Alma Pöysti Biography: Movies, Age, Height, Ethnicity, Parents, Net Worth, Husband, Awards

Alma Pöysti is a Finnish-Swedish actress, director and writer who has become one of the most celebrated performers of her generation in Nordic cinema.

Best known internationally for her luminous, César-nominated lead performance as Ansa in Aki Kaurismäki’s Oscar-shortlisted film Fallen Leaves (2023), she has built a distinguished career across theatre, film and television in both Finland and Sweden.

Profile

• Full Name: Alma Pöysti
• Stage Name: Alma Pöysti
• Born: 16, March 1981
• Age: 44 years old
• Birthplace: Helsinki, Finland
• Nationality: Finnish
• Occupation: Actress, Director, Writer
• Height: 1.63 m
• Parents: Erik Pöysti and Tua Ranninen
• Siblings: Oskar Pöysti
• Spouse: None
• Partner: Unknown
• Children: 1
• Relationship: Dating
• Net Worth: $2 million to $3 million

Early Life and Education

Alma Pöysti was born on March 16, 1981, in Helsinki, Finland, into a prominent artistic family. She is the daughter of acclaimed Finnish theatre director Erik Pöysti and actress Tua Ranninen, and the younger sister of actor Oskar Pöysti.

She grew up bilingual in Finnish and Swedish in the Helsinki neighbourhood of Kruununhaka. Pöysti trained at the Theatre Academy Helsinki (Teatterikorkeakoulu), graduating with a Master of Arts in Acting in 2006.

She also spent a year studying theatre at the École Philippe Gaulier in London. Her ethnic background is Finnish and Finland-Swedish; she has described herself as non-religious.

Career

Alma Pöysti began her professional career in theatre immediately after graduation, joining the ensemble of the Finnish National Theatre in Helsinki, where she quickly became a leading actress in both classic and contemporary productions.

She made her screen debut in small film and television roles while still a student and gained wider recognition in Finland with supporting parts in features such as The House of Branching Love (2009) and August (2011).

Early theatre highlights included starring roles in Chekhov’s Three Sisters and Ibsen’s Hedda Gabler, establishing her reputation for intense, intelligent performances.

Her breakthrough in cinema came with Zaida Bergroth’s Miami (2017), followed by leading roles in Tove (2020), in which she portrayed the iconic Finnish artist and Moomin creator Tove Jansson – a performance that earned her the Jussi Award for Best Actress and brought her international attention.

In 2023 she reunited with Aki Kaurismäki for Fallen Leaves, playing the quiet, resilient supermarket worker Ansa opposite Jussi Vatanen.

The film became Finland’s official Oscar submission, won the Jury Prize at Cannes, and earned Pöysti a European Film Award nomination and her second Jussi for Best Leading Actress.

Alma Pöysti remains highly active in both film and theatre. She has directed short films and theatre productions, and continues to work across Finnish and Swedish-language projects.

Her portrayal of complex, everyday women with humour and dignity has made her one of the most respected actresses in Nordic cinema, while her collaboration with Kaurismäki has introduced her to a global audience that continues to grow.

Social Media

• Instagram Handle: @almapoysti
• Facebook Handle: Alma Pöysti

Personal Life

Alma Pöysti keeps her private life largely out of the public eye. She has been in a long-term relationship for many years and is the mother of one son, born in 2016.

She divides her time between Helsinki and Stockholm, is an advocate for gender equality in the arts, and enjoys literature, yoga and long walks with her dog.

Filmography

• The House of Branching Love (2009)
• August (2011)
• Miami (2017)
• Tove (2020)
• The Woodcutter Story (2022)
• Fallen Leaves (2023)
• Stormskärs Maja (2024)

Net Worth

Alma Pöysti has an estimated net worth of $2 million to $3 million. Her income derives primarily from leading roles in Finnish and international films, long-term theatre contracts with the Finnish National Theatre, directing projects, and endorsement deals within the Nordic region.