minka kuustonen
styled by Johanna Piispa / captured by Ottis Parisis / Muah by ia Luhtanen
“IF I AM SCARED OF SOMETHING, I PAUSE THAT THOUGHT, BREATH AND JUST DO IT.”
EDITOR : TANIA MUHONEN
Hi Minka !!!
How are you today? Can you tell us why are you so amazing?
Wow, thank you for your kind words.
I am good, thanks. Embracing this crispy winter.
We are now filming the second season of tv series called ”Hormones!” and i loved the scale of emotions i got to act. The people i get to work with give and inspire me so much.
You have a beautiful career with roles in movies and productions like Hevi Reissu, Putous, Syke, Suurmestari, Hotel Swan Helsinki, Käenpesä and so forth… What is your favourite role or favourite production so far and why?
I have loved all the roles i have got to play, and I’ve learned from those experiences. “Kesäkaverit” was special for me because it was my first movie and i got to play with my sister - for the first time after childhood. We acted together also last year in the movie “Sudden outbursts of the sun” (=working title) which will have a premiere next year. “Tellus” tv series was also important, because it changed my thoughts about environment - since then i have tried to do my part to make this planet more sustainable.
Grey coat - Almada Label | Sunglasses - Old Céline
You are shooting a Finnish remake of “Rimakauhua ja Rakkautta” (British series during the 1990-2000 (engl. ”Cold Feet”) now with cast made of Joonas Nordman, Aku Sipola, Nicklas Pohjola, Saga Sarkola and Linda Wiklund – the series will be published on MTV3 during 2026. How has the process been and can you describe the series for us a bit? What can we look forward to?
“Cold feet” was so legendary series back in the days, so it is an honour to be a part of the cast in a Finnish remake. The cast is amazing. We shot the first season this summer, and we had so much fun, the scripts are great.
I play the role of “Karen”. The character’s name in Finnish version is “Iris”.
The role is about a strong woman who doesn’t want to be just at home with a child. She loves her work and battles for it too.
What are your future plans in acting: Are you orientated on specific direction like TV, Theatre, Cinema ? Do you wish to stick to roles in the Finnish market or would you be open for roles abroad?
I love doing all kinds of projects. I have done a lots of comedy roles on TV and films, but also many drama ones. For me it’s important to do theatre plays every once in a while. My creativity blossoms when variation is present.
When i graduated from Theater School, I went to the Finnish National Theatre and got to play many parts in plays there. Loved it.
I would be more than happy on roles abroad if the opportunity shows up.
Laura Munsterhjelm from ACTORS IN SCANDINAVIA ,takes good care of me and my future options.
My strongest dream acting-wise is doing an arthouse movie. I love the genre, the good stories and the intensity of acting on them.
Grey coat : Almada Label | Socks - Vogue Hosiery | Shoes - Hagelstam
Suit - Sand | Sunglasses - Stylist’s Collection (Vintage)
Grey coat - Almada Label | Belt - Stylist’s Collection (Vintage) | Socks - Vogue Hosiery | Shoes - Hagelstam
You are a mother of a 6-year old. How has motherhood been for you and what is the biggest divination parenting has taught you? How do you combine your career and parenting ?
My son is the most important person for me in this world. I have trained myself to become responsible on scheduling due parenthood. When working, i’m working. When i’m with my kid, i am fully his.
I always tell him that i am so happy that i get to work as an actress. Something that i love so much, and i am so lucky about it.
The feeling and passion for what I do, gives me so much joy and strength.
Suit - Sand | Sunglasses - Stylist’s Collection (Vintage)
Grey coat - Almada Label | Socks - Vogue Hosiery | Shoes - Hagelstam
Faux shearling coat - Gant | Sunglasses - Old Céline
“I have trained myself to become responsible on scheduling due parenthood. When working, i’m working. When i’m with my kid, i am fully his.”
We have heard writing is crucial way for you to relax & process your thoughts. You are publishing a Kids book called “Oili Pupunen ja suuri rihmastonmuutos” under Tammi Publishers on 2025. Can you tell us more about that, what was the inspiration besides motherhood for it and would it be possible for you to writing a book for different age target?
I have been writing stories all my life, and always known that someday i will focus on writing. When the COVID hit and we couldn’t work, i got this writing opportunity and started to work on my book.
Love the fact that imagination gets to lead the way in children’s books. In this book i wanted to write about environmental issues – issues which are important for me and close to my heart. i can’t tell you more about the book, but it will be published next spring.
No idea what the next project in writing will be but hopefully there is one. This is the first book i have managed to work on, and i am proud of my self for crabbing this possibility now.
Later on i don’t want to feel that i was too afraid to do something, so i didn’t. It’s better to just do it, if there is passion towards a cause so i did.
Suit - Sand | Sunglasses - Stylist’s Collection (Vintage)
About art. You perspective is impressive. Could you describe your style what inspires you when it comes to clothes and fashion?
Thanks! Environmental issues are close to my heart so, i have to say second hand and environmental friendly fashion inspires me. I love oversized outfits and the feeling that with secondhand and vintage pieces there is always a story - or many - behind them.
We are dying to know more about your favorite artists, music, directors etc. What is your inspiration through life? Do you have some other passion ? Could you see yourself doing something different than acting ?
I get inspiration from music, films and theatre. i listen to music a lot and i especially love focusing on lyrics and singing along. A few of my loved artists are Billie Eilish, Lady Gaga and many Finnish artists, for example Yona.
My favorite directors are the ones that have a great passion for their own thing and for the world in their movie. The characters have to be real with their world and emotions.
Directors also have to be good with THE actors, so that they can get the best performances out of them.
for example David Lynch, John Crowley, Juho Kuosmanen, Selma Vilhunen are some of my favourite directors among others.
“I GET INSPIRATION FROM MUSIC, FILMS AND THEATRE.”
Knit dress - Almada Label | Shoes - Hagelstam
Since you have spoken openly about empathy and processing emotions like shame, guilt and more, is there some occurrence now in your life that you struggle with or learning something new currently when it comes to emotions and/or mental issues?
I think that as an actress it’s very important to constantly develop myself and face all the challenging feelings, even though doing it doesn’t always feel nice and can be extremely hard sometimes. Only then, one becomes a better person and a better actor as well.
What is your biggest dream, that hasn’t come true yet?
Living my life as happily as I possibly can. Then for my child to live on this exhausted planet in the future and the climate crisis would slow down.
Then, that i would be able to keep being creative at work in the future as well, get to play good scripts and strong roles. Lastly, I hope I get the chance to act in an arthouse movie.
Beside those, I do have some career dreams that are still on my heart and I am keeping secrect. So wait for it.
“MY BIGGEST DREAM IN ACTING IS DOING AN ARTHOUSE MOVIE.”
What’s your favourite :
Color? LIGHT PINK
Food? FRESH AND VEGETARIAN
Country? FINLAND AND ITALY
What’s your horoscope? VIRGO
Beloved friends?
I HAVE MANY BEST FRIENDS, THEY ARE AMAZING. I CALL THEM ‘MY PEOPLE’.
What is your worst fear?
THAT PEOPLE DESTROY THE WORLD.
You as a song?
DIFFICULT QUESTION. MAYBE “SOLUT HERÄÄ ELOON” AND “KESKEN” BY YONA
Top movies?
AH, MANY. I JUST SAW “LEE” AND “WE LIVE IN TIME” AND LOVED THEM. ALSO “COMPARTMENT NUMBER 6” BY JUHO KUOSMANEN.
Favourite book?
“ON WRITING” by STEPHEN KING.
Something you have learnt recently?
THAT IF I AM SCARED OF SOMETHING, I PAUSE THAT THOUGHT, BREATH AND JUST DO IT.