Laura Malmivaara

Laura Malmivaara
Malmivaara in 2008.
Born	Laura Pauliina Malmivaara (1973-10-26) October 26, 1973 (age 43) Kajaanin maalaiskunta (), Finland
Residence	Helsinki, Finland
Occupation	Actress, singer, photographer, television host, blogger, model
Years active	1993–present (acting career)
Spouse(s)	Aku Louhimies (married 2003–2012)
Relatives	Olli Malmivaara (brother) Malla Malmivaara () (second cousin)

Laura Pauliina Malmivaara (born October 26, 1973) is a Finnish actress. Her acting career began in 1993, and includes dozens of roles in film and television productions, as well as stage appearances. In addition to acting, she has also worked as a singer, photographer, television host, blogger, and model.

Malmivaara was born into a clerical family in Kajaanin maalaiskunta () (now Kajaani), Finland. Prior to her acting career, she worked as a model in her youth. After graduating from the Sibelius Upper Secondary School () in 1992, she lived and worked as a model in Athens, Greece for a period of time. In 2002, Malmivaara graduated from the Theatre Academy Helsinki. She has also studied photography at the School of Arts, Design and Architecture in Helsinki and theology at the University of Helsinki.

Malmivaara made her debut as an actress in the 1993 film Harjunpää and the Persecutors and has since then acted in dozens of Finnish film and television productions. Among her best-known roles are in the films Restless (2002), Lovers & Leavers (2002), Vares: Private Eye (2004), and FC Venus (2005); for her role in the latter, she was nominated for the Best Supporting Actress Award () at the 60th () Jussi Awards in 2006. Malmivaara is also known for her role in the drama television series Kotikatu, in which she played the priest Tuija Kangasharju from 2002 to 2012.

In addition to her roles in Finnish productions, Malmivaara's career also includes lead roles in two Italian films written and directed by Anne Riitta Ciccone (; ): L'amore di Màrja (; ) (2002) and Thy Neighbor () (2008), and a role in the 2006 Swedish comedy film Baba's Cars (; ), written and directed by Rafael Edholm.