Nina Sallinen is a 2008/2009 Ovation Award Nominee in the Acting Ensemble category for her work in MERCURY FUR produced by needtheater.
As an Ovation Award Nominee, LA Stage asked Nina the following questions:
What was the moment that first inspired you to pursue working in the theatre?
I was 7, I felt like I needed to express myself in front of people, group of people. I enjoyed it, felt like this is my thing, I’m in my element, so I kept doing it.
What do you feel made the production you were nominated for particularly successful, either overall or for you specifically?
The usual: great material, director, producers, talent, design, all the elements in place and luck.
What project or projects are you currently working on?
I’m working as an actor in Conquest of The Southopole with Smith and Martin Company at The Elephant Lab Theater. I am hopefully directing soon, also working on my own projects; theater and film.
What do you love most about theatre in Los Angeles?
It’s unpredictable.
What’s your dream project?
Oh, I have more than one..basically working with people who’s talent and craft I admire.
Biography: Nina Sallinen is originally from Finland where she received her Masters Degree from the Theater Academy of Finland. There, she worked at the National Theater and various other theaters. Nina also starred as a series regular doing sketch comedy for a popular TV show.
After moving to the US, she co-founded The Walk About Theater Company in Chicago, where she also worked in local theaters and continued performing her one woman show, “Poor Poor Lear”, which she originally created in Finnish. Her show has received world-wide attention, invitations to International Festivals and a Santa Barbara Independent Theater Award.
In Los Angeles, Nina’s work has been recognized by an L.A Weekly nomination for her role in Odyssey Theatre Ensemble’s production of “Conquest Of The South Pole” as Frankie Boy. Nina has now acted in 70 theater productions.
She is currently a member of the Road Theater Company and MadScene Theater Company in L.A.
For a full list of Ovation nominees, or for information about the Ovation Awards Ceremony on January 11th, click here!
