Community Highlights: Meet Marjo Riikka Makela of Chekhov Studio International

Today we’d like to introduce you to Marjo Riikka Makela.

Hi Marjo Riikka, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.

I am an internationally successful acting teacher and peak performance & resilience coach working across Europe and the United States.
Most of the people I work with are professional actors, directors, performers, and I also support emerging talent in the acting and music industries.
I privately coach A-list talent and have the privilege of collaborating with some of the most respected actors and directors in the world.
I also teach and mentor many acting teachers and coaches.

I grew up in a small lakeside town in Finland, where ballet and horseback riding were my first loves. While I love the quiet pace of nature, I always dreamed of warm weather, sunlight, vibrant wildlife, and a bigger world—dreams that eventually led me to build a life and career across USA and Europe.

Animals were my first teachers. My lifelong involvement in animal rescue and wildlife rehabilitation taught me profound lessons about care, communication, and trust—wisdom that continues to shape the way I approach life, and support people today.

My professional path has been anything but linear—which is exactly what makes it powerful. I began as a horse trainer and riding instructor, then trained as a practical nurse specializing in psychiatry. During these studies I started a theatre hobby and later pursued acting and directing, which became my career for many years. I also completed extended studies in psychophysical, resilience and trauma healing modalities and am a certified Trauma Support Specialist and Resilience and Trauma Coach, and intimacy coordinator.

Alongside these professional chapters, I worked through and healed my own complex trauma. That lived experience deepened my understanding of resilience, nervous system health, and the creative spirit—and it informs every aspect of my work.

I stand apart from many acting coaches through my specialized expertise in resilience and in awakening inspiration through imagination and movement. I support artists in deepening their craft while strengthening their courage, authenticity, and inner vitality. My approach ensures that creative excellence is rooted in personal well-being—so the work thrives, and the artist does too. With more than 35 years of embodied expertise, I help actors, directors, and educators unlock their fullest creative potential—safely, sustainably, and with joy—through Chekhov Studio International, university teaching, and my psychophysical M-R Method©.

2026 marks an exciting expansion of my work, as I begin hosting creative retreats designed for deep immersion, restoration, and artistic renewal.
My purpose is simple: to help people thrive. To reconnect with themselves—their bodies, their creativity, and their innate ability to flourish—so they can connect with others more deeply and create with confidence, authenticity, and joy.

I feel tremendous gratitude for the remarkable artists I have the honor to work with, and for the mentors and collaborators who have championed my journey. A special thank-you to Elina Knihtilä, Zaida Bergroth, Selma Vilhunen, and Inkeri Meriluoto—four extraordinary artists and marvelous women!

There is nothing more energizing to me than being in a room with actors and directors, witnessing artistry unfold in real time. I often say I have the best job in the world—and I truly mean it.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Although I have been a U.S. citizen for several years, my European accent often reminds others that I am not from here. Being both a woman and a foreigner has brought challenges that have required courage, adaptability, and determination. Nothing in my journey has been handed to me—every opportunity has been earned through hard work, perseverance, and a willingness to begin again. These experiences have shaped me. They strengthened my resilience and deepened my understanding of how essential hope and imagination are in creating a meaningful life. I had the gift of growing up connected to nature, where I learned—very early—to envision possibilities beyond what was visible. That ability to imagine something brighter has guided me through every transition and every leap.
Whether one calls it intuition, manifestation, or sheer determination, I have never stopped believing in what I am capable of building. And I have continued to show up for that belief, day after day.
I am constantly reminded of the impact of this work through the messages I receive from clients, students, and colleagues—each one a reflection of mutual trust, effort, and dedication. In moments when doubt has whispered, those reminders have been the encouragement to keep going. They reassure me that what I do matters.
Throughout my career, I have chosen integrity over shortcuts. At times, that may have slowed the financial side of success. But I have never wavered in my belief that artistry, values, and sustainability can—and should—coexist. I consider myself living proof that a creative life built on honesty, care, and commitment not only survives… it thrives.

Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Chekhov Studio International?
Chekhov Studio International is a creative home for actors and directors who want to grow not only in their craft but in their confidence, resilience, and artistic freedom. Rooted in the Michael Chekhov Technique and consent based practices, our training supports the whole human—mind, body, and imagination. We keep class sizes small to ensure real transformation and personalized attention. Safety, consent, and emotional well-being are at the center of everything we do—because artistry should be expansive, not harmful.
We are most proud that our students consistently tell us they didn’t just become better actors—they became stronger, more grounded people.
We’re not here to produce performers.
We’re here to cultivate artists who can create their own lives with agency, joy, and creative power.

We all have a different way of looking at and defining success. How do you define success?
Feeling of Ease & Joy & Connection

Contact Info:

• Website: https://chekhovstudio.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chekhovstudiointernational/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Acting.Classes.L.A
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marjo-riikka-mäkelä-aab98824a/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@ChekhovActingStudio
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/chekhov-studio-international-los-angeles-4
• Other: https://marjoriikka.com