Who Was Taina Elg? Golden Globe-Winning Star of Les Girls and The 39 Steps Passes Away at 95

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95-year-old actress and dancer Taina Elg, famously recognized for her performances in Les Girls and The 39 Steps (1959), has sadly passed away. Her family reported that she died on May 15 at a care facility in Helsinki, her birthplace, as per the Helsinki Times.

1930 saw the birth of Taina Elisabeth Elg in Helsinki, under the nurturing care of parent pianists. Kicking off her artistic journey at a young age, she was known for her dancing prowess with the Finnish National Ballet. Subsequently, she honed her ballet skills in Sweden and London. American film producer Edwin H. Knopf was captivated by her talent, resulting in a seven-year contract with MGM.

In 1957, Elg made her big break in the musical movie Les Girls, which was directed by George Cukor and starred Gene Kelly. She portrayed Angèle Ducros, a cabaret performer, alongside Kay Kendall and Mitzi Gaynor. Together, Elg and Kendall won the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in a Musical or Comedy due to their outstanding performances. The film’s soundtrack was created by Cole Porter.

1956 marked the year she was awarded the Golden Globe for Best New Actress from a Foreign Country, which she earned for her performance in the film Gaby. During this time, she also appeared in several other MGM productions such as The Prodigal (1955), Diane (1956), The Imitation General (1958), and Watusi (1959). She shared the screen with Leslie Caron in Gaby.

In addition to that role, Elg was featured in the 1959 remake of Alfred Hitchcock’s film “The 39 Steps.” In this production, she portrayed Miss Fisher, a character opposite Kenneth More who played Richard Hannay. This performance marked one of her most memorable roles outside the realm of musical productions.

Following a decline in her film work, Elg thrived on the stage. In the 1974-75 Broadway revival of “Where’s Charley?”, she shared the stage with Raul Julia and received a Tony nomination for Best Supporting Actress in a Musical. Between 1982 and 1984, she was part of the original Broadway cast of “Nine”, playing the role of the lead character Guido’s mother, portrayed by Tommy Tune at that time.

In her career, Elg showcased her talents on various television programs, such as One Life to Live from 1980-1981 where she played Olympia Buchanan, and on other daytime dramas like The Doctors, Guiding Light, The Edge of Night, and Loving. Later in film, she appeared in productions such as The Bacchantes (1961), Hercules in New York (1970), Liebestraum (1991), and The Mirror Has Two Faces (1996), directed by Barbra Streisand.

In my journey through life, I was wedded to Carl ‘Poku’ Björkenheim from 1953 to 1958, followed by a union with educator Rocco Caporale from 1982 until his passing in 2008. Our family included one remarkable son, the esteemed jazz guitarist Raoul Björkenheim. After many years abroad, I returned to my beloved Finland in 2008, and the esteemed Order of the Lion of Finland was bestowed upon me in 2004 for my dedicated work in the arts.

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2025-05-28 11:38