Born and raised in the Karelia section of eastern Finland, a resort area of lovely beaches now belonging to Russia, Juliette Koka's dark hair and high cheek-bones are typical of that part of Finland. Her entertainment roots include a circus, dancers, singers, actors. Her Finnish father was a dancer, as was her Hungarian-born mother, who speaks French and played the French music that so entranced young Juliette.

Although she never saw Piaf in person, somehow the spirit and unique passion of Piaf captivated Koka, and today she is known in Europe and the United States as a leading proponent of the dramatic cosmopolitan elan that was Edith Piaf.

Yes, she and her brother and sister were raised in Finland, but Juliette remembers her family traveling and performing throughout Europe.

As a result, Juliette learned about other cultures and became fluent in many languages, including Finnish, English, French, German, Italian, and Hungarian. The cultures of Europe influenced her. She learned ethic dances and songs, and early in her career in Finland, she became known for her popular program of Hungarian folk music. She jokes,

She also developed her theatrical skills studying at the School of Dramatic Art in Helsinki.

Explaining her graceful hand gestures, she acknowledges that she uses a lot of movement in her hands, but feels her hands are not attractive.

In the late 1940's, Koka came to the United States to visit her mother's sister, also a dancer. While here, she was offered a year's contract in a nightclub called Tokai. The visit became permanent when she met her husband, fell in love, and got married three months later. She laughs,

Not really, for Juliette travels home to Helsinki frequently, where she performs and visits her mother, sister, and brother. She still lives with her husband in New Jersey, but after she married and had two sons, Juliette decided to stay home to raise her children. Although she feels she hadn't suffered while her parents traveled during her own childhood, Juliette's husband is not in show-business and she didn't have the support network in this country to help her if she went on the road.

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