Acting

Maria Annus

Maria Annus (until 2016, Maria Soomets; born February 21, 1979) is an Estonian stage, television and film actress. Maria Soomets was born in Tallinn. She has an older brother, Simmo Soomets, born in 1974. She attended primary and secondary schools in Tallinn and in her youth sang with the Ellerhein Girls' Choir. After secondary school, she studied acting at the EMA Higher Drama School (now, the Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre), graduating in 2002. Among her graduating classmates were Priit Võigemast, Ott Aardam, Hele Kõrve, Karin Rask, Mart Toome, Evelin Võigemast, Elisabet Reinsalu, and Argo Aadli. Annus's first substantial television role was as the character Malvina in the Eesti Televisioon (ETV) children's television series Buratino tegutseb jälle in 2002; a role which she would play until the series ended in 2005. This was followed by the role of Anni on another ETV children's television series, Saame kokku Tomi juures, from 2006 until 2011. From 2007 until 2009, she also appeared as the character Ira on the TV3 drama Brigaad 3, which follows the work and lives of an ambulance crew.