Maria Klenskaja


Maria Klenskaja was an Estonian actress.

Early life and career

Klenskaja was born in Tartu and was of Russian parentage. From 1968 until 1970, she worked in the Estonian State Youth Theatre in Tallinn as a make-up artist and in the prop department. In 1974, she graduated from the Tallinn State Conservatory's Performing Arts Department. Since 1974, she had been a contracted actress at the Estonian Drama Theatre. She was also engaged as an actress at the Vanalinnastuudio for one year, beginning in 1989.
Besides theatre roles, she had also had a successful film career and has appeared on television and in radio theatre.

Personal life and death

Klenskaja was in a relationship with actor Aarne Üksküla for over thirty years, until his death in 2017. Klenskaja died on 6 January 2022, aged 70, following a prolonged illness.

Awards

In 1986, she won the Meritorious Artist of the Soviet Union and in 2002 won the Order of the White Star, IV Class.

Selected filmography