We recently connected with Laura Ollikainen and have shared our conversation below.

Laura, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Can you talk to us about a project that’s meant a lot to you?

Having had the chance of being a part of different kinds of film projects, it’s actually quite hard to pick one. There are many that are meaningful and I’ve learnt from them all, but I would have to say that one of them would definitely have to be a film called “It’s Who You Know” directed by Ricky Rosario. I had a small part in the film and during the filming days I was able to see one of the lead actors, an Oscar winning Cloris Leachman, act which was brilliant and educational at the same time. Her acting was subtle, honest and it conveyed a lot of emotion with very little effort. Another memorable film project for me is “Don’t Go!” directed by Bader Al Shuaib & Mohit Panday and for that one I received an award of recognition from the Best Shorts Competition for my portrayal of the leading character.

Besides acting I have also worked in the industry as a casting director and a producer. These projects are meaningful to me in a different way and it has been interesting to see that side of the business as well. Some of the projects which I produced in Los Angeles were “Camilla” and “Closing Night”, both of them were directed by Johannes Hochgatterer and we also worked together on another project which was filmed in Austria last August. I also produced and directed a part of a commercial that was partly filmed in Los Angeles and partly in Finland for a European company and I was in charge of the filming in LA. That was an interesting experience as well.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I’m an actress and a filmmaker. I have worked in Los Angeles for most of the time where I lived for over 9 years before moving back to Europe where I’m originally from. Now I’m looking forward to work opportunities both in the US and Europe.

I got into performing at the age of 4 when I started ballet classes in my hometown Oulu, Finland. At a very early age, I knew that acting was what I wanted to do for a living. I also wanted to work internationally so I got my educational background for acting from the UK and the USA. In the UK I did my Drama & Performance Bachelor’s degree, in which the focus was more on the acting on stage and theory of acting. Whereas in Los Angeles, where I did my Master’s degree in Acting for Film, I worked a lot in front of the camera and got to know the film industry. I’ve acted on theater stages in Finland, UK and USA but acting for film is what I’ve done most in Los Angeles.

I have been fortunate to act in different kinds of roles and genres. From the beginning of my studies in Los Angeles, I was picked for the roles in which deep emotions were needed to be brought truthfully on the screen, so I find that as one of my strengths as an actress.

What can society do to ensure an environment that’s helpful to artists and creatives?

Best way to support artists and creatives from my point of view is to go and watch their performances, visit art galleries, visit film festivals and go to the movies. The art we create is meant to be shared and it is made for others to see and experience.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

I get to do what I love. And I get to do that with other creative and talented people. Having a great group of people to work with and spend those long days with is important and also, as a bonus, it’s a lot of fun.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.lauraollikainen.com/

Image Credits

Sally Shepard