Hilje Murel

Birthday: 1975-12-17
Birthplace: Võru, Estonian SRR, USSR [now Estonia]
Gender: Female
Owned By: Unowned

Hilje Murel (born December 17, 1975) is an Estonian stage, film, and television actress.

Hilje Murel was born in the town of Võru in Võru County. She is a 1998 graduate of the EMA Higher Drama School (now, the Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre) in Tallinn. Among her graduating classmates were: Tiit Sukk, Veikko Täär, Harriet Toompere, Andero Ermel, Liina Vahtrik, and Jan Uuspõld.

Hilje Murel made her film debut in starring role as Li in the Rainer Sarnet-directed 1998 dramatic short film Libarebased ja kooljad in 1998, which was adapted from the collection of short stories by Qing dynasty Chinese writer Pu Songling and produced by Eesti Televisioon (ETV) and Eesti Telefilm.

In 2003, she appeared in the role of Linda's daughter in the Rando Pettai-directed, Peep Pedmanson penned comedy Vanad ja kobedad saavad jalad alla (English release title: Made in Estonia). The film was based on the popular Estonian television comedy series Vanad ja kobedad. In 2004, she had a starring role in the Andres Maimik-directed dramatic short film Kurat tuleb sauna; based on the leitmotif Saunakuuldemängu of Estonian writer Mati Unt. This was followed by a small role as Nasta in the 2008 Ain Mäeots-directed Exitfilm biographical feature film Taarka, based on the play of the same name by Kauksi Ülle about the difficult life of Seto folk singer Hilana Taarka. Taarka has the distinction of being the first feature-length film in the Seto dialect, and won the 2008 Estonian Cultural Endowment Debut Award.

In 2013, she played the role of Silvi Säinas in the Toomas Hussar-directed comedy-adventure film Seenelkäik; the film was selected as the Estonian entry for the Best Foreign Language Oscar at the 85th Academy Awards, but it did not make the final shortlist. In 2013, Murel played the role of Berit Piir in the family-fantasy drama Väikelinna detektiivid ja valge daami saladus, directed by René Vilbre and penned by Mikhel Ulman. In 2016, Murel had a small role in the Valentin Kuik and Manfred Vainokivi-directed melodrama Perekonnavaled. In 2018, she appeared in a supporting role in the Liina Triškina-Vanhatalo-directed drama Võta või jäta and in 2020, appeared in the Peeter Simm directed coming-of-age period drama Vee peal.

In 2020, she voiced the character Mother Rat in the Meelis Arulepp and Karsten Kiilerich directed animated film Sipsik, based on the popular 1962 children's book of the same title by Eno Raud

Credits

Year Title Character
2024-06-01 Mehe tegu Medic
2022-09-23 Kalev TV Anchor
2021-06-04 Estonian Funeral Maret
2020-12-04 Christmas in the Jungle Mother (voice)
2020-11-22 On the Water Selma
2020-04-23 FRESH BLOOD: With the Best Intentions Virve (segment "Virago")
2020-01-17 Raggie Mother / Mother Rat (voice)
2019-10-12 Virago Virve
2018-09-14 Take It or Leave It Pediatrician
2018-03-23 The Little Comrade Hairdresser Olja
2018-01-19 Under the Clouds: Fourth Sister Viivi
2016-03-01 Family Lies Nurse
2013-12-20 Kid Detectives and the Secret of the White Lady Berit Piir
2012-09-21 Mushrooming Silvi Säinas
2011-04-13 Shift Paramedic
2008-08-14 Taarka Nasta / Mistress of Kukumäe
2008-03-06 Black Peter Friend
2007-12-13 Kinnunen Külli
2005-02-24 August 1991
2003-02-20 Made in Estonia Linda's Daughter
1998-06-05 Libarebased ja kooljad Li