May-Linda Kosumovic, a Canadian-born actress, embarked on her acting journey at a young age when her parents returned to their native Kosovo, where she graduated from the Academy of Arts in Prishtina in 2014. This pivotal moment marked the beginning of her illustrious career, which would soon unfold with a prominent role in the HBO Europe original series "Welcome to Utmark," directed by the renowned Icelandic filmmaker Dagur Kári in 2021. This opportunity provided a platform for her skills to unravel and introduced her to a broader audience, solidifying her position as a talented actress.
Throughout her career, May-Linda has taken on a wide range of roles in various films. She played the leading role in "Lost Exile," directed by Fisnik Maxville, a film that received critical acclaim, including the Jury award at Locarno in 2016. In "A Performance," directed by Dritero Mehmetaj, she not only starred as the lead actress but was also one of the scriptwriters. This film won the Best National Film award at Dokufest, further cementing her reputation as a versatile and accomplished actress.
May-Linda has also appeared in numerous other films, including "A Month," directed by Zgjim Terziqi, "Only Human," directed by Igor Ivanov, "Sisterhood," directed by Dina Duma, "The Land Within," directed by Fisnik Maxville, "A Dream," directed by Bostjan Slatensek, and "Sirin," directed by Senad Sahmanovic, which premiered at SFF and has been selected as the Oscar contender for Montenegro 2024. Her roles in these films have taken her to various festivals, such as Locarno, Cairo, Karlovy Vary, Tallinn PÖFF, San Sebastian, Göteborg, SFF, and IFFI GOA, among others.
In addition to her work in film, May-Linda has also made a name for herself on the stage, performing in various productions at the National Theatre of Kosovo. She has collaborated with many theatre directors, including Bekim Lumi, Andras Urban, Fatos Berisha, Matthew Lenton, Slobodan Unkovski, Melihate Qena, and Haris Pasovic. Since 2015, she has been a resident at the theater, taking on leading roles such as Clytemnestra (Aeschylus's Oresteia),Annette (Jasmina Reza - God of Carnage),The mother (Jon Fosse - Mother & Child),Vera (Vaclav Havel - Vernisáz),and others.
May-Linda has received multiple national and international awards, recognizing her contributions to both film and theatre. Her latest theatre project, "The Best European Show," represents a major initiative, featuring actors from all over Europe. The show premiered in Poland and Italy in 2023 and is set to travel to Malta, Slovenia, and Kosovo later this year, marking a new chapter in her illustrious career.
