Mari Lill was born on December 21, 1945, in the picturesque city of Tallinn, Estonia, a nation that had recently emerged from the devastation of World War II, which had come to a close just a few years prior, and was still reeling from the Soviet occupation and annexation of Estonia, a tumultuous period in the country's history.
Mari's biography is deeply intertwined with the tumultuous events of her early childhood, which were shaped by the aftermath of World War II. Specifically, her father, Felix, was arrested by Soviet authorities and subsequently forced to endure the grueling experience of labor in Siberia, leaving Mari, who was still an infant at the time, to face the daunting prospect of a childhood without her father's loving presence.
Mari Lill, a middle-born sibling, is part of a trio of siblings, with an elder sister named Kadri and a younger brother who has pursued a career as a glass artist, Ivo Lill. During her formative years, Mari attended educational institutions located within the Nõmme district, while also frequently visiting her grandmother on the picturesque and serene island of Saaremaa, a place that undoubtedly had a profound impact on her early life and personal development.
Mari embarked on a journey of artistic development, having successfully completed her secondary education, and subsequently enrolled in the esteemed Tallinn State Conservatory, which has since undergone a name change to the Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre, where she had the privilege of honing her acting skills under the tutelage of the renowned Voldemar Panso.
Under the watchful eye of her mentor, Mari delved into the world of acting, culminating in the culmination of her studies with a 1967 production of William Gibson's poignant drama, The Miracle Worker, in which she brought to life the character of Helen Keller with remarkable depth and nuance.
Mari graduated from a prestigious institution of higher learning in the year 1968, amidst a cohort of exceptionally gifted and skilled individuals, specifically a group of esteemed actors, comprising the likes of Helle-Reet Helenurm, Katrin Karisma, Raivo Trass, Enn Klooren, Jaan Tooming, Peeter Jakobi, and Kalju Komissarov.
