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Laura Birn

Laura Birn

Actor · Born April 25, 1981 (45) · Helsinki, Finland

Berlinale award winner

Laura Eveliina Birn (born 25 April 1981 in Helsinki) is a Finnish actress. She has tackled roles in historical dramas, lighthearted comedies, and thought-provoking art-house films with equal finesse. Her performance in the 2012 film Purge earned her a Jussi Award for Best Actress and a nomination for a Satellite Award for Best Actress. In 2021 she began playing the role of robot Eto Demerzel in the series Foundation. Birn has also appeared in films Pearls and Pigs (2003), Promise (2005), Christmas Story (2007), Naked Harbour (2012), Heart of a Lion (2013), Walk Among the Tombstones (2014), The Ones Below (2015), Helene (2020), and The Crow (2024). Her performance in the mystery drama series Munkkivuori earned her a Golden Venla award for Best Supporting Actress in 2022. Birn completed her master's degree from Helsinki Theatre Academy in 2008. In 2024, Finnish weekly news magazine Suomen Kuvalehti wrote, sourcing publicly available tax records, that Birn is the most highly-paid Finnish actor or actress of all time.

Read more

Biography from TMDB.

Born
April 25, 1981 (45)
From
Helsinki, Finland
Works as
Actor
Titles
21 on MovieCove · 55 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 155 days to Oct 26Up 37% in 30 days

What are Laura Birn's films like?

Across their 19 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Bonds and Morality.

Genres

Drama10 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 46th percentile
: browse their Drama movies
Action2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 35th percentile
: browse their Action movies
Comedy2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 61st percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Comedy movies

Their MovieCove films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Midcredits score of the genre's films, the median percentile; an up arrow marks a genre at or above their average across these genres.

Themes

share of theme weight
Bonds
28%
Morality
21%
Self
20%
Survival
14%
Power
6%
Ideas
6%
Society
4%
Romantic love6 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds5 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity4 titles, browse their movies with this themeRedemption3 titles, browse their movies with this themeJustice2 titles, browse their movies with this themeFate2 titles, browse their movies with this themeGuilt2 titles, browse their movies with this themeComing of age2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 17 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Dark: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their dark movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

Light 1 · Serious 3 · Dark 13

Grounded: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their grounded movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

Grounded 14 · Stylized 2 · Heightened 1

Charged: How hard the emotional peaks hit while you watch. Browse their charged movies.
Feel · Intensity
gentleintense

Gentle 2 · Charged 8 · Intense 7

Shifting: How much it swings between very different feelings. Browse their shifting movies.
Feel · Swings
steadyswings

A split, not a type: Steady 8 · Shifting 7 · Whiplash 2

Straight-faced: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their straight-faced movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

Straight-faced 16 · Some laughs 1 · Funny 0

Even-paced: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their even-paced movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

A split, not a type: Slow burn 8 · Even-paced 7 · Relentless 2

Engaged: How much focus it asks of you — look away and lose the thread? Browse their engaged movies.
Demand · Attention
casualfull focus

Casual 4 · Engaged 10 · Full focus 3

Heavy: How much it costs you emotionally; whether you need recovery time. Browse their heavy movies.
Demand · Emotional cost
easyheavy

Easy watch 1 · Affecting 4 · Heavy 12

Resolved: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their resolved movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

Resolved 11 · Open-ended 5 · Ambiguous 1

Roles they play

6 analyzed roles

Usually the Hero: 2 of 6 analyzed roles.

Hero
2 of 6
Mentor
2 of 6
Shadow
1 of 6
Shapeshifter
1 of 6

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
14
Melancholic
12
Dread
6
Contemplative
6
Warm
3
Other
12

How their films linger

Bittersweet13 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking8 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHaunting6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteDevastating2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 2 with a twist

  • Happy1
  • Bittersweet10
  • Tragic2
  • Ambiguous6

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch Laura Birn's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 13 of their 21 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (5).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Laura Birn's titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

55 credits, 21 with a MovieCove page.

  • Operation Napoleon: Tears of the Wolf (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2027)

    as Maxine

  • The Remaining (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2026)

    as Helmi

  • Blue Baby (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2026)

    as Inka

  • The Beloved(2026)

    as Alice

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all films

  • Father's Day (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2026)

    as Saimi

  • Strive (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2026)

    as Max

  • The Forest You Live In (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2026)

    as Sister

  • Perfect strangers (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2025)

    as Eeva

  • The Crow(2024)

    as Marion

    Midcredits score: 12th percentile of all films

  • Light Light Light(2023)

    as Mariia as an Adult

    Midcredits score: 85th percentile of all films

  • Munkkivuori (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2022)

    Show 10 episodes · as Anne Määttä

  • Foundation(2021)

    Show 30 episodes · as Demerzel

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all shows

  • The Last Ones (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2020)

    as Riitta

  • Any Day Now(2020)

    as Teacher

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all films

  • Eden (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2020)

    as Laura

  • Games People Play(2020)

    as Veronika

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all films

  • Kill Anneli (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2020)

    as Kaisa

  • Helene (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2020)

    as Helene Schjerfbeck

  • The Birdcatcher(2019)

    as Anna

    Midcredits score: 50th percentile of all films

  • Two Bodies on a Beach (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2019)

    Writer · as Younger woman

  • Bayonet(2018)

    as Sarita

    Midcredits score: 37th percentile of all films

  • Void (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2018)

    Co-Producer · as Pihla Sucksdorff

  • The Innocents(2018)

    Show 8 episodes · as Elena

    Midcredits score: 20th percentile of all shows

  • East of Sweden(2018)

    as Veera

    Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all films

  • 95(2017)

    as Essi

    Midcredits score: 16th percentile of all films

  • Alma de Sant Pere(2016)

    as Susana

    Midcredits score: 11th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Love and Fury(2016)

    as Inka

    Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all films

  • The Ones Below(2015)

    as Theresa

    Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all films

  • The Girl King(2015)

    as Countess Erika Erksein

    Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all films

  • Seamstress(2015)

    as Hertta Kuusinen (voice)

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Distractions (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2015)

    as Esimies lentoasemalla

  • Absolution (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2015)

    as Kiia

  • Napamiehet (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2015)

    Show 4 episodes · as Laura / Armi

  • Armi Alive! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2015)

    as Leena

  • A Walk Among the Tombstones(2014)

    as Leila Alvarez

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films

  • Heart of a Lion (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2013)

    as Sari

  • August Fools (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2013)

    as Kaarina Suo

  • Must Have Been Love (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2012)

    as Anna

  • Purge(2012)

    as Aliide Truu (young)

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all films

  • Naked Harbour(2012)

    as Iiris

    Midcredits score: 60th percentile of all films

  • Virta (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2011)

    Show 12 episodes · as Anne Nordin

  • Jäät (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2010)

    as Paula

  • Rally On! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2009)

    as Aija

  • Inner Trial (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2008)

    as Elisa

  • Suojelijat (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2008)

    Show 10 episodes · as Teresa

  • 8 Days to Premiere (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2008)

    as Vilma

  • Karjalan kunnailla (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2007)

    Show 36 episodes · as Hanna Kotilainen

  • Christmas Story(2007)

    as Aada

    Midcredits score: 83rd percentile of all films

  • Rock'n Roll Never Dies (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    as Mother at young

  • Kolme suudelmaa (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    as Jaana

  • Promise (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)

    as Mona Moisio

  • Pearls and Pigs (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    as Laura

  • Stripping (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2002)

    as Kaupan kassa

  • Aita(2001)

    as Timpan ystävä

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all films

  • Little Hearts (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    as Sini

Career shape

Star power in the 96th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 55 titles, 54 of them dated from 2001 to 2026; peak year 2013.

Biggest box office

A Walk Among the Tombstones (2014)

$59M worldwide

Highest rated

Light Light Light (2023)

Midcredits 85th

Most popular right now

Foundation (2021)

Film career

MilestoneBreakout
20012026

Peak 2013 · fewer prominent film roles lately. Top draw in 3 MovieCove titles. Film roles by billing, audience size and rating; 25+ votes. A show carries a single first-air date, so shows are not on the curve.

  • 2003Screen debut· Pearls and Pigs
  • 2012First top-billed film· Purge
  • 2012Breakout· Purge
  • 2021Career best· Foundation

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting55 of 55: 53 only acting, 2 with another role · typical Midcredits score51stWriting1 of 55: 0 only writing, 1 with another roleProducing1 of 55: 0 only producing, 1 with another role

By decade

2000s13 · acting2010s24 · 24 acting · 2 crew2020s17 · acting

Billing

usually 4th · top billed in 14% of 14 roles
0318

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored. Billing is TMDB cast order for roles with 25+ votes, billed in the top 30; the columns are the share of top-billed roles in each era, 5-year spans from the year on the label, merged until each holds at least 5 roles.

Awards

Won a Berlinale award in 2013.

Major bodies only: the Oscars, Primetime Emmys, Golden Globes, BAFTAs and Screen Actors Guild Awards are named; Cannes, Venice, the Berlinale, Sundance, the directors', writers' and producers' guilds, the Grammys, Critics Choice and the Independent Spirit Awards count as other major bodies. Festival and regional prizes are not counted. Source: IMDb.

How do Laura Birn's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 51st percentile, the median of all 19; across their 17 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 46th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

46thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 17

Approval · how many liked their films

58thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 17

Reach · how many have seen their films

68thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 17

Midcredits score across 21 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up5
  • 50th to 74th7
  • 25th to 49th5
  • Below 25th4

Shape of the crowd

10 of their 21 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Cult Classic2
  • Crowd Pleaser10
  • Broadly Agreed2
  • Mixed7

Most divisive · actor

Any Day Now (2020)

75th percentile spread · 23% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

The Beloved (2026)

Midcredits 88th · 75% liked

Reviewers score the acting 73/100 in their films, across 13 reviewed titles; fans 81, detractors 53. The element that speaks to their work as an actor.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Is Laura Birn's work okay for kids?

Across up to 8 MovieCove titles with content scores, sex & nudity runs heavier than most films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore4 titlesmedian 75 · intenseMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity8 titles44–76 · median 52 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity4 titlesmedian 69 · intenseMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs4 titlesmedian 50 · moderateMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense3 titlesmedian 80 · severeMedian of all films: 39

Severity 0–100 from the Content Guide. Categories with under 10 votes on a title are not counted. The band's colour is the severity of their median, named beside it.

Who does Laura Birn work with?

People who share at least 2 of Laura Birn's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Aku Louhimies shares the most, 3.

Writers

Actors

Composers, cinematographers and editors

Producers

Mixed roles