Sarah Rafferty, known for her role in “Suits,” shares a genuine friendship with her co-star Gabriel Macht, who portrayed Harvey Specter in the legal drama. However, in her personal life, she has been happily married to her husband, Santtu Seppälä, for more than two decades.
The couple values their privacy when it comes to their personal affairs. Their initial encounter took place during their time as students at Yale University. Rafferty was dedicated to pursuing a Master of Fine Arts in acting, while Seppälä focused on obtaining a degree in finance. Following this, Seppälä continued his education at The Wharton School in Pennsylvania and dedicated two decades to a career in investment management. Currently, Seppälä is employed at the Angeleno Group in Los Angeles.
Seppälä and Rafferty joyfully welcomed their first daughter into the world in 2007, followed by the arrival of their second daughter in 2012. While immersed in the filming of “Suits,” the family intentionally divided their time between the vibrant cities of Toronto and Los Angeles. The actress shared in a 2013 interview with Redbook, emphasizing the significance of having their home base in Los Angeles. When the family relocated to Toronto for the filming of “Suits,” they did so as a cohesive unit, always staying together in the same place. Despite initial concerns about their 5-year-old attending two schools, it turned out to be a wonderfully enriching experience that fostered self-esteem. The actress expressed delight in her daughter’s ability to celebrate this unique aspect of her life.
In that interview, Rafferty expressed gratitude to her husband for the success of their family. According to her, “I’m fortunate to have an incredible partner; we function as a united front. Both of us have professional commitments, and together, we navigate a delicate dance to ensure we’re there for our children. However, I believe the concept of ‘balance’ is somewhat deceptive; we prefer to embrace the natural asymmetry of our lives.”
Here is everything to know about Rafferty’s partner in life, Santtu Seppälä.
He grew up in Finland
Seppälä currently resides in the United States alongside his family, yet his roots trace back to Finland, where he was born and raised. As detailed in his biography on Angeleno Group, he proudly holds dual citizenship in both Finland and the U.S. Additionally, his life journey has taken him to various European countries, including Sweden, Denmark, France, and Germany.
They met at Yale University
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Rafferty and Seppälä first crossed paths during their time as students at Yale University. It was there that the aspiring star of “Suits” pursued and attained her Master of Fine Arts (MFA) in acting. Their connection blossomed during their college years, evolving from a period of dating into a lasting commitment that culminated in their marriage in June 2001.
Though she is pretty protective of her personal life, Rafferty seems to enjoy celebrating Seppälä’s birthday on Instagram. In 2022, she shared a photo of the pair from the 1990s on his big day and wrote, “No idea what’s going on here…it was the 90’s. But Happy Birthday, Santtu. More of this energy ahead and many many many many many more birthdays. ❤️ p.s. I see you @bronwynroberts. p.p.s. I think I still have that shirt.”
They got married in 2001
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Rafferty and Seppälä exchanged vows on June 23, 2001, commemorating their two decades of marital bliss in 2021. The actress joyfully posted a picture of the couple on Instagram, playfully noting, “Twenty years down the road, and we’re still goofing around. Wishing my love, Santtu, a heartfelt 20th anniversary. Grateful for the ‘hope, coffee, and poetry’ you bring into my life. ❤️”
They had their first daughter in 2007
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Seppälä and Rafferty’s oldest daughter, Oona Gray, was born in 2007. The family welcomed a second daughter, Iris Friday, in 2012.
Rafferty openly shares glimpses of her daughters’ enchanting and fanciful life through Instagram. In 2022, she joyously marked Oona’s birthday by posting a delightful picture of her adorned in butterfly wings. Accompanying the image was a heartfelt poem by John O’Donohue, expressing boundless and indescribable gratitude for Oona. Rafferty concluded the post with a sweet note, dubbing herself “Mamarazzi” and extending warm birthday wishes to her cherished daughter.
In January of 2023, Rafferty took to Instagram once again to share a delightful collection of family photos, all in celebration of Iris’ birthday. These heartwarming snapshots, thoughtfully compiled by a fan-run Instagram account (@sarahraffertypics), prompted Rafferty to express her gratitude in the caption. She humorously acknowledged the fan’s effort, saying, “Thanks for creating this nostalgic journey, @sarahraffertypics. I’ll happily show it to the birthday girl and playfully claim credit for putting it together.”
In August 2023, the actress posted a video of a fairy house she and Iris made together. In a reference to Barbie, she wrote, “Meet us at the mojo dojo fairy house, bring all your magic. Love, Iris and Sarah.”
He works in business development
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Seppälä and his wife have incredibly different careers. While the Suits star has been thriving in the entertainment industry for decades, her husband is the Vice President of Strategy and Business Development at the Angeleno Group. Before moving to the organization in 2021, he spent two decades working in investment management.
Those 20 years included working as the Founder and Chief Investment Officer of Kiitos Capital Management and as a Portfolio Manager at Cantillon Capital Management in New York.
His career began at Salomon Brothers, where he worked as an investment banker.
They love to travel together
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Rafferty’s Instagram reveals the deep bond between her and Seppälä, particularly in their shared love for travel. In 2021, she posted a picture from a 2005 Bhutan trip, expressing birthday wishes to Seppälä. The heartfelt caption conveyed her excitement about future adventures together, emphasizing Seppälä’s role in turning her ambitious travel ideas into reality. Despite being away, she apologized for not being there to bake him a birthday cake, adding a touch of sincerity to their relationship.
In June of 2023, Rafferty posted yet another picture of the two of them, this time taken in Turkey. The caption read, “Flashback to Istanbul 2004. Belated happy 22nd, Santtu. There’s nothing I cherish more than exploring the world with you…and witnessing our child playfully teasing us on Instagram. How did she manage to dig up photos from the 90s? 😂🤓🎾🌎🥂 Outfit sourced straight from my grandmother’s trunk.”
She loves to celebrate his birthday
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Though she is pretty protective of her personal life, Rafferty seems to enjoy celebrating Seppälä’s birthday on Instagram. In 2022, she shared a photo of the pair from the 1990s on his big day and wrote, “No idea what’s going on here…it was the 90’s. But Happy Birthday, Santtu. More of this energy ahead and many many many many many more birthdays. ❤️ p.s. I see you @bronwynroberts. p.p.s. I think I still have that shirt.”
