Lia Laats
| Lia Laats | |
|---|---|
| Born |
Lya Laats 17 February 1926 Tallinn, Estonia |
| Died | 24 April 2004 (aged 78) Tallinn, Estonia |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 1946-1988 |
| Awards |  |
Lia Laats (2 February 1926 - 24 April 2004) was an Estonian stage and film actress whose career spanned over forty years.
Lia Laats was born as Lya Laats in Tallinn to Karl René Laats and Helmi Karin Laats (née Tähe), who both worked as domestic servants. She had two older half-siblings from her father's previous marriage. She studied at the National Drama Theatre (now, the Estonian Drama Theatre) in Tallinn, but left her studies in 1946 without graduating.
From 1946 until 1948 (and again, from 1976 until 1980), Laats performed at the Estonia Theatre, in dramatic roles, comedies, operettas and musicals with the Estonian National Opera. From 1948 until 1951 (and again, from 1951-1960; and from 1980-1981) she was engaged at the Endla Theatre. From 1960 until 1976, she was engaged at the Vanemuine theatre. One of her most memorable roles at the Vanemuine was that of Jocasta in Sophocles' Oedipus Rex in 1963. From 1952 until the mid-1960s, she also performed in variety theatre with stage partner Helmut Vaag; the two often performing in comedic works.
Laat's work on the stage was prolific during her career, lasting over four decades.
Lia Laats made her screen debut in the 1947 Herbert Rappaport directed Soviet-Estonian language drama Elu tsitadellis (English: Life in a Citadel) for Leninfilm. Elu tsitadellis was the first post-World War II Estonian feature film, following the annexation of Estonia into the Soviet Union. The plot largely revolves around the arrival of the Soviets following the German occupation of Estonia in 1944 and justice being meted out to Estonians who had collaborated with German occupying forces. The film ends with jubilant Estonians celebrating their "liberation" and inclusion into the Soviet Union; accepting the communist ideology. Both the film and Laats were awarded the Stalin Prize.
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