Actress Saija Lentonen talks about her work with drug addicts in a recent MOT documentary.
Saija Lentonen currently works with drug addicts. Janne Järvinen / General
Former actress Saija Lentonen, 48, currently works as a street worker for the Deacon Institute. Lentonen’s work is followed in Yle’s recent MOT documentary You can’t die. In the arena the documentary that can be seen was shown on TV1 on Monday.
Lentonen has found a new, meaningful job helping young people suffering from substance abuse problems, the documentary says.
– I feel that I can utilize all my previous skills. Yes, I have contact with this world and these phenomena from my own history and youth, says Lentonen in the documentary.
Lentonen himself was a recreational drug user when he was younger.
– It’s not a secret. Many have been and still are today, says Lentonen.
Saija Lentonen is remembered for, among other things, the film Soloilua. Photo from 2008. HANNA IMMONEN
In the documentary, Lentonen travels around Helsinki with his partner Sauli Taipalee, offering help to drug users. In the middle of their round, the two go to a young woman who has been robbed. They take the distressed woman to a shelter for the night.
– You are lucky in the accident that you are alive. It’s stuff. The main thing is that you are alive and well, Lentonen comforts the woman.
Saija Lentonen in 2008. ESA PYYSALO
Saija Lentonen is remembered, among other things, for the book published in 2007 Soloing-film, in which she played the main role of Emma Huilu, and the year 2004 Restless 3 – from the movie, in which she played Sanna. Headhunters– television series Lentonen played Saara Immo, In hidden lives on the other hand, Sara Polvijärvi.
MOT on Sundays in Areena & Mondays on TV1 at 20:00. See all TV programs and broadcast times in Telku’s TV guide.
