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Little My in Tove Jansson’s cartoon. Photo: Moomin Characters

Elina Salo had a unique voice that was easy to remember. The voice was memorable, hoarse and expressive.

Salo had the voice role of Little My in the animated series about Moominvalley. Salo also recorded the children’s songs Aunt Moonika and Robber’s Song.

In an interview, Salo reminded us how important it is to be a child.

Aki Kaurimäki made Salo a star again

Iris Rukka (Kati Outinen) and mother (Elina Salo). YLE Image Service/National Audiovisual Archive

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Iris Rukka (Kati Outinen) and mother (Elina Salo) in Aki Kaurismäki’s film The Matchbox Girl. Photo: YLE Photo Service/KAVI

Elina Salo was also part of the new wave of Finnish cinema in the 1960s. Among others, Jaakko Pakkasvirta and Risto Jarva directed Salo.

Salo refused many roles. Salo never said no to director Aki Kaurismäki. Salo starred in 4 of Kaurismäki’s films in the 1980s and 1990s.

Salo received 3 of these Jussi statues from the film industry. Salo received the Lifetime Achievement Award, or Betoni-Jussi, in 2012.

Elina Salo worked in theatre throughout her career. She acted in Intimiteatteri, Radioteatteri and Lilla Teatern.

Upon retirement, Salo moved to Paris. He also had a home in Finland.

Repetition

Here was Uutisviikko in plain Finnish.

The topic of the week was Finnish actress Elina Salo. She has died at the age of 89.

Elina Salo is especially remembered for her Inspector Palmu films and her voice role as Little My in Moominvalley.

Newsweek again tomorrow, Sunday. See you again, stay tuned!