Anja Hatakka

Anja Inkeri Hatakka, later known as Anja Inkeri Geissbühler after her marriage, was a Finnish actress and beauty pageant competitor whose life spanned nearly nine decades. Born on 21 February 1938 in the Hatakkala village of Metsäpirtti, Viipuri Province, Finland, she was the youngest daughter of Aapro Hatakka (1894–1946) and Susanna Läärä (1900–1973). Her early years were shaped by the rural Finnish landscape of her birthplace, and her family background included deep roots in the Metsäpirtti region. In the summer of 1955, she took on an unusual job as a mermaid at the Mermaid Hall in the Linnanmäki amusement park in Helsinki, a whimsical role that foreshadowed her future in the entertainment industry. This experience led her to pursue small film roles, including a notable appearance as Nina in the acclaimed 1955 war film The Unknown Soldier, directed by the renowned Finnish filmmaker Edvin Laine. Her participation in this iconic Finnish film would become one of the defining moments of her short but memorable career in cinema.

Beyond her acting work, Hatakka ventured into the world of beauty pageants, entering the prestigious 1958 Miss Finland competition. The event was held at the Helsinki Exhibition and Convention Centre on 2 February, where she earned the distinguished title of the second hereditary princess, finishing behind the winner Pirkko Mannola. Her public profile rose further following this accomplishment, but her career took an unexpected turn when she married the CEO of Agfa-Gevaert. Upon her marriage, she adopted the surname Geissbühler, relocated to Switzerland, and gradually faded from public life, leaving behind her brief yet significant contributions to Finnish cinema. After years away from the spotlight, she eventually returned to her homeland and spent her final years living at a nursing home in Kauklahti, Espoo. At the time of her passing on 10 April 2026 at the age of 88, Hatakka held the poignant distinction of being the last surviving cast member of Edvin Laine's The Unknown Soldier, cementing her legacy as an enduring figure in Finnish cinematic history.