Afterward, she attended the Tallinn State Conservatory of Performing Arts Department (now, the Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre), under the instruction of Merle Karusoo and graduating in 1980.

[2] Graduating classmates included actors Roman Baskin, Guido Kangur, Arvo Kukumägi, Ain Lutsepp, Anne Veesaar, and Paul Poom.

Roles Estonian playwrights and authors include works by: Andrus Kivirähk, Paul-Eerik Rummo, Jaan Kross, Madis Kõiv and Hendrik Toompere.

[4] Ülle Kaljuste made her film debut in the 1981 Estonian television movie Onu Tik-Taki seiklused, directed by Virve Koppel.

In 1992 Kaljuste was cast in the role of Emma in the Mati Põldre-directed biographical drama Need vanad armastuskirjad which explored the life of Raimond Valgre, an Estonian composer of the 1930s and the 1940s.