What do you think, Ronja Keiramo?

Ronja Keiramo, who plays the lead role in the miniseries Ihan Kassalla, is on the rise. The actress is already known from the film Levoton Tuhkimo and the latest drama series Imago. Appearing in the humorous but thought-provoking miniseries was a natural choice for Ronja: she understands financial insecurity and believes in the gentle power of humor.

How does it feel to be in a miniseries?

It was really interesting to be part of this. It’s the first advertisement film I’ve ever done. As an actor, I’ve done more theater and other drama productions, so this is new to me. The series also has a very important message.

What did you think of the script when you read it?

It’s very insightful and down-to-earth, and it’s based on everyday situations in a way that you can relate to. There are some very recognizable situations in it, even though I haven’t experienced exactly the same things myself. I can imagine that things like this happen in real life too.

And the portrayal of the relationship between father and daughter?

It was really nice to act opposite Juha. We quickly found our dynamic, even though I had never met him before.

On a fictional level, there is good chemistry between father and daughter in the series. The daughter, without realizing it, takes advantage of her father’s kindness and gets money from him and so on. But the taxi scene in the last episode clearly shows that the father is not submissive.

What do you think, is it better to prepare for the worst or live in the present?

I balance between the two. I am something of a planner and have learned that it is good to always have money in the bank. This is especially true now that I am a freelance actor without a steady income.

I like to live in the present, but of course that requires money and income—in a way, it’s a privilege to be able to live like that. In my profession, things go in cycles. When you have money, you can live more freely, but at the same time, you have to prepare for worse times.

What do you think about using humor and lightheartedness to communicate a serious topic to young adults?

I think it’s good; I personally like humor as a way to deal with serious issues. Humor is the easiest way to win people over, at least for me as a viewer. It’s a good way to engage the viewer and pique their interest. It can also be a relief to be able to laugh at a serious topic. In this production, the humor comes from Sanni and her carefree attitude, not from unemployment or poverty.

What do you think about income security and young adults’ knowledge of this topic?

Not much is known about it! I myself only learned about these things during my studies. Income security could be discussed in high school and vocational school. These seem to be difficult adult issues that don’t become concrete until they affect you personally