Merle Palmiste is an Estonian stage, film and television actress born on November 1, 1970, in Tallinn. Raised in the Õismäe subdistrict, her parents were an engineer and an accountant. She attended primary and secondary schools in Tallinn before enrolling in the Tallinn Conservatory, graduating in 1992.
Palmiste's diploma production roles included Helena in A Midsummer Night's Dream and Nina Mikhailovna Zarechnaya in The Seagull. She made her full-length feature film debut in 1994 as Evelin in the historical action-drama Jüri Rumm.
She has appeared in numerous films, including Karu süda, Kuldrannake, Kirjad Inglile, Lotte and the Moonstone Secret, Väikelinna detektiivid ja valge daami saladus, Päevad, mis ajasid segadusse, and Kõhedad muinaslood. In addition to Estonian films, Palmiste has appeared in foreign language films, including Yantarnye krylya, Willkommen in Tallinn, and Prykolna Kazka.
Palmiste was involved in a long-term relationship with Alex Lepajõe and has a daughter, fashion model Elisabeth Berthel, born in 1996. She currently resides in Tallinn.
