Pihla Viitala was born on September 30, 1982, in Helsinki, Finland. She is a Finnish actress best known internationally for playing detective Sofia Karppi in the Nordic noir series Deadwind.
Her work spans Finnish cinema, television, and international film productions.
Who is Pihla Viitala?
Pihla Viitala is one of Finland’s most recognized actresses, with a career spanning both domestic and international productions. She trained at the Helsinki Theatre Academy before building a career across film and television.
Her breakout international role came through the crime drama Deadwind, known in Finnish as Karppi.
That series introduced her to a global streaming audience through Netflix. Viitala also appeared in the Hollywood fantasy film Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters in 2013, playing the character Mina.
Early Life of Pihla Viitala
Viitala grew up in Helsinki, where she developed an early interest in the performing arts. She played the viola when she was younger, before shifting her focus toward acting.
She trained formally at the Helsinki Theatre Academy, graduating around 2006.
That training gave her a foundation in dramatic performance before she moved into professional film and television work. Finnish actress Rebecca Viitala is her cousin.
Details about her parents and any siblings have not been made public.
Pihla Viitala Age
Pihla Viitala is 43 years old as of 2026, born on September 30, 1982. Her zodiac sign is Libra.
She has built her acting career over nearly two decades, beginning with her screen debut in 2007.
Pihla Viitala Ethnicity and Nationality
Pihla Viitala is Finnish by nationality. She was born and raised in Helsinki and continues to live there today.
She is of white ethnic background, consistent with her Finnish heritage.
Her career has kept her closely tied to Finland’s film and television industry, even as she has taken on international roles.
Pihla Viitala Height and Weight
Pihla Viitala stands about 5 feet 7 inches tall, or 1.69 meters. Her weight is reported at around 60 kilograms, or 132 pounds.
She has dark brown hair and dark brown eyes.
Her slim build and screen presence have suited the range of dramatic and action roles she has taken on throughout her career.
Pihla Viitala Education
Viitala studied acting at the Helsinki Theatre Academy, completing her training around 2006. That formal education prepared her for her screen debut the following year.
Before focusing on acting, she also studied and played the viola as a child.
Pihla Viitala Career
Pihla Viitala has worked steadily in film and television since 2007. Her career has included roles in Finnish cinema, Nordic television drama, and at least one major Hollywood production.
She has built a reputation for versatility across genres, from historical drama to crime thrillers.
Career Start
Viitala made her film debut in 2007 in Ganes, playing the character Nina. That same year, she also debuted on Finnish television as Mia Valtonen in the series Sanaton Sopimus.
In 2008, she took on the role of Miina Malin in the historical drama Tears of April.
That performance helped establish her as a serious dramatic actress in Finland. She followed it with a role in the 2009 Icelandic-Finnish horror comedy Reykjavik Whale Watching Massacre.
Notable Films and Projects
In 2013, Viitala appeared in the Hollywood film Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters, playing Mina alongside an international cast.
That same year, she starred in the Finnish television series Mustat Lesket, known in English as Black Widows, playing Veera Joentie across 24 episodes from 2014 to 2016.
She also starred as Solveig in the Italian comedy-drama Latin Lover in 2015.
Her most significant television role came in Deadwind, where she played detective Sofia Karppi across 28 episodes from 2018 to 2021. The role won her the Kultainen Venla award for Best Actress in 2019, one of Finland’s top television honors.
She had earlier been named a Berlinale Shooting Star at the Berlin International Film Festival in 2010.
Recent Work
Following Deadwind, Viitala took on the role of Mari in the series Cold Courage in 2020. She also starred in the historical drama Maria’s Paradise in 2019, playing Maria Åkerblom.
More recently, she appeared in the Finnish-German crime drama Arctic Circle, which aired new episodes through January 2025.
She received a Jussi Award nomination for Best Leading Actress for her role in the film Star Boys, though the award ultimately went to Krista Kosonen for Miami.
Pihla Viitala Filmography
- Ganes (2007)
- Tears of April (2008)
- Reykjavik Whale Watching Massacre (2009)
- Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters (2013)
- Mustat Lesket / Black Widows (2014 to 2016)
- Latin Lover (2015)
- Deadwind / Karppi (2018 to 2021)
- Maria’s Paradise (2019)
- Cold Courage (2020)
- Arctic Circle (through 2025)
Pihla Viitala Awards and Recognition
Viitala won the Kultainen Venla award for Best Actress in 2019 for her role in Deadwind. She was also named a Berlinale Shooting Star at the Berlin International Film Festival in 2010.
She received a Jussi Award nomination for Best Leading Actress for her performance in Star Boys.
Pihla Viitala Husband
Pihla Viitala married Finnish musician Kerkko Koskinen in 2004, and the couple divorced in 2008. She later married Alex Schimpf, a Kazakh-German entrepreneur, in 2011.
Viitala and Schimpf continue to live together with their family in Helsinki.
Pihla Viitala Children
Pihla Viitala has one daughter, Astrid, born in 2012 with her husband Alex Schimpf. The family resides in Helsinki.
Pihla Viitala Net Worth
Pihla Viitala’s estimated net worth is $4 million as of 2026. Her income comes primarily from her acting career across Finnish and international film and television projects.
The Bottom Line
Pihla Viitala built her international reputation through her lead role as detective Sofia Karppi in Deadwind, which earned her the Kultainen Venla award for Best Actress in 2019. She also appeared in the Hollywood film Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters in 2013.
She trained at the Helsinki Theatre Academy and grew up playing the viola before turning her focus to acting.
Viitala continues to work in Finnish and international television, with recent appearances in Arctic Circle through early 2025. She lives in Helsinki with her husband, Alex Schimpf, and their daughter, Astrid.
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