Nice that you’re here!

I’m Fanny Paananen, a trained actor (FIA), theatremaker, and audiobook narrator. What fascinates me most in acting, especially in theatre and film, is the comedic physicality of performance, the ability to bring out life’s authenticity and peculiarities, and provoking empathy in people — pushing them to laugh and feel more deeply. I am also deeply passionate about well-being and addressing loneliness, believing that through art, we create the connections we yearn for, even if we’re not always aware of the need. In my acting, I am driven by the magic of the moment — allowing it to take me, my co-actors, and the audience to unexpected places. The flow between actors and the audience, along with the element of surprise in those shared experiences, is what fuels my work.

I recently moved back to Helsinki after completing my acting studies in Copenhagen in 2022. Since then, I have been producing and acting in a theatre piece, The Proposal by Anton Chekhov, which has toured in Denmark and Finland in 2024. I’ve also had the pleasure of playing Nina in Chekhov’s The Seagull, which we toured in Denmark, Romania, and Finland from 2022 to 2023. In addition to my stage work, I have been acting in commercials, narrating audiobooks, and conducting voice work classes.

In September 2022, I co-founded a two-person (home) film group called Am I Too Much, which seeks to break free from societal norms by embracing our quirky personalities and vulnerabilities. You can check out our film, Ex and Bacon, below.