In 2020, Alma Pöysti landed her first main part in a movie, the biographical drama Tove, as the eponymous bisexual Finnish author. The film received excellent reviews, was selected by Finland as the country’s official Oscar submission, and played the festival circuit around the world, beginning with a splashy Toronto premiere. So you’d think she’d be used to the machinery of a global campaign by the time her next big vehicle, Aki Kaurismäki’s Fallen Leaves, bowed at Cannes last May. But you’d be wrong—due to COVID, Pöysti didn’t travel with Tove at all, with her experience of the film’s life entirely limited to the virtual realm.
That’s made the charmed ride of Fallen Leaves feel all the sweeter. The spare, tender, superbly rendered romantic comedy from the legendary Kaurismäki will be Pöysti’s introduction to many, and there are worse ways to make your mark: The actor is fragile, affecting, and a deadpan revelation as Ansa, a supermarket shelf stocker who falls hard for a lonely alcoholic named Holappa (Jussi Vatanen). Kaurismäki teases tremendous hope and beauty out of their budding connection, filled as it is with clumsy exchanges and awkward dialogue. Since winning a Jury Prize at Cannes, the film has been nominated for best picture at the European Film Awards, made the international-shortlist cut at the Oscars, and brought a wave of attention Pöysti’s way.
Most notably, Pöysti is now a Golden Globe nominee in a field dominated by the likes of Barbie’s Margot Robbie, Poor Things’ Emma Stone, and May December’s Natalie Portman. For an awards show known for recognizing big names in its comedy categories—Cruella’s Stone and Music’s Kate Hudson among recent nominees—Pöysti’s presence in this year’s field feels especially remarkable, and a reminder, as we discuss on this week’s Little Gold Men (read or listen below), that things aren’t slowing down for her anytime soon.
Vanity Fair: I would imagine you were not expecting this nomination. It doesn’t happen too often for Finnish films.
Alma Pöysti: I didn’t even understand what was happening, because I just heard someone say, “Oh, the film is on the list for the Golden Globes,” but I didn’t realize that I was on a list too! That was really crazy. Then we realized later on—the whole of Finland went nuts—that this hasn’t happened since the ’50s, that a Finnish actor or actress has been nominated. And it’s the first time for a Finnish film, actually. So that’s historic.
It’s pretty exciting to see your name next to Margot Robbie, Jennifer Lawrence, Natalie Portman. In the best way, you stand out there.
Oh, my God, I am so honored. I love this genre, also: You can have Barbie and Fallen Leaves in the same category. That says a lot about where humor can go.
I’d love to ask you a little bit about that. This is a very particular kind of comedy. But how have you found talking about the movie in that regard, and being a part of a movie that is actually very droll, very dry, but very funny?