Actor Petteri Lassila Offers Global Set of Experiences & Performing Skills
“Petteri Lassila can’t be compared to any other actor. He’s an immensely talented young man with both comedy and drama at his command. His timing is unparalleled. He has a warmth that draws you in and makes you want to cheer for him. He’s an everyman, but unlike anyone you’ve ever met. I took him on as a client because the world needs to see his work, his talent and his humanity. He can make you laugh so hard your sides hurt and then in the next moment bring tears to your eyes as your heart breaks with him. He’s a true storyteller with important stories to tell.” — Talent manager Jane Henriksen
Finnish-born Petteri Lassila is a modern reflection of globalization productively at work.
Consequently, bilingual actor Lassila is in an enviable position, with his performing work bridging different continents (Europe to America), different languages, and varying types of acting, including: guest-starring in a major Finnish drama and appearing on a Finnish-Estonian commercial campaign; to appearing on major US networks like NBC (Killer Siblings) and on HBO where he co-starred opposite Emmy and Golden Globe nominated actor Issa Rae on Insecure, a pay-tv romantic sitcom; to previously appearing in the award-winning live production Unreal City and then also co-starring in Darling, You’re So Mean To Me, a dark comedy, for which he received three Actor Nominations, along with a collaborative nomination for “Best Acting Duo.”
Indeed, Lassila suggests, “Collaboration is so essential in this line of work. In my recent Master’s Program at the National Theatre Academy of University of Arts Helsinki I had a course where I had ten days to write a 20-minute monologue and then travel and perform it in front of a live audience. Although I wrote the text and performed alone, I got feedback and ideas from three other actors who were doing the same thing, as well as two amazing professors. In synergetic conversations, they were all so good at really helping me find the juice from the text. Additionally, I’ve had the joy of collaborating with an amazing Estonian writer, Eve Tisler. We were both selected emerging writers for the European Writer Club’s program, funded by the European Union. I got to collaborate with amazing writers and producers all over Europe and work on a brand new TV Pilot with Eve that we just pitched in Copenhagen.”
Moreover, Lassila feels that expanding his skillset into related theatrical areas only strengthens what he brings to the table, adding, “Writing and being part of the European Writer Club’s program has complemented my acting. I think probably almost all art forms complement one another. But writing especially is so essential in TV, film and theatre. Simply understanding where all the different departments are coming from for the same goal — whether it’s acting, writing, light or sound designing — is so beneficial as it broadens what I have to offer.”
Having lived and worked in Europe and in Hollywood, Lassila has gained much life experience, suggesting: “I’m paraphrasing what award-winning actor Diane Verona once told us that, ‘There’s only so much acting schools can give you — at the end of the day you just gotta hit the mark and say your lines, you tell the truth. But if the truth ain’t in you — if your life is not being lived, what do you have to say?’”
Ambitious and worldly Petteri Lassila talks to us about what he brings to the table for directors and producers, and some tips for actors who are new to “hitting their mark.”
— How did those experiences working on big U.S. Networks further motivate you as an actor?
— Before landing that NBC gig, I remember walking down on Hollywood Blvd. when they were preparing for the yearly Oscar ceremonies. It sounds super fancy, but that area is pretty funky to say the least! Anyway, I was listening to a podcast and the host of the episode had a question “What would you do if you had no fear?” And it hit something really deep in me and moved me right there and then. I think as many of us in this field have to handle so much uncertainty and rejection, fear in different shapes and forms play a part in our lives. Anyway, after my first day on set for NBC’s Siblings was done, I was excited, tired and relieved, I noticed that on the wall of the studio was printed that exact same quote: “What would you do if you had no fear?” So yeah, needless to say that felt really special. I hope through these experiences I’m learning to not worry too much but to move on and trust my own unique voice in this industry.
— Being conversant in several languages and being comfortable acting in comedy, drama and improvisation, what are your assets?
— I’ve been told I’m very easy to direct on camera/stage. When I studied at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts and also under Diane Venora, there was such a high honor for the text and we would read new plays and analyze them every week. So, I think I’ve been able to build muscle for text work and finding out or at least making solid educated guesses on what the writer’s intentions are. Also, I find the difference between acting in Finnish and English (not to mention different accents!) fascinating: I feel like especially in the American tradition actors enjoy coloring the way they speak their lines, whereas in Finnish tradition it feels like they often want to strip away any extra colors! Might have something to do with the darkness, cold and winter, haha. So, it’s great fun to play with the variabilities!
— With your recent appearance in that national Finnish-Estonian commercial, is it true you also have great affinity for comedy?
— As a Finn, it may be especially for dark comedy. Yes. But, I’ve also spent time at Upright Citizens Brigade in Hollywood and have really fallen in love with improv. I think my time there really helped with enlarging my comedy “tool-belt.”
—What is your job as an actor — to serve the storyteller?
— I think my job is to have compassion for the character that I’m playing, not to judge them, but to walk in their shoes. However, I think it’s so important to let the director and the creative team into that process and offer them options to see what works and what doesn’t. I think we’ve all seen an actor who’s “so in it” on stage or in front of the camera and it almost feels like the actor, not the character, is having some private moment. It can get pretty weird. I think it was Oscar winner Christoph Waltz who said actors can be the worst critics of their own work, and I find that weirdly comforting. So, of course every job is different, but ideally in the creative process, I think my job is to offer as much material for the creative team as possible. “To keep the channel open”, as the great performer Martha Graham would say.
— What can we look out for you to appear in?
— There’s this national Finnish drama, that is streaming on Cmore, a big Nordic streaming platform. I guest starred in three episodes. I was meant to do one episode on season four, playing the Tinder date of the main character, who’s “likeable and sweet but a little too into true crime shows”. I was the comedic relief. We had such a blast on set, it was hard not to break out laughing during takes! They wanted to bring my character back again in season five where my character finally finds someone else who’s as obsessed with “well-written manga and gory true crime.” Additionally, I’m really excited about a Finnish dark comedy TV show I’ll be guest starring in that will be released next year. And, producers also just released the Finnish translation of an audiobook, The Atlas Paradox by Olivie Blake. It was a #1 Sunday Times best-seller, and I was honored to be one of the readers of that audiobook.
— What filmmakers or Networks would you like to work with or been inspired by?
— I really do love writer/director Martin McDonaugh’s work. I just re-watched Three Billboards, as it’s one of my favorite films — a dark comedy drama. In terms of Finnish films, I’ve recently watched and really enjoyed The Missile by Mia Tervo and The Woodcutter Story by Mikko Myllylahti. I think they’re both unique and amazing storytellers. And, I’d love to work on another HBO show. Maybe something like Succession, one of my all-time favorites.
Check out Petteri Lassila at his website, on his social media links (Instagram, Facebook), and on IMDb). Headshots by photographer Ilkka Saastamoinen.
