Merle Talvik

Merle Talvik (born June 6, 1954) is an Estonian stage, film and television actress whose career began in the mid-1970s.

Merle Talvik was born in Tallinn to Herbert and Asta Talvik (née Tomson). She attended primary and secondary schools in Tallinn and in 1973, at age nineteen, began performing as part of an ensemble cast with the Viru Varietee; a variety show established at Tallinn's Viru Hotel. She then enrolled at the Tallinn State Conservatory (now, the Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre), graduating in 1978.

ollowing her graduation from the Tallinn State Conservatory, Talvik began a year-long engagement as a stage actress at the Vanemuine theatre in Tartu. Talvik then spent over twenty years with the Vanalinnastuudio in Tallinn, performing in over fifty stage roles.

Talvik's first significant film role was as Tonya in the 1977 Russian language film The Sun, the Sun Again, directed by Svetlana Druzhinina for Mosfilm. The following year, she appeared in her first Estonian film, Reigi õpetaja, directed by Jüri Müür. In 1981, she had a starring role as Katrina Leet in the Arvo Kruusement-directed drama Karge meri, based on the 1938 novel of the same name by author August Gailit. In 1983, she appeared as Krista Tammet in a leading role in the Dmitri Svetozarov-directed Russian-language Lenfilm drama Speed.

Other film roles include Daisy in the 1985 Ago-Endrik Kerge-directed Tallinnfilm musical-drama Savoy Ball and smaller roles in the 1980 Kaljo Kiisk-directed drama Metskannikesed; the 1987 Lembit Ulfsak-directed comedy-drama Keskea rõõmud; the 1990 Kaljo Kiisk-directed drama Regina, based on the 1978 novel Valikuvõimalus by Aimée Beekman; and in the 2009 Hannu Salonen-directed crime-drama Vasha.