Kaisa Hela recalls smacking raw cow liver into co-star's face in memoir

Tamperelainen reports that a raw cow liver struck actor Heikki Hela in the face during filming of Kontio&Parmas, a scene described in a newly published Kummeli book. The book arrives as Pyynikki Summer Theatre prepares to stage Kontio ja Parmas next summer theatre's announcement and as the Sirkka character remains in local stage revivals recent theatre revival coverage.

Written by Tuomas Marjamaki and published by Docendo, the book looks back on the cast and crew behind the 40-episode Kontio&Parmas, which aired on Nelonen and Ruutu in 2020. Screenwriter Heikki Vihinen says the series was imagined as a small-town police comedy opposite darker, big-budget crime dramas. A minor role for Hela's pathology worker Sirkka grew into a crazed character whose storyline culminated in the infamous autopsy reveal.

Director Aleksi Mäkelä insisted the liver scene work in a single take. The prop, Hela recalls, was a head-sized raw cow liver "full of brown gunk." When she struck the blow it hit dead center, stuck briefly and sent the crew into helpless laughter.