Ülle Kaljuste

Ülle Kaljuste, originally named Ülle Side, was born on April 10, 1957, in Tallinn, Estonia. She completed her secondary education at Tallinn Secondary School No. 2 (Tallinn Reaalkool), graduating in 1975. Following this, she pursued her passion for acting at the Tallinn State Conservatory of Performing Arts (now known as the Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre), where she studied under the guidance of Merle Karusoo, ultimately graduating in 1980. Among her classmates were notable actors such as Roman Baskin, Guido Kangur, Arvo Kukumägi, Ain Lutsepp, Anne Veesaar, and Paul Poom.

Kaljuste made her cinematic debut in the 1981 Estonian television film *Onu Tik-Taki seiklused*, directed by Virve Koppel. Her first significant film role came in 1985 with the musical comedy *Savoy Ball*, directed by Ago-Endrik Kerge. In 1992, she portrayed Emma in the biographical drama *Need vanad armastuskirjad*, which chronicled the life of the renowned Estonian composer Raimond Valgre. A year earlier, she had taken on the lead role in *Regina*, a feature film written by Aimée Beekman and Vladimir Beekman and directed by Kaljo Kiisk. Throughout her career, she has appeared in numerous films and television series, including a notable role as Signe in the Kanal 2 series *Kelgukoerad* from 2006 to 2009.

Ülle Kaljuste was married to conductor Tõnu Kaljuste in 1980, but the couple later divorced. She currently splits her time between Tallinn and Laulasmaa.