Merle Palmiste

Merle Palmiste

Born: November 1, 1970
in Tallinn, Estonian SSR, USSR [now Estonia]
Merle Palmiste (born November 1, 1970) is an Estonian stage, film and television actress.

Merle Palmiste was born in Tallinn and raised in the Tallinn subdistrict of Õismäe. Her father was an engineer and her mother was an accountant. 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), graduating in 1992. Palmiste's diploma production roles included Helena in William Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream and Nina Mikhailovna Zarechnaya in Anton Chekhov's The Seagull. Among her graduating classmates were Andres Raag, Kristel Leesmend, Ivo Uukkivi, Jaanus Rohumaa, Üllar Saaremäe, Kaili Närep, Dan Põldroos, Sten Zupping, Tiina Mälberg and Garmen Tabor.

Merle Palmiste made her full-length feature film debut in the role of Evelin in the 1994 Jaan Kolberg-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-directed romantic drama Karu süda.[7] In 2006, she appeared as Rutt in the Jüri Sillart-directed and Hans Luik penned melodrama Kuldrannake for Taska Film.

In 2001, Palmiste had a small role as an adjutant in the Sulev Keedus-directed drama Kirjad Inglile, starring Tõnu Oja and Rain Simmul. 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 (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. 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.

In addition to Estonian films, Palmiste has appeared in several foreign language films, including; the 2003 Russian language feature-length romantic drama Yantarnye krylya directed by Andrey Razenkov; the 2004 German language film short Willkommen in Tallinn directed by Oliver Frohnauer; and the 2008 Ukrainian language 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.

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.

Movies for Merle Palmiste...

The Best of Salieri
Title: The Best of Salieri
Released: November 12, 2021
Type: Movie
It is time to get out of the closet and show the world your teeth. The director, who considers himself to be Mozart, has been tootling with his films in the festival circuit for years, waiting for a big breakthrough. For an inexplicable reason, the world has not recognised his talent. Still only Salieris have garnered the fame and the fortune. There is a simple conclusion. The world has not learned anything in 200 years and keeps repeating the same mistake.
bee
Estonian Funeral
Title: Estonian Funeral
Character: Iida
Released: June 4, 2021
Type: Movie
A wide range of relatives and acquaintances have traveled to a funeral, and as is typical of Estonians, the sad event turns into a comical one as the evening develops. The primordial disputes that arise among the Estonians take on hyperbolic dimensions as events unfold, creating misunderstandings.
bee
The Kennedy Incident
Title: The Kennedy Incident
Character: Mrs. Kukk
Released: February 17, 2021
Type: Movie
Two young women, who operate as high-end call-girls, become embroiled in espionage with a young John F. Kennedy, visiting Estonia on diplomatic business in the summer of 1939. Romance, drama, and intrigue ensue.
bee
What Silent Gerda Knows
Title: What Silent Gerda Knows
Released: October 4, 2020
Type: Movie
Closing day of the season in the boarding house at the Vietinghoff Palace in the province of Latvia. Here the material world and atmosphere of the 1930s are reconstructed as fully as possible. According to the rules of the institution, guests must abandon all their means of digital communications. And this is what they are looking for: to disappear, at least for a while, and become inaccessible to the outside world. The lingering summer heat drags the guests into an insane frenzy where surrealistic and grotesque situations build up an ambiguous comedy.
bee
The Salmons: 25 Years Later
Title: The Salmons: 25 Years Later
Character: Signe Salmon
Released: July 1, 2020
Type: Movie
A lot has happened in a quarter of a century, but the Salmons have remained who they were - Estonia's first family, who have been viewed with both admiration and quiet envy. Viewers of the former series remember how well the Salmon family was able to make money. Now they have secured an even more powerful position in the society, because Ella Salmon has become the President of Estonia.
bee
Raggie
Title: Raggie
Character: Moon / Woman in the Taxi (voice)
Released: January 17, 2020
Type: Movie
A story about a very special and very charming living doll that causes a bit of jealousy between brother and sister, but eventually brings them closer together.
bee
Eerie Fairy Tales
Title: Eerie Fairy Tales
Character: Marianne Büttel
Released: December 13, 2019
Type: Movie
An anthology of bizarre, fantastic and spooky tales from the past, present and future, dealing with curses, witches, perfect crime and science experiments.
bee
Abeyance
Title: Abeyance
Character: Marianne Büttel
Released: November 20, 2019
Type: Movie
Following the rumors of illegal experiments, two investigators visit a forgotten Nazi research center, which supposedly hides an UFO. Why has everyone who's been to this facility signed a document, authorizing their memories to be wiped?
bee
Happy Family
Title: Happy Family
Character: Ingrid's Mother
Released: December 27, 2018
Type: Movie
Artur is an Armenian guy who dreams about a career in filmmaking, but his grandfather wants him to take over the family wine business. When a bad review from an Estonian critic threatens to ruin the family business, Artur has to go to Tallinn to set things straight. There he meets the feisty Ingrid and things take an unexpected turn.
bee
Under the Clouds: Fourth Sister
Title: Under the Clouds: Fourth Sister
Character: Siiri
Released: January 19, 2018
Type: Movie
Three sisters (doctor Piret, interior designer Mari and psychologist Kertu) discover that they have one more sister. Shocking news challenges family relationships and forces them to ask why their mother has hidden her first child's existence. When the fourth sister decides to come and visit her mother and sisters in Haapsalu, events that nobody could expect started happening. Is blood thicker than water and the stranger becomes theirs?
bee
The Days That Confused
Title: The Days That Confused
Character: Aunt Mari
Released: April 8, 2016
Type: Movie
A young man tries to make sense of the world in the summer heat of late nineties Estonia.
bee
Kid Detectives and the Secret of the White Lady
Title: Kid Detectives and the Secret of the White Lady
Character: Karin Viisla
Released: December 20, 2013
Type: Movie
In a quiet resort town Haapsalu four kids are spending their summer holidays together. Suddenly they are dragged into events that started in the 15th century in the local bishop's stronghold. The children must solve a difficult mystery of a clock robbery and they have to find a treasure that has been lost for centuries and contains a formula of making gold.
bee
Lotte and the Moonstone Secret
Title: Lotte and the Moonstone Secret
Character: Benita the Cow (voice)
Released: August 25, 2011
Type: Movie
Plucky young Lotte embarks on an adventure with her uncle Klaus to solve the mystery of three stones that a pair of hooded figures are attempting to retrieve.
bee
Letters to Angel
Title: Letters to Angel
Character: Adjutant
Released: January 27, 2011
Type: Movie
A man sent to Afghanistan years earlier converts to Islam, then returns home to fight a different kind of war.
bee
Sky Song
Title: Sky Song
Character: (voice)
Released: November 28, 2010
Type: Movie
A postman endeavors to fly to the moon in one breath so he can deliver a package.
bee
An Awesome Tale
Title: An Awesome Tale
Character: Queen
Released: February 29, 2008
Type: Movie
Once upon a time there were two Kingdoms: the Militant Kingdom and the Unhappy Kingdom. The intrigues of the Secret Service of the Militant Kingdom made young Princess of the Unhappy Kingdom run away from home.
bee
Golden Beach
Title: Golden Beach
Character: Rutt
Released: March 9, 2006
Type: Movie
Retroband Evergreen's reunion party is ruined when Viktor, who was once the band's frontman, threatens to blow the house up for revenge of his sad destiny.
bee
Uncaught Miracle
Title: Uncaught Miracle
Character: Self
Released: February 12, 2006
Type: Movie
The 6 short films of "Tabamata ime" are based on Edward Vilde's play of the same name first published in 1912. Vilde's play is about a young piano player Leo Saalep, who returns to his homeland Estonia to give a concert, and whose alleged international breakthrough has given him the long awaited role of putting Estonian culture on the map in the eyes of the local culture elite.
bee
The Curse of the Werewolf
Title: The Curse of the Werewolf
Character: Ingrid
Released: January 1, 2005
Type: Movie
Liina is a young actress at Vanemuise Theatre who gets Tiina's part in the new, postmodernist version of the play "Werewolf" by August Kitzberg. The theatre is haunted and the rehearsals seem to be cursed, artificial blood becomes real blood. The play won't be complete before the murder mystery is unsolved - and Liina is being taken back to the old theatre legends and intrigues of the past century.
bee
Amber Wings
Title: Amber Wings
Released: June 6, 2003
Type: Movie
A story about love between two people who accidentally met in old Tallinn.
bee
The Heart of the Bear
Title: The Heart of the Bear
Character: Grey One
Released: September 6, 2001
Type: Movie
A young Estonian goes to the Siberian Taiga to live as a hunter in a remote forest hut. He hopes to find his true self far from civilisation. The natives he meets introduce him to the myths of the north. The first is a young village teacher who wants to be a good wife to him. The second is a wild and untameable native who becomes his mythical bear-woman. When he accidentally kills a great black bear, his own shadow-creature, he burdens himself with guilt. However, he is given a chance of finding his inner balance. A romantic drama with mythical elements and breathtaking landscapes.
bee
Screwed in Tallinn - A Small Film About Loneliness
Title: Screwed in Tallinn - A Small Film About Loneliness
Character: Svetlana Metsik
Released: April 22, 1999
Type: Movie
Percy Nilegaard collects Swedish single men and embarks on a bus trip to Tallinn with a so-called "highly-experienced driver".
bee
Jüri Rumm
Title: Jüri Rumm
Character: Evelin
Released: May 26, 1994
Type: Movie
Jüri Rumm is a hot-tempered young peasant who is not afraid of either German barons or the Russian czar, barfights or disobedience to his master's orders. Mari, a gentle peasant girl, loves Jüri despite the fact that he is very popular among young women. Evelin is a quick-tempered baron's daughter who is used to get everything she wants, including a peasant boyfriend who considers himself a free man. Yet, the free man becomes an outlaw. Where will the runaway's love lead him?