Leida Rammo

Leida Rammo (18 April 1924 – 23 July 2020) was an Estonian actress and theatre director who worked in stage, radio, television and film for more than seven decades.

Rammo appeared in over thirty feature films. Her first major screen role was Lisete in the 1964 Tallinnfilm epic‑drama *Põrgupõhja uus Vanapagan*, directed by Grigori Kromanov and Jüri Müür and based on A. H. Tammsaare’s 1939 novel of the same title. After initially disliking her appearance in film dailies, she accepted a smaller part the following year in *Mäeküla piimamees*, a Tallinnfilm drama directed by former Estonian State Theatre Institute classmate Leida Laius and adapted from Eduard Vilde’s 1916 novel. In 1967 she played Klara Kukk in Veljo Käsper’s Tallinnfilm comedy *Viini postmark* and in 1968 appeared as Hermiine in Kaljo Kiisk’s historic‑thriller *Hullumeelsus*.

During the 1970s Rammo worked continuously in film, including roles such as Elve in Kaljo Kiisk’s drama *Maaletulek* (1972) and Laine in Sulev Nõmmik’s comedy television film *Noor pensionär* (1972) for Eesti Telefilm. She later appeared in Kaljo Kiisk’s 1983 adaptation of August Gailit’s novel *Toomas Nipernaadi*, titled *Nipernaadi*. In 1985 she portrayed Anna in the Eesti Televisioon series *Rudolf ja Irma*, based on A. H. Tammsaare’s 1934 novel *Elu ja armastus*. Her 1988 role was Marta Tooming in Leida Laius‑directed drama *Varastatud kohtumine*.

Rammo continued to act in the 1990s, often in smaller parts, with notable appearances in Lembit Ulfsak’s family comedy *Lammas all paremas nurgas* (1992), Andrew Grieve’s bilingual drama *Kirjad idast* (1995) and Rao Heidmets’ family film *Kallis härra Q* (1998), an adaptation of Aino Pervik’s story. Her final screen role was at age ninety‑one in the 2015 Klaus Härö‑directed historic drama *Vehkleja*, which received a Golden Globe nomination and starred Märt Avandi.

In her eighties and nineties Rammo made several guest appearances on Estonian television, including the Kanal 2 crime series *Kelgukoerad* (2007), TV3’s comedy‑crime series *Kättemaksukontor* (2010), TV3 comedy *Ment* (2012) and TV3 comedy *Padjaklubi* (2014).

Rammo was married to journalist Avo Lorents, who died in 1986; the couple had one daughter, Kai. She was a grandmother and great‑grandmother and identified as an atheist from childhood.

In later life Rammo’s eyesight declined, leading her to spend much time reading at a library for the blind, often accompanied by her daughter who read to her.