Harriet Toompere

Harriet Toompere (born 22 May 1975) is an Estonian stage, television, and film actress. She is also the author of two children's books. Early life and education Harriet Toompere was born in Tallinn to actor and director Hendrik Toompere Sr. and actress Maie Toompere (née Kruusenberg). Her older brother is actor Hendrik Toompere Jr., and her nephew is actor Hendrik Toompere Jr. Jr. Her maternal grandfather was wrestler Herman Kruusenberg. She studied acting at the EMA Higher Drama School (now, the Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre), graduating in 1998. Among her graduating classmates were actors Hilje Murel, Jan Uuspõld, Tiit Sukk, Veikko Täär, Liina Vahtrik, and Andero Ermel. Her diploma productions at the EMA Higher Drama School were in stage performances in Betti Alver's Lugu valgest varesest in 1996, Alan Jay Lerner and Frederick Loewe's My Fair Lady in 1997, and Madis Kõiv's Peiarite õhtunäitus, also in 1997. Stage career Harriet Toompere began her career as stage actress in 1998 at the Estonian Drama Theatre, where she is still currently engaged. Her first stage role for the theatre was as Susanna Hall in a 1998 production of Peter Whelan's historical drama The Herbal Bed. During her may years at the theatre, she has performed in a number of roles by Estonian and international authors and playwrights. Among her more memorable roles at the Estonian Drama Theatre are in works by: Shakespeare, Molière, Chekhov, Tom Stoppard, Betti Alver, Torgny Lindgren, Andrus Kivirähk, Brian Friel, Mihkel Ulman, Astrid Lindgren, Joseph Kesselring, Neil Simon, Jean-Claude Grumberg, Roland Schimmelpfennig, Selma Lagerlöf, Urmas Lennuk, Bogusław Schaeffer, Ingmar Bergman, Paul-Eerik Rummo, Yasmina Reza, Carin Mannheimer, and Martin Algus, among others.