Ene Järvis was born in Kiidjärve, Põlva County to parents Paul and Amanda Elfriede Järvis. She was the second to youngest of five siblings; two olders sisters and an older brother named Eimar almost fourteen years her senior, and a younger sister. She attended schools in Põlva, graduating from Põlva Secondary School in 1966. Following graduation, she enrolled at the Tallinn State Conservatory in Tallinn, graduating from the institution's performing arts department in 1970. During her studies at the Tallinn State Conservatory, she met and befriended classmate Helene Vannari. The two would become lifelong friends.
Career
Stage
In 1970, Järvis began an engagement at the National Youth Theatre in Tallinn. She would remain an actress at the theatre for nearly forty years, leaving in 2009. Since 2009, she has been a freelance actress.
Film
Järvis' first substantial feature-length film role was in the 1987 Soviet-Estonian Helle Karis directed Metsluiged, adapted from the 1838 Hans Christian Andersen literary fairy taleThe Wild Swans, for Tallinnfilm. This was followed in 1990 by a small role in the Kaljo Kiisk directed drama Regina; and an uncredited role as Agnes in the 1992 Mati Põldre directed Need vanad armastuskirjad, a biopic of 1930s and 1940s Estonian songwriter Raimond Valgre. In 1999, she appeared as a director in the Valentin Kuik directed drama Lurjus, which was adapted from the short storyPoldlets penned by Vladimir Nabokov. In 2011, Ene Järvis appeared as Riina in the Rain Tolk and Andres Maimik directed comedy Kormoranid ehk Nahkpükse ei pesta for Kuukulgur Film, about a 1970s rock band trying to make a comeback. In 2012, she had a starring role as Reeda in the Ain Mäeots directed drama Deemonid, which chronicles the downward spiral of three individuals who enter a casino. In 2013, she had a small role as a gynecologist in the Ilmar Raagromantic dramaKertu. In 2016, she appeared in both the René Vilbre directed comedy Klassikokkutulek, and the Anu Aun directed romantic drama Polaarpoiss. Throughout her career, Järvis has also appeared in a number of film shorts.
Television and radio
In 1989, Ene Järvis was cast in the role of Astrid Olsen for the Mikk Mikiver directed television filmDoktor Stockmann, based on the 1886 play Enemy of the People by Norwegian playwright Henrik Ibsen. Between 1995 and 1996, she played the role of Lilian Põder on the popular, long-running Eesti Televisioondrama serialÕnne 13. Järvis has also made appearances in 2007 on the Kanal 2 television crime series Kelgukoerad, and as Helga in the Kanal 2 mystery-horror television seriesSüvahavva. Between 2011 and 2015, she also made several appearances on episodes of the TV3 comedy-crime series Kättemaksukontor. During her career Järvis has also performed in a number of radio theatre plays. Some of her more memorable roles in radio theatre have been in productions of works by Vladimir Mayakovsky, August Gailit, and Oscar Wilde.
Personal life
Ene Järvis was married to actor Vello Janson from 1976 until their divorce in 1984. The couple had no children. Järvis currently lives in Tallinn and is in a relationship with long-term partner Gunnar.
