Maija-Liisa Peuhu, 81, leaves Salatut elämät – Tells Iltalehte why

Loved by all Ulla Taalasmaata acted Maija-Liisa Peuhu leave Secret lives. Peuhu acted in the series from the first scene of the first episode until today, i.e. a total of 25 years.

The 81-year-old Peuhu is satisfied with his decision, even though there is a certain melancholy in the air.

– I have a feeling that me and Ulla have already been seen. It would be nice to do something else, something with people of the same age, their problems and antics, Peuhu describes to Iltalehte.

Peuhu misses that he could practice scenes with his co-actors. In hidden lives this does not typically happen, but each actor learns his script on his own.

– I love that we think about what to do, for what purpose and try with other actors how things could happen. It’s the best part of acting, but it never was In lockers. There they just read it by heart and put it in a jar, Peuhu opens.

Health concerns

The decision to leave has emerged little by little over the years. Peuhu informed the production of his decision in the spring of 2022. At that time, he also filmed his last scenes.

Peuhu will be seen for the last time on television in January.

– I must have been a huge burden on the production due to health reasons. I had a stroke in 2015 and haven’t been able to run since. I think Ulla should be able to run. Then came Corona, and after Corona, a huge muscle ache, from which I thought I was going to die, Peuhu recalls.

Last December, Peuhu contracted the corona virus again. He had to be hospitalized.

– Has been in a hurry with all illnesses. My husband takes care of me and I take care of him. Now we have reached better waters. At the moment, I’m not worried about my health, but I don’t want corona ever again!

At the moment, Peuhu’s everyday life consists not only of taking care of his health, but also of reading, drawing and going outside as much as he can.

Thumb says that Lockers-team accepted his decision to leave well.

– The MTV team was of the opinion that why am I leaving? According to the managers and others, Ulla still had many events ahead of her. I said that she was unlikely to jump into any teenager’s bed again. That would still be missing from this.

– I was 55 years old when I applied for the role of Ulla. Then they wondered for a long time if I was too old for the role, even though I didn’t feel old at all. Now I feel old again, but they make me look young, Peuhu laughs.

Peuhu is looking at 25 years Lockers– his career with warmth. Salkkari have been a big part of Finns’ weeknights for decades, and Ulla Taalasmaa’s name and character have become a concept.

– The good thing here has been that I have gotten above my own incompetence. Self-esteem has grown and failures have given courage and confidence. Now I feel like I can do anything within the limits of my health!

Secret lives Peuhu has been a great place to work.

– In lockers you have to be really active because everything is really scheduled. You can’t be a minute or a second late. It’s like a machine that never shuts off.

Not for the public

Peuhu looks at the work of his younger colleagues with special appreciation. Several young people Lockers-actors are heavily involved in the public and social media.

– I wish them all the best, I wouldn’t be able to do that. My job is to be an actor and I don’t want to have anything to do with social media or the public.

Peuhu has always thought that he is in the public eye specifically Secret lives -because of the series, not because of himself.

– I never thought that I would become a celebrity. When I started in this industry, I never thought about this side, and no other actor of my age thinks like that. In the old days, people just wanted to play roles and tell stories, but nowadays it’s about being in the public eye.

However, Peuhu wants to emphasize that he will not retire, but only leave Secret lives from the series.

– Retirement is so final, just like the thing before death. Now let’s go towards something new and unknown, I just don’t know what. I’m looking forward to it. If nothing else, I spend time with my grandchildren, who are so wonderful.

Peuhu follows with interest what his younger grandchildren will become when they grow up.

– Only now do I know how grandmothers usually feel about their grandchildren. They are so lovely. You didn’t know how to think like this about your own children, but about these little beauties, Peuhu gently decides.

Purple dress: Nosh.