Kreeta Salminen trained herself in top shape for the role

Actress Kreeta Salminen has had a long career as an actress. Anniina Nikander

Three years ago, Kreeta Salminen was on the brink of death. The auditions had reached the last stage, where the actors had to give a sample of their skiing skills.

– My skiing experience was completely non-existent. With the fingers of one hand, you could count how many times I had skied as a child, Salminen laughs at the coffee table.

The attitude convinced, however, because in January Salminen will be seen in Yle Cold season in the series created and written by Jemina Jokisalo.

The psychological thriller follows the women’s cross country team and the struggle between women.

National team underdog Anna (Rosa Söderholm) gets to train the successful Maria (Sannah Nedergaard) with. Ruthlessly coaching women, Kim (Antti Virmavirta) won’t let the two go easy. A psychological game is created between the skiers, where the rules are stretched and you have to pay a heavy price for success.

In the series, Salminen plays a skier named Lena, who belongs to the national team.

– Lena’s energy appealed to me. Lena is ambitious in her work and has clear professional pride. The character also changed quite a bit over the years from what was written in the original script. It is normal for the process to take years.

– The outer shell can appear tough, but inside is a rather sensitive guy, Salminen describes his character.

Work out

Skiing training under the coaching of professionals started right after the casting. Salminen says that putting himself physically in the body fascinated him.

– At first, we trained with the coach for about an hour a week. I also went to special training a couple of times a week and on top of that I did my own workouts, Salminen lists.

Around the same time, the doctor discovered that the actor had advanced osteoarthritis in his hip. The pain did not prevent training, but the body required more care.

– You couldn’t have found a better sport than skiing, because skiing is soft on the joints.

According to Salminen, there was enough work, because he had little skiing experience. Now, however, he would have to play professional.

– At first I couldn’t find a skiing rhythm, which was downright infuriating. I was perhaps too confident because of my dance background that I would find the rhythm, but I didn’t immediately. My coach advised me to walk with a stick.

Salminen also trained hard in the gym, water running and apparatus pilates. Even family members noticed the actor’s changed appearance.

– My relatives and friends noticed a clear change in my body and commented that my shoulders have broadened considerably. That’s when I realized that something has changed here.

Industry concerns

Salminen has had a long career as an actor. His performance has been remembered by many The blonde came into the house from the series, which was filmed in the 1990s. Salminen was only 10 years old at the time.

Later he has been seen in television series like All sins, Rob, Communion condition and Beat. In addition to this, you have been able to follow Salmi on theater stages. He acted in the premiere of the National Theater in 2015 Delusionalin the play. This fall, he played the lead role under the direction of Saara Turunen Hyenas dagar -play at Lilla Teatern.

Salminen says directly that the situation in the cultural sector is still bleak. The actor’s work calendar would have room for more projects. It saddens him that culture does not seem to be valued in society.

A small consolation was obtained when the Prime Minister Petteri Orpon the government announced that it would cancel the cuts in the film industry. Although the times are dark, the actor remembers a coffee table conversation with a colleague from last spring.

– My colleague said that good times must come again, this has always happened, why not now?

Kreeta Salminen’s photos were taken in Töölö Kisahalli.