Jukka Hiltunen, (Karl)
Nationality: Finnish
Birthdate: April 16, 1965 in Jyvaskyla, Finland.
Education: 1992-95. "Skandinavisk Teaterskole" (Scandinavian Theater School), Copenhagen, Denmark.
Character: Karl - one of the three Swedes.
Filmography:
Never Better (2000)
… "rocker"
Beach, The (1999) .... Karl
Theater:
Oedipus (1995) – directed by Thomas Howalt. "Krudttoenden
Theater", Copenhagen.
The Kitchen Elevator….gangster. By Harold Pinter. Local
Theater, Kingston, London.
TV-appearances:
Various TV-series (1990-1992), Finnish National Broadcasting
Company
"Rent Fup" (199?). TV series. Danish National Television
Biography:
Jukka Hiltunen grew up in the provincial town of Jyvaskyla in
the Southern part of Finland some 350 km North of the capital
Helsinki. His official debut within the film industry took place
in 1990 when he landed a part in a popular youth TV-series with
the Finnish National Broadcasting Company. He played the part
of a "young guy". In 1992 he moved to Denmark where
he was accepted at "Skandinavisk Teaterskole" in Copenhagen
(The Scandinavian Theater School). During the next 3 years he
studied drama, speech, techniques, dancing, stunts and theater
history for more than 30 hrs. weekly. Although many hours were
spent with the studies he appeared likewise in TV-series like
"Rent Fup" – sort of a "Candid Camera Series"
- produced by the Danish National Television. Jukka graduated
from The Scandinavian Theater School in spring 1995 concluding
with a part in the Greek play "Oedipus" by Thomas Howalt
launched at a local Copenhagen theater. Then Jukka headed for
the United States, where he spent 5 months with friends in Hollywood
"breathing the air" of this Mecca for film and theater.
Next stop was London, England, where his home is to be found
to-day. He has been living in this thriving city for about 3
years. During this period he has among others together with a
friend put up a theatrical play on his own at a local theatre
in Kingston – a piece by Harold Pinter in which he plays
one of the 2 gangsters. The play ran for a brief period only
though as it was very costly for Jukka and his friend to fund
same. The part as "Karl" in "The Beach" Jukka
obtained by auditioning with Danny Boyle in similarity with numerous
other young actors. While waiting for new opportunities Jukka
works temporarily at a local bar in London.
January 31, 2000.
Copyright: Kirsten Langer & Thaistudents.com
Telephone chat with Jukka Hiltunen:
Kirsten: Hi Jukka! I watched the direct
internet-broadcast of "The Beach" Premiere from Mann’s
Theater in LA the other night – but I didn’t see you
around?
Jukka: No, I wasn’t in Los Angeles. Actually, I wasn’t
invited – none of the supporting actors were. But I’ll
be attending the London Premiere. Did you really stay up watching
it at 04:00am? Jukka returns the question and laughs….
Kirsten: So trust you are excited about the upcoming London
Premiere. You have already seen the film, I gather though?
Jukka: Of course I’m excited. Well, I have actually
only seen the film once. At a local screening. It’s pretty
good. Don’t know really how it will be received though…
Kirsten: You are playing one of the "3 Swedes".
Had you read Alex Garland’s book and hence knew the part?
Jukka: No, actually I hadn’t read the book. But a
friend told me about the audition for the movie – and then
I did of course read the script.
Kirsten: But you knew the director, Danny Boyle?
Jukka: Sure, that is - not personally – but I had
seen Trainspotting. It’s a great movie!
Kirsten: So you auditioned, got the part and went to Thailand
for the shooting. How was that?
Jukka: It was great! My part is actually not big. None
of the supporting parts are really. In the book they seem to
fill more. In the movie they are rather small – it’s
mostly Leonardo DiCaprio’s character you will see. He is
in almost all the scenes.
Kirsten: We have been told that spending so much time
together in Thailand being so close to each other the actors
did almost make their own little "community" during
the shooting. Did you feel it that way?
Jukka: Yes, that’s pretty much the way it was. We
spend much time together. We had lots of fun and Thailand is
a great country!
Kirsten: So did you make any particular friendships?
Jukka: Jukka laughs….yeah, we were partying from
time to time - having quite some fun. I spent many good hours
with among others Lars and Jerry. (Lars = Lars Arentz-Hansen
(Bugs), Jerry = Jerry Swindall (Sammy)).
Kirsten: And you enjoyed being in Thailand?
Jukka: Yes! Yes, Thailand is a great country. I really
loved being out there. The sun, the beaches…. the people.
It’s a beautiful place! It was my first visit, but I have
been back and I plan to go out there pretty soon again.
Kirsten: You have been back already? Did you go back-packing?
Jukka: Yeeaah – I’ve been back. (One can actually
"hear" Jukka smiling in the phone). You see, I met
this beautiful girl out there – so I’ve been back visiting
with her.
Kirsten: You don’t want me to write this Jukka -
right? You are telling me this privately – or?
Jukka: It’s OK – you can write it. It’s
no secret. Everyone on the set knows. Actually meeting this girl
was about the best thing that happened to me during the shooting
of the film and my visit to Thailand.
Kirsten: You met a Thai girl when working out there –
and now you have been visiting her?
Jukka: Yes. She worked at the hotel where we stayed and
we became close friends. I went back in November and we spent
time together touring the Southern part of Thailand and stayed
at some beautiful island. I’m actually pretty serious about
this relationship, so I’m planning to go back to visit with
her soon again.
Kirsten: That’s very nice Jukka – all my best
to you! You mentioned you were back in Thailand this past November
and stayed at a beautiful island. Did you go back to Phi Phi
Lae and Maya Beach?
Jukka: No, I didn’t go there.
Kirsten: That’s a shame – then you don’t
know the condition of Maya Beach following the shooting and heavy
Monsoon?
Jukka: No – but you know, all that is some ….
It’s not true what’s been told. Did you know that Fox
removed some 3-4 tonnes of garbage that people had left out there
and cleaned up the beach before the shooting? Plastic bottles
and rubbish were all over when Fox arrived. It’s all blown
out of proportion.
Kirsten: Tell me a bit about your yourself and your life?
Jukka: Not much to tell… I’m born in Finland
in a small town you probably don’t know.
Kirsten: What about your family? Do you have sisters and
brothers?
Jukka: Yeah - I have a father and mother and a couple
of sisters…. (Jukka pauses and then you can hear him smile
in the phone once again). Oh yeah, by the way – another
great thing happening to me in Thailand was that I became an
uncle! One of my sisters had a baby and I got this information
while I was out there.
Kirsten: You are Finnish – but looking at your biography
you have studied drama in Denmark, toured the U.S., filmed in
Thailand and now live in Great Britain. Any particular reason
for this international way of living?
Jukka: Finland is a very nice and well functioning country.
But as an actor the opportunities and challenges are few. And
I like to get around. So I’ve been looking for possibilities
elsewhere.
Kirsten: For your formal drama education you went to Denmark
– any particular reason for this choice?
Jukka: Not really – it just kind of happened this
way.
Kirsten: You graduated from "Skandinavisk Teaterskole"
(The Scandinavian Theater School) in Copenhagen – it’s
a rather special drama school based on the American and West-European
theater traditions and established by foreigners living in Denmark.
The majority of the teachers are likewise from all over the world
– so guess this attracted you and met with your wish for
a broader approach to the theater- and film world than you could
find in Finland?
Jukka: Yes, it was a great school. I had a good time there.
Nice people.
Kirsten: I have greetings to you from the school’s
leader: Isabel Eisen and Bozenna Partyka, your drama teacher.
They remember you very well and wishes you all the best. They
did also send me the school’s 1998-99 folder on which there
is a picture of you on the cover. You are making quite a "grimace"
on same, so they weren’t sure whether you would like it
put on the internet?
Jukka: Thanks a lot…. Oh, you are welcome to reproduce
the picture. I was playing a detective – actually I enjoyed
that play and part very much!
Kirsten: While studying in Denmark you appeared in some
TV-series in the Danish National Television. Did you likewise
do any theatrical parts – or?
Jukka: No – but I played music with my band now and
then. At among others "Kanonhallen" at "Christiania",
Jukka recalls.
Kirsten: You mean you play an instrument in a band?
Jukka: Yeah – I play guitar – rhythm –
and sing.
Kirsten: That’s great! What kind of music? And any
favorites?
Jukka: Rock’n Roll. And I like bands like "U2",
"Radioheads" – and "Kim Larsen". (To
the latter Jukka laughs and recalls good times with open air
concerts in "Faelledparken" – a huge, green park
in Copenhagen. You got to be very Danish to appreciate and know
"Kim Larsen", hence the laugh I guess…)
Kirsten: Then you understand and speak Danish too?
Jukka: Yeah – and Jukka switch to a fluent Danish.
But I don’t speak it so often any longer.
Kirsten: Following your drama education you left for a
brief visit to Hollywood and shortly after settled in London.
How come – and what have you been doing there?
Jukka: London is a great place – lots of things to
do. Many opportunities but tough to make a living in.
Kirsten: You set up a play on your own with a friend of
yours, auditioned for "The Beach" and got the part.
What else have you been doing – and what are you up to now?
Jukka: I’ve been doing quite a bit of travelling.
I went to New York for a while – and as I told you –
I went likewise back to Thailand. I have also done a small part
in a movie called "Never Better", which is to be released
in October or November this year. Alan Rickman is having the
lead and I’m playing a supporting role as a "rocker".
I’m looking for the right movies, plays and parts –
I’m not interested in just doing anything. I don’t
want to have parts in soaps like "Dallas" and such
stuff – I wish parts with a meaning – films/plays with
some content. So I’m awaiting the right opportunities. Meanwhile
I’m working temporarily at a bar – but not for much
longer, I hope…. I might also return to Hollywood and the
U.S. to look for better opportunities there. And then I plan
to return to Thailand pretty soon – to visit with my girl
friend, Jukka concludes with a special warmth in his voice.
Kirsten: Jukka – I’d like to thank you so much
for allowing me to call you. It’s been so great to chat
with you and to get to know you a little better. I wish you GOOD
LUCK at the upcoming London Premiere of "The Beach"
and not the least all the best in your private life as well as
for your future career!
February 06, 2000.
Copyright: Kirsten Langer & Thaistudents.com.
Article/interview with
Jukka Hiltunen in the Finnish youth/pop/movie-mag "Suosikki".
Ultimo March, 2000.
By freelance journalist Riku Rantala:
"The Crazy Finn" on The Beach!
In the multi-international cast of The Beach there's also a Finn - Jukka Hiltunen - who got the role of Karl the Swede (Blaah, it's ALWAYS the Swedes - the same thing in Titanic).
Originally from Jyvaskyla Jukka has studied acting in Denmark and lived the last three years in London. There director Boyle chose Jukka to join the cast after auditions. RR got Jukka on the phone...
RR: Hi Jukka! How was it to work in a big Hollywood project?
JH: Hell of fun, of course!
RR: Did you get to know Mr. DiCaprio and the other main actors?
JH: Sure, I got to know them very well and I came along with everybody really well... They called me "The Crazy Finn". (Laughs)
RR: How was it to work with Leo?
JH: He's one hell of an actor - that's the fact... But I think I'm even better! (Lots of laughs)
RR: I guess it was great to meet all your friends in the cast in the London Premiere... How was the party?
JH: Never have I been in such a party before! I think it cost something like 500000 pounds... Overwhelming with champagne, go-go-girls, celebrities - really had some fun!
RR: What are you into next?
JH: Comme si comme ca, I'm looking for some roles all the time. As a freelancer you never know what'll happen tomorrow...
Click here for a "Cast" navigation frame to the left.
