Helena Lotman urges people to find more reasons to laugh together

Estonian actor Helena Lotman says people should find more reasons to laugh together, ERR reported after interviewing her on the television programme Ringvaade.

Lotman was speaking as school and mental health nurses in Tallinn prepare an October campaign called “Laughter has power”. During the campaign, recordings of well-known Estonian actors laughing will replace the regular school bell in nearly 90 Tallinn schools.

The campaign lasted one day two years ago, but organisers have extended it to a week this year. Lotman said it can be difficult to identify actors by their laughter because they can laugh in different ways, both as themselves and in character. She recognised the distinctive laugh of Ita Ever, as well as the laughter of Tambet Tuisk, Hele Kõrve, Elina Pähklimägi, Tõnu Oja and Rein Oja.

“It is beautiful to hear someone laugh; it makes the corners of your own mouth turn up too,” Lotman said. She added that watching people who cannot hold back their laughter can be infectious, and said people should find more reasons to laugh aloud and share a smile.