actor

Ester Pajusoo (née Lage; July 1, 1934 – April 19, 2026) was an Estonian stage, film, radio and television actress whose career has spanned nearly six decades.

Ester Pajusoo began an engagement at the Estonian Drama Theatre in 1958, the year following her graduation. Pajusoo has been with the theatre ever since. She made her stage debut at the theatre in Bertolt Brecht's Mr Puntila and his Man Matti in 1958. During her years at the theatre, she has performed in a number of stage productions by such international playwrights and authors as: William Shakespeare, Samuel Beckett, Henrik Ibsen, Evgeny Schwartz, Hjalmar Söderberg, Friedrich Dürrenmatt, Yukio Mishima, Arthur Miller and Anton Chekhov, among others. Notable performances in works by Estonian playwrights and authors include those of: Oskar Luts, Mats Traat, Andrus Kivirähk, Jaan Kross and A. H. Tammsaare.

Pajusoo made her film debut as the character Sirje in the 1960 Virve Aruoja directed Estonian drama television film Näitleja Joller. This was followed by a small, uncredited role in the 1972 Sulev Nõmmik directed television film comedy Noor pensionär. In 1981, she made her screen debut in the Arvo Kruusement directed drama Karge meri; an adaptation of the 1938 August Gailit novel of the same name. She would not appear in another film until 2006; in the Roman Baskin directed comedy Vana daami visiit. Her appearance in Vana daami visiit would revive her film career and between 2006 and 2016, she would appear in eight films; including the title role of Astrid in the 2016 Sander Koit directed drama short.

Among her more memorable roles in television was that of the recurring character Reet from 2008 until 2013 in the historical mini-series Tuulepealne maa, which aired on Eesti Televisioon. She has also made appearances on Estonian television series including Ohtlik lend, Kättemaksukontor and IT-planeet.

Pajusoo was married to Jüri Pajusoo from 1956 until his death in 2006.