Ella Eronen was one of the most prominent theatre artists of her time. She is remembered for her roles as strong women both in ancient tragedies and in modern drama. She worked in the Finnish National Theatre (Suomen kansallisteatteri), visiting several other theatres as well. Besides her theatre work, she arranged recital evenings and tours from the 1930s to the 1980s.
Background
Ella Eronen was born in Helsinki early in 1900 to a bilingual family. The children spoke Finnish with their father, and Swedish with their mother. The detective August Eronen and his wife Amanda had five children, of whom both sons died young. The eldest of the three daughters, Ella, started school in Swedish, later moving to the Finnish elementary school. Her theatre debut took place in the Swedish Theatre (Svenska Teatern) in Helsinki in Kronbruden ('The crowned bride') by August Strindberg, when she was six years old.
Education
Ella, started school in Swedish, later moving to the Finnish elementary school. Her mother had a friend in the theatre, and Ella was chosen to play the curly-haired boy Lill Mats. At her mothers suggestion Ella sought admission to the Swedish Theatre training school in 1915.
Career
At first Ella performed as a dancer, advancing to talking roles in a small theatre (Koiton Näyttämö) in Helsinki. Thanks to the recommendation written by the director of the training school at Dramaten, Maria Schildknecht-Wahgren, Ella gained entry to the Swedish Theatre of Turku (Åbo Svenska Teatern), where she was able to play 22 different roles in two years. Ella's work in Turku with different types of roles and with a rapid succession of premieres was vital practice in 1935 - 36. Eronen's return to the National Theatre staff in 1942 could be considered as the start of the most significant stage in her career.