The Actors’ Union chose Emma Kilpimaan from Savukoski as film actress of the year. Kilpimaa started acting as a child in the amateur theater of his hometown.
In the award criteria, Kilpimaa’s acting colleagues praised his disarming presence and naturalness. Kilmaaa was characterized as an interesting and new kind of camera actor.
Kilpimaa says that he is especially taken after being elected based on the vote of his colleagues. He says he is confused by the recognition and grateful at the same time.
*–* It felt pretty unbelievable when I got this information, I was like, what the hell am I doing there? I’ve certainly earned my place, but it’s so new that I’ve never had such a situation before in my life.
– It was quite disconcerting, especially when there were such tough names there, guys who have been watched as a little kid.
The award went to Kilmaa for her role in the film Huonot naiset, which was filmed in her home province of Lapland. He says that it was easy to relate to the role of 19-year-old Siiri through his own life experience.
– In that role performance, it helped when the dialect was my own and I could use it. As well as the fact that when he himself was 19 years old in a remote village, he was able to draw from his own life.
Savukoski is still a beloved place
Kilpimaa, from the municipality of Savukoski in eastern Lapland with a population of about a thousand, who made an effort to pursue an acting career, says that he got a good starting point for the profession in his home.
– Savukoski is quite a small place, but Rösölänperä’s Ruppanat, a very energetic amateur theater group, was there. I was 6-7 years old when I joined the children’s group, and when I was 10, my father invited me to join the adults’ group.
Kilpimaa says that his father still acts in the local amateur theater.
26-year-old Emma Kilpimaa’s path as an actress is just beginning. He hopes to have as versatile a career as possible, from theater stages to in front of the camera.
– I am also interested in writing. The dream would be to make one’s career a big river, which takes shape in many small streams.
Although the work typically transports the Actors from one place to another, Kilpimaa still hopes to be able to return to Savukoski, which is still a dear place to him.
– I still dream that one day I could move there and combine my work as an actor with living in Lapland. But it’s such a longer project. Let’s see sometime.