Rita Raave

Rita Raave, born on April 6, 1951, in Mõisaküla, Viljandi County, Estonia, is a multifaceted artist known for her work as a stage, television, and film actress, as well as a painter. She is the daughter of Kalev Raave, a journalist, cartoonist, Lutheran pastor, and politician, and Lydia Raave (née Majas). Rita grew up with three siblings: Raivo J. Raave, Riho Raave, and Anneli Raave-Sepp.

Raave graduated from the Tallinn State Conservatory (now Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre) in 1974, alongside notable peers like Maria Klenskaja and Jüri Aarma. Her breakthrough on the big screen came with her lead role as Ragne Rass in the 1982 romantic drama "Corrida," directed by Olav Neuland, based on Teet Kallas's novel. The following year, she portrayed Maret in "Nipernaadi," a film adaptation of August Gailit’s classic novel about a charming vagabond.

Throughout the 1990s and into the 2000s, Raave continued to build her filmography, appearing in productions such as "Inimene, keda polnud" (1990), the comedy "186 Kilometers" (2007), and the drama "Kohtumõistja" (2013). In addition to her film roles, she has made significant contributions to Estonian television, including a notable performance in a 1991 adaptation of Ernest Hemingway's "The End of Something."

Beyond her acting career, Raave is also a talented painter, having held exhibitions, including one at Tallinn's Gallery-G in December 2005, where she draws inspiration from Renaissance masters like Giotto and da Vinci.