Meet Eve Metsäranta: Actress & Professional Dancer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Eve Metsäranta and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Eve, is there something that you feel is most responsible for your success?
For me I think the most important fact has been relentless determination and refusing to give up. I’m very faithful and committed to things in long-term even though It’s not always easy and I tend to stick around. In a way I would even say I don’t know how to give up unless something no longer serves me. I also thrive under challenging circumstances and in my uncomfort zone. Since I was very little, whenever someone told me I couldn’t do something in my mind I just thought ”watch me” and eventually prooved them wrong. I’m definitely stubborn in that way which in this business has worked in my advantage.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I’m an actor and professional dancer, a storyteller by heart. I was born in Finland, started dancing, performing and competing in dance when I was seven years old and later expanded to acting. I spent my entire childhood and young adulthood in dance and performance rehearsals and eventually moved to the United States where the broader work spectrum in the entertainment industry fit my fire to perform and tell stories. Because of my dance background I’m a very disciplined and a physical actor and a performer and I love to pay a lot of attention to details like how different kinds of people move their bodies. The research aspect in the work process of an actor is one of my favorite things since I love learning new things and constantly educating myself. I would definitely say I’m a life-long learner and a student in all possible ways.

The most recent thing I’m very proud of is my latest film ”Exodus” by Finedeni Films. The creator of the film, my colleague and friend Alfretz Costelo personally asked me to play one of the key characters, Elea who was Finnish so I got to act entirely in my own native language which was such a treat and happens very rarely to me here in LA. The sci-fi film was shot entirely on Zoom and deals with and is dedicated to all the people who have gotten fired from their jobs because of the global pandemic. We had a very international cast in it so you get to hear a variety of different languages! The film just recently won awards at Indie Shorts Fest including Best Acting Ensemble and Best Web and New Media and is currently in the festival circuit. Getting an award for playing a Finnish woman felt incredibly personal and important to me since like I said, It’s very rare that I get to do that in a US production and representing my own nationality as an actor feels very honoring and dear to my heart.

Another incredible piece of work that I consider I’m very proud of is the latest dance film project that I was cast in, the revival of ”Urban and Tribal Dances” with LA Choreographers & Dancers / Louise Reichlin and Dancers. We shot and rehearsed four sections from the original piece (1990): Alone 2020, Batida, Remembrance and Together. Our director and choreographer Louise Reichlin rehearsed us via Zoom the whole entire time while we were in rehearsal studio and finally at the location, The Ivy Substation in Culver City to film the project with the crew. Some of the themes of the piece, like isolation, homelessness and being together in unity are very similar to what our current political and global climate is dealing with so we couldn’t have known before the pandemic how timely this project turned out to be. My favorite characters to perform were the Rose Lady in Batida and the Nurse in the Remembrance duet. Those characters couldn’t have been further from each other since the first one is a very sophisticated lady in a tea party that turns into havoc and the latter a very frustrated and overworked nurse which we added to the original solo to honor our essential workers and what they are experiencing right now. ”Urban and Tribal Dances” got a nice amount of attention and was featured on several publications like BroadwayWorld, Cultural Weekly and Beverly Press.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I would take my friend to the mountains because I love hiking. Angeles National Forest is one of my favorite places to hike here in LA and it almost feels like you’re not in LA when you’re there. I don’t think I would spend a week there, maybe more like a day. Other places we could visit would be Orange County since I love Laguna Beach and some of my favorite beaches are there. I feel like the water is also clearer and more blue there than in LA. There are a lot of great places to eat there, so I would probably pick a dinner place with outdoor patio that has heater lamps and ocean views. The third part of the trip would be the desert since that is also something you have to see. I was just recently in Borrego Springs so that is definitely another place to go check out. Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Definitely my parents and my grandparents who have always supported me whether they agreed with my career decisions or thought that something I decided to do professionally was their favorite choice. I have a small but close family and it hasn’t been easy to work and live 5500 miles away since I live in LA and my family is in Finland where I was born and raised. It’s a big sacrifice relationally for all foreign artists to decide to come and work in the entertainment industry in the US. You’re definitely missing a lot of birthdays, births, weddings, anniversaries and so on. Then again I’ve heard these same stories from my American colleagues as well and I guess in a way it’s a part of the artist life that you don’t always have a say over production dates or touring dates. But I’m definitely grateful to be from a family where your parents support your happiness regardless of what you choose as your profession and whether they are familiar with it or not.

Instagram: @iviivinen

Facebook: Facebook.com/evemetsaranta

Image Credits
Portraits by Armond Kinard Production Still from the TV Series ”Penny Dreadful: City of Angels” Performance Photo from ”Tap Dance Widows Club” by LA Choreographers & Dancers / Louise Reichlin & Dancers (Fontana Arts Festival 2019)