Andris Bulis and Anita Metla Recount Meeting on Rigas Vārti Set
Andris Bulis and Anita Metla first met on the extras set of the television series Riga Gate before Bulis rose to mainstream prominence, tv3.lv reported. At the time of their initial meeting, Bulis was living in Līgatne and working as an actor on the production, while Metla portrayed a woman with a punk hairstyle visiting a discotheque. Metla recalled that Bulis began flirting with her during filming breaks, and even jokingly proposed during cigarette pauses, alongside casual flirting with other actresses on the set.
During downtime on the production, the two used low-end mobile phones to download the TikTok application and recorded their first video together. In the clip, Bulis invited Metla on an excursion to the Līgatne Nature Trails, to which Metla responded that she would agree if the trip wasn’t too expensive. Metla later fulfilled the excursion promise by visiting Bulis with bread and sausage, as Bulis faced financial constraints at the time. Over tea during that visit, Metla discussed her aspirations to paint and sew bags, while encouraging Bulis to apply for the reality television show Farmhouse.
Career Growth, TikTok, and Public Jealousy
Following their initial encounter, both pursued separate career paths, with Bulis building a television and stage profile while Metla developed her work as a painter and bag maker. Metla acknowledged experiencing a degree of stage jealousy when Bulis publicly pursued a relationship with Magoni Burka in subsequent reality television appearances. Despite this, she recognized his ambition to advance his career and noted that he supported her creative pursuits from a distance.
Bulis encouraged Metla to try stand-up comedy after recognizing her comedic timing. Together, they established a TikTok account that eventually accumulated 6,000 followers, which Metla noted matched the population of her home town of Smiltené.
First Official Date Featuring Dumplings and Bananas
The pair remained friends for several years without meeting in person, hindered by distance and financial limitations. Metla stated that she earned a minimum wage as a retail worker and lacked the fuel money to travel from Smiltené to Līgatne, while noting that Bulis frequently received date offers from fans. When Bulis eventually offered to visit her in Smiltené, Metla jokingly replied that she would provide dumplings and bananas if he made the journey himself. Bulis traveled to see her, marking their first official date eating dumplings and bananas together.
Questions about the meeting and early dates of Bulis and Metla
Where did Andris Bulis and Anita Metla first meet?
The pair met on the extras set of the television series Riga Gate, where Bulis was working as an actor and Metla was cast as an extra with a punk hairstyle.
How many followers did Anita Metla’s TikTok account reach?
Metla’s TikTok account grew to 6,000 followers, which she noted was equivalent to the population of her home town of Smiltené.
What food was served on their first official date?
Their first official date featured dumplings and bananas at Metla’s home after Bulis traveled to visit her in Smiltené.