Hilje Murel is a renowned Estonian stage, film, and television actress, born on December 17, 1975, in the charming town of Võru in Võru County. After graduating from the EMA Higher Drama School in 1998, she joined a talented group of fellow students, including notable actors like Tiit Sukk, Veikko Täär, Harriet Toompere, Andero Ermel, Liina Vahtrik, and Jan Uuspõld.
Murel's film career began with a starring role in the 1998 dramatic short film Libarebased ja kooljad, directed by Rainer Sarnet, which was adapted from the collection of short stories by Qing dynasty Chinese writer Pu Songling. The film was produced by Eesti Televisioon (ETV) and Eesti Telefilm.
In 2003, she appeared in the comedy Vanad ja kobedad saavad jalad alla, directed by Rando Pettai and written by Peep Pedmanson, based on the popular Estonian television comedy series Vanad ja kobedad. Her subsequent role in the 2004 dramatic short film Kurat tuleb sauna, directed by Andres Maimik, was based on the leitmotif Saunakuuldemängu of Estonian writer Mati Unt.
Murel's repertoire continued to grow with her roles in the 2008 biographical feature film Taarka, directed by Ain Mäeots, based on the play of the same name by Kauksi Ülle about the difficult life of Seto folk singer Hilana Taarka. This film was the first feature-length film in the Seto dialect and won the 2008 Estonian Cultural Endowment Debut Award.
In 2013, she played the role of Silvi Säinas in the comedy-adventure film Seenelkäik, directed by Toomas Hussar, which was selected as the Estonian entry for the Best Foreign Language Oscar at the 85th Academy Awards. Murel also appeared in the family-fantasy drama Väikelinna detektiivid ja valge daami saladus, directed by René Vilbre and penned by Mikhel Ulman.
In 2016, she had a small role in the melodrama Perekonnavaled, directed by Valentin Kuik and Manfred Vainokivi. In 2018, Murel appeared in a supporting role in the drama Võta või jäta, directed by Liina Triškina-Vanhatalo, and in 2020, she appeared in the coming-of-age period drama Vee peal, directed by Peeter Simm.
In addition to her film work, Murel has also lent her voice to the character Mother Rat in the animated film Sipsik, directed by Meelis Arulepp and Karsten Kiilerich, based on the popular 1962 children's book of the same title by Eno Raud.
