Katrin Välbe

Biography

Katrin Välbe (until 1929 Jekaterina Poska; October 31, 1904 – July 5, 1981) was an Estonian actress. Katrin Välbe was born Jekaterina Poska in Võru to Gabriel and Lydia Poska. Her father was a lawyer and her uncles included statesman Jaan Poska, politician Mihkel Poska, and Estonian Apostolic Orthodox Church clergymen Nikolai and Paul Poska. After graduating from secondary school, she initially enrolled at the University of Tartu in 1922 to study medical sciences, leaving after one year. In 1930, she graduated from the Drama Theatre School in Tallinn, having studied under drama pedagogue Hilda Gleser. From 1931 until 1944, she worked at Tallinna Töölisteater, from 1945 until 1946 at Noorsooteater, 1946 until 1949 at Estonia Theatre, and from 1949 until 1951 and again from 1952 until 1971 at Estonian Drama Theatre. Besides theatrical roles, she also performed as a film actress beginning in the early 1950s, as well as appearing in radio plays and several television films. In 1958, Välbe was awarded as Meritorious Artist of the Estonian SSR.