Oona Airola

Oona Airola
Airola in 2016
Born1988 (age 37–38)
Kokkola, Finland
Occupations
  • Actress
  • singer
Spouse
Leo Sjöman
​
​
(div. 2025)​
Children1
MotherOuti Airola
Relatives
  • Anna Airola (sister)
  • Aaro Airola (brother)
AwardsJussi Award for Best Actress (2018)

Oona Airola (born 1988) is a Finnish actress and singer. She has won two Jussi Awards for her film roles: Best Supporting Actress for The Happiest Day in the Life of Olli Mäki (2016) and Best Leading Actress for Land of Hope (2018). She also won the Dragon Award for Best Acting at the Gothenburg Film Festival for her performance in The Missile (2024). She has also had main roles in television series, including Hotel Swan Helsinki (2020–2021) and Helsinki Syndrome (2022–2024).

Early life and education

She was born in 1988 and is from Kokkola, Finland. Her mother Outi Airola is a journalist, and she has four siblings, including fellow actress Anna Airola and musician Aaro Airola.[1][2] Her father was a cellist.[3] When she was eight years old, she sustained a serious leg injury while horseback riding.[4] Her parents divorced when she was in high school.[5]

She studied at the Helsinki Theater Academy after being accepted at the age of 22.[3]

Career

Acting

Airola made her feature film debut in Juho Kuosmanen’s 2016 biographical drama The Happiest Day in the Life of Olli Mäki. She played Olli Mäki's girlfriend Raija, and won a Jussi Award for Best Supporting Actress for her performance.[6][7] She won another Jussi for Best Leading Actress for Land of Hope (2018).[8] She played the protagonist's best friend Kinky in Aurora (2019).[9]

In 2020, she had her first major stage role as Cathy in a production of Humiseva harju at Helsinki City Theater.[10]

She played the lead role in the mystery series Hotel Swan Helsinki (2020–2021).[11][12] She also appeared in Rahti (2021) as human rights lawyer Maria.[13] She had a supporting role in Girl Picture (2022).[14] In 2024, she won the Dragon Award for Best Acting at the Gothenburg Film Festival for her performance in The Missile.[15]

She was cast to play the lead role in Kaunis rietas onnellinen, a drama about Kaija Koo. The film is scheduled to be premiere on 18 February 2026.[16][17]

Singing

She released her debut single "Brahenkenttä" in 2019.[18]

Personal life

She was married to actor Leo Sjöman (formerly Honkonen) until 2025. They had one child together.[19]

Acting credits

Film

Year Title Role Notes Ref.
2016 The Happiest Day in the Life of Olli Mäki Raija [7]
2018 Land of Hope Anni Malmberg [8]
2019 Aurora Kinky [9]
Dogs Don't Wear Pants Satu [20]
2022 Girl Picture Sanna [14]
2024 Four Little Adults Enni [21]
2026 Kaunis rietas onnellinen Kaija Koo [17]

Television

Year Title Role Notes Ref.
2020–2021 Hotel Swan Helsinki Ella Kallio Main role [12]
2021 Rahti Maria [13]
2022–2024 Helsinki Syndrome Hanna Raivio [22]
2022 Mobile 101 Vuokko Salminen [23]

Theater

Year Title Role Theater Notes Ref.
2020 Humiseva harju Cathy Helsinki City Theater [10]

Awards and nominations

Year Award Category Work Result Ref.
2016 Jussi Awards Best Supporting Actress The Happiest Day in the Life of Olli Mäki Won [6]
2018 Best Leading Actress Land of Hope Won [8]
2024 Dragon Award Best Acting The Missile Won [15]

References

  1. ^ Koivuranta, Riitta (26 May 2025). "Oona Airola näyttelee Kaija Koota tulevassa elokuvassa". Helsingin Sanomat (in Finnish). Retrieved 1 August 2025.
  2. ^ Nissinen, Hannes (3 October 2021). "Airolan kulttuuriperhe näkyy nyt kaikkialla: hittisarjassa, elokuvissa ja soittolistoilla – Tällainen on "Kokkolan mafia" ja perheen äiti, joka siirtelee taloja". YLE (in Finnish). Archived from the original on 6 December 2024. Retrieved 1 August 2025.
  3. ^ a b Pystynen, Venla (1 April 2021). "Perhesiteitä | Aikuiset-sarjan tähti Anna Airola muutti 20-vuotiaana Helsinkiin ja haki Teatterikorkeakouluun siskonsa Oona Airolan jalanjäljissä: "Olen pelännyt ihmisten ajattelevan, että olen huonompi versio Oonasta"". Helsingin Sanomat (in Finnish). Retrieved 29 September 2025.
  4. ^ Nevala, Hilkka (1 March 2019). "Näyttelijä ja laulaja Oona Airola joutui lapsena vakavaan onnettomuuteen – hevonen juoksi päältä". Yle Uutiset (in Finnish). Archived from the original on 1 March 2026. Retrieved 29 September 2025.
  5. ^ Latva-Teikari, Kati; Komulainen, Kaje (1 June 2019). "Tyttö Anttilan tuulikaapista – näyttelijä Oona Airola viettää kesän Helsingissä kuvauksissa, mutta palaa mielellään teini-iän rakkaisiin paikkoihin". Yle Uutiset (in Finnish). Archived from the original on 1 March 2026. Retrieved 29 September 2025.
  6. ^ a b Hekkala, Salla (24 March 2017). "Hymyilevä mies hallitsi Jussi-gaalaa: kahmi eniten palkintoja ja vei myös parhaan elokuvan Jussin". YLE (in Finnish). Archived from the original on 6 December 2024. Retrieved 1 August 2025.
  7. ^ a b Hans, Simran (23 April 2017). "The Happiest Day in the Life of Olli Mäki review – a knockout boxing movie". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Archived from the original on 9 December 2023. Retrieved 2 August 2025.
  8. ^ a b c "Oona Airola fick Jussi-statyett för bästa kvinnliga huvudroll". Österbottens Tidning (in Swedish). 23 March 2019. Retrieved 1 August 2025.
  9. ^ a b Simon, Alissa (10 February 2019). "Göteborg Film Review: 'Aurora'". Variety. Retrieved 5 October 2025.
  10. ^ a b Puukka, Päivi (19 January 2020). "Näyttelijä Oona Airola elää unelmaansa: Humisevan harjun Cathy on ensimmäinen päärooli suuressa teatterissa – ensimmäinen leffarooli vei Cannesiin". Yle Uutiset (in Finnish). Retrieved 29 September 2025.
  11. ^ Yrttiaho, Tuomo (2 March 2020). "Televisioarvostelu – Hotel Swan Helsinki on hämmentävä murhamysteeri – mutta ei hyvällä tavalla". Helsingin Sanomat (in Finnish). Retrieved 29 September 2025.
  12. ^ a b Topelius, Taneli (21 February 2020). "Jussi-palkittu Oona Airola tekee ensimmäisen tv-pääroolinsa uudessa draamasarjassa – vastanäyttelijäksi valikoitui sattumalta oma aviomies". Ilta-Sanomat (in Finnish). Retrieved 29 September 2025.
  13. ^ a b Virtanen, Leena (3 September 2021). "Ihmissalakuljetuksesta kertova Rahti-draamasarja kuvaa turvapaikanhakijoiden vaarallista matkaa Afrikasta Suomeen". Helsingin Sanomat (in Finnish). Retrieved 1 August 2025.
  14. ^ a b "Girl Picture movie review & film summary (2022) | Roger Ebert". RogerEbert.com. Retrieved 29 September 2025.
  15. ^ a b Tiikkaja, Samuli (4 February 2024). "Oona Airola sai parhaan näyttelijän palkinnon Göteborgin elokuvajuhlilla". Helsingin Sanomat (in Finnish). Retrieved 1 August 2025.
  16. ^ Kluukeri, Iina (26 May 2025). "Oona Airola on valittu Kaija Koon elämästä kertovan elokuvan päärooliin". Yle Uutiset (in Finnish). Archived from the original on 12 November 2025. Retrieved 17 October 2025.
  17. ^ a b Ylä-Jussila, Miikka (19 August 2025). "Tältä näyttää Kaija Koosta kertovan elokuvan kulisseissa". Ilta-Sanomat (in Finnish). Archived from the original on 30 October 2025. Retrieved 17 October 2025.
  18. ^ Gullichsen, Anni (16 April 2019). "YleX Nosteessa: Näyttelijänäkin tunnetun Oona Airolan orgaaninen folkpop vakuuttaa ajattomuudellaan". YLE (in Finnish). Archived from the original on 1 March 2026. Retrieved 29 September 2025.
  19. ^ Äijälä, Satu; Hakulinen, Juulia (23 April 2025). "Tunnettu näyttelijäpari erosi". Ilta-Sanomat (in Finnish). Archived from the original on 24 April 2025. Retrieved 29 September 2025.
  20. ^ Bitel, Anton (10 April 2020). "Dogs Don't Wear Pants review: a compassionate story of the healing power of kink". British Film Institute. Archived from the original on 11 July 2025. Retrieved 2 August 2025.
  21. ^ Ruin, Olga (4 January 2024). "Kärlekskarusell med flosklervarning". Svenska Dagbladet (in Swedish). ISSN 1101-2412. Retrieved 2 August 2025.
  22. ^ Morris, Anthony (28 February 2025). "A desperate search for truth: tense Nordic hostage drama 'Helsinki Syndrome'". Special Broadcasting Service. Archived from the original on 27 April 2025. Retrieved 1 August 2025.
  23. ^ Lehtiniitty, Markus (14 April 2022). "Ensimmäiset jaksot katsottavissa nyt C Moressa - Made in Finland -draamasarja kertoo Nokiasta tositapahtumiin perustuen". Teknavi (in Finnish). Archived from the original on 1 March 2026. Retrieved 29 September 2025.
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