Oona Gray Seppala is Sarah Rafferty’s eldest daughter, born October 22, 2007, to the Suits star and financial analyst Santtu Seppälä. Now 18, she represents a generation of celebrity children choosing privacy over publicity. Her life reflects a family that values education and normalcy above Hollywood glamour.
Who Is Oona Gray Seppala?
Oona Gray Seppala entered the world as Sarah Rafferty’s first child with husband Aleksanteri “Santtu” Seppälä. Her birth came during Suits’ early development, before her mother became a household name as Donna Paulsen. The couple prioritized protecting their daughters from media scrutiny—a decision that shaped Oona’s entire upbringing.
Her name carries meaning: “Oona” connects to her father’s Finnish heritage, while “Gray” adds classic American simplicity. This blend reflects her dual cultural background.
Unlike many celebrity children who build social media followings or enter entertainment early, Oona has maintained complete privacy. No public Instagram account. No red carpet appearances. No interviews. This choice stems directly from her parents’ philosophy.
Sarah Rafferty’s Influence on Oona’s Life
Sarah Rafferty spent nine seasons playing Donna Paulsen on Suits—a role that demanded months in Toronto each year. She brought Oona and her sister Iris to the set regularly. The girls called “action” and “cut” during filming. They befriended cast members and their families. Yet they never watched the show itself.
Rafferty told Univision in 2016 that she teaches Oona “being true to herself and knowing she can talk to us about absolutely anything.” This open communication became the foundation of their relationship.
When Oona turned 13 in 2020, Rafferty posted on Instagram: “How did that happen? We officially have a teenager. We love her so much, we must sing it from the mountaintops. My heart hurts.”
The actress maintained a bicoastal lifestyle during Suits, moving the family between Los Angeles and Toronto. Oona attended two different schools simultaneously—a setup Rafferty initially worried about. “It ended up being an amazing, self-esteem-building experience for her. She celebrates it,” Rafferty revealed to Redbook in 2013.
This experience taught Oona adaptability and resilience at a young age.
Santtu Seppälä’s Role as Father
Aleksanteri Olli-Pekka Seppälä brings a different energy to the family. Born in Finland, raised across Europe, educated at Yale and Wharton—he built a career in investment management spanning two decades.
He founded Kiitos Capital Management before becoming Vice President of Strategy and Business Development at Angeleno Group in Beverly Hills. His work keeps him outside the entertainment industry entirely.
Santtu’s Finnish roots add cultural depth to the household. The family embraces both American and Finnish traditions. He traveled extensively growing up—living in Finland, Sweden, Denmark, France, and Germany. This international perspective shapes how he and Sarah raise their daughters.
Friends describe him as calm, private, and hands-on. He attends school events. He supports his daughters’ education. He provides stability while Sarah navigates Hollywood.
The couple married on June 23, 2001, at the Roman Catholic Church of St. Mary in Greenwich, Connecticut. They met at Yale University—Sarah pursuing an MFA in acting, Santtu studying finance. Their relationship started as a college romance and evolved into a partnership built on shared values.
Growing Up During Suits’ Success
Suits premiered in June 2011 when Oona was three years old. She spent her formative years watching her mother’s career explode. The show became a cultural phenomenon. Sarah Rafferty became internationally recognizable. Yet Oona’s life remained remarkably normal.
Rafferty ensured family dinners happened. School activities took priority. The girls visited the craft services truck and hair-and-makeup trailer on set—but these experiences were framed as “visiting mom at work,” not special Hollywood privileges.
Oona attended a private school known for academic rigor and arts programs. Her education emphasized critical thinking, creativity, and empathy. She participated in school activities, maintained friendships, and developed interests away from her mother’s career.
Public appearances were rare and always family-focused. Sarah occasionally brought Oona to charity events or industry gatherings where children were welcome, but never to maximize publicity.
The Seppala-Rafferty Family Dynamic
The Rafferty-Seppälä household runs on clear values: education matters most, kindness defines character, empathy guides decisions, and family comes before fame.
Sarah told New Beauty in 2024: “My life revolves entirely around my children at this point in my life.” She’s not unique in loving her kids—she’s unique in how fiercely she protects their privacy while maintaining a successful career.
The family travels together frequently. Sarah’s Instagram occasionally shows trips to Bhutan (2005), Turkey (2004), and other international destinations. These experiences give Oona worldviews beyond California and Connecticut.
Santtu’s birthday posts from Sarah reveal their dynamic: photos from the 1990s, captions about “seeing the world with you,” and references to Yale days. They celebrate 20+ years of marriage while raising two grounded daughters.
Relationship With Sister Iris Friday Seppala
Iris Friday Seppälä arrived January 27, 2012, when Oona was four. The sisters share a close bond that Rafferty describes as affectionate and supportive.
“They are so outgoing and funny and silly,” Rafferty told the media in 2014. “They love to sing and dance, they love each other, and they are incredibly affectionate. They crack me up every single day.”
Rafferty shared a 2016 story about teaching Iris empathy when Oona cried: “We literally got a tissue and wiped away her tears and kissed her. It was so lovely.”
As the older sister, Oona takes on a protective role. She guides Iris through experiences she’s already navigated. Their relationship extends beyond sisterhood—they’re genuinely friends.
Both girls love animals. They brought home a class hamster named Stripey for the weekend. They experienced the Suits set together. They attended the same schools in both Los Angeles and Toronto.
Education and Personal Interests
Oona’s educational journey remains largely private, but certain details emerge through Sarah’s interviews and social media.
She attends a private school emphasizing academics and arts. Her mother’s background in literature and theater influences her interests—reading, creative expression, and performance arts appeal to her.
Rafferty’s mother, Mary Lee Rafferty, chairs the English department at a Connecticut prep school. This academic legacy runs through the family. Education isn’t just valued—it’s celebrated.
Oona reportedly enjoys reading, writing, and creative projects. She participates in school activities and maintains friendships. Her parents encourage exploration of interests without pressure to choose a career path.
The bicoastal lifestyle during her childhood exposed her to diverse experiences. Los Angeles brought Hollywood connections, beach culture, and entertainment industry presence. Toronto offered Canadian perspectives, different seasons, and international influences.
This geographic diversity shaped her worldview in ways most teenagers never experience.
Privacy in the Digital Age
Oona Gray Seppala has no public social media presence. This decision sets her apart from most 18-year-olds in 2026—and especially from celebrity children who often monetize their family connections.
Sarah and Santtu made this choice deliberately. They shield their daughters from online scrutiny, trolling, and the pressure to curate public personas. Oona can make mistakes privately. She can grow without thousands watching.
Rafferty occasionally shares photos on her own Instagram—birthday celebrations, family moments, vacation snapshots—but she controls the narrative. She posts on her terms, protecting her daughters’ privacy while sharing joy with fans.
This approach allows Oona to develop her identity authentically. She doesn’t perform for followers. She doesn’t worry about likes or comments. She exists outside the constant validation cycle that social media creates.
Fans respect this boundary. Comments on Rafferty’s posts typically celebrate the family’s closeness rather than demanding more access to the girls.
Cultural Heritage and Identity
Oona’s Finnish-American heritage shapes her identity in subtle ways.
From her father’s side, she inherits Finnish culture—a heritage of resilience, education, and independence. Finland consistently ranks among the world’s happiest countries, with education systems that other nations study and emulate. These values run through Santtu’s parenting.
Her American side connects to Connecticut’s prep school culture, New England traditions, and the entertainment industry through her mother. Sarah grew up in New Canaan, Connecticut, in a family that valued literature and creativity. Her father, Michael Griffin Rafferty Jr., balanced finance with oil painting. Her mother taught English. This artistic-intellectual blend defines one half of Oona’s background.
The combination creates a young woman with an international perspective, academic appreciation, and creative sensibility—plus the grounding to stay humble despite her mother’s fame.
Life at 18: Current Status and Future
Oona turned 18 in October 2025. This milestone brings new independence and possibilities.
Current speculation suggests she’s either preparing for college or already enrolled. Details remain private. Her parents haven’t announced her plans, respecting her right to make decisions away from public pressure.
Will she pursue acting like her mother? Finance like her father? Something completely different? The answer matters less than the process—she has the freedom to choose.
Friends and family describe her as kind, curious, and articulate. She values deep conversations over small talk. She inherited her mother’s warmth and her father’s analytical thinking.
Sarah told People in December 2023: “I’m so grateful for my two.” She referenced playing a mother on My Life with the Walter Boys while being “a proud mom in my real life.” Her life “revolves entirely around my children at this point.”
This maternal devotion gives Oona confidence to pursue her own path—whatever that may be.
The Rafferty-Seppala Legacy
Sarah Rafferty’s career spans Suits, Chicago Med, Grey’s Anatomy, and My Life with the Walter Boys. She’s achieved television success without compromising family values.
Santtu Seppälä built a respected career in investment management. He provides stability and perspective outside the entertainment bubble.
Together, they’ve created a family legacy focused on integrity, education, and love—not fame.
Oona and Iris inherit this legacy. They see their mother’s success without entitlement. They understand their father’s work ethic. They learn that achievement comes in many forms and that character matters more than recognition.
This foundation prepares them for whatever futures they choose.
Lessons From the Seppala-Rafferty Approach
The Seppälä-Rafferty family offers insights for anyone balancing career and family:
- Protect privacy fiercely. Children deserve normal childhoods. Guard their space from public consumption.
- Maintain routines. Sarah prioritized family dinners and school events despite filming schedules. Consistency matters.
- Choose quality over quantity. When together, be fully present. Sarah moved the entire family to Toronto rather than miss months of her daughters’ lives.
- Model values through action. Oona learns empathy by watching her parents demonstrate it—not by hearing lectures.
- Allow mistakes privately. Children grow through trial and error. Public scrutiny amplifies every misstep. Privacy creates a safe space for growth.
- Build a partnership. Sarah and Santtu support each other’s careers while maintaining shared family goals. Their marriage provides stability for their daughters.
- Define success personally. They’ve rejected Hollywood’s definition of success for their own. Fame matters less than family. Recognition matters less than integrity.
Why Oona’s Story Matters
In an era of oversharing, Oona Gray Seppala represents an alternative path. She proves that celebrity children can grow up without Instagram followers, red carpet appearances, or reality show contracts.
Her story challenges assumptions about what children of famous parents must become. She doesn’t owe the public access to her life. She doesn’t need to monetize her mother’s fame. She can simply be—privately, authentically, on her own terms.
This matters for young people everywhere. It demonstrates that you don’t need to perform your life for strangers. You can build identity, relationships, and purpose away from cameras and comments.
For parents—especially those with any level of public presence—the Seppälä-Rafferty approach offers a roadmap. You can protect your children while maintaining your career. You can share joy without exploiting your kids. You can build family bonds that matter more than public approval.
The Reality Behind the Privacy
Maintaining this level of privacy requires deliberate effort.
Sarah controls her social media carefully. She shares selectively. She never posts photos that reveal school names, home locations, or identifying details beyond what she chooses.
Santtu stays almost entirely out of public view. His LinkedIn and professional presence exist separately from his wife’s fame.
The family doesn’t attend every industry event. They skip opportunities for publicity that would expose the girls unnecessarily.
This takes discipline—especially when other celebrity parents leverage their children for brand partnerships, social media content, or publicity. The Seppälä-Rafferty family accepts this cost because they believe privacy matters more than opportunities that would compromise it.
Conclusion: Oona’s Unwritten Future
Oona Gray Seppala stands at the threshold of adulthood with possibilities wide open. She has education, cultural exposure, loving parents, and the freedom to choose her path.
She might pursue acting, following her mother into entertainment. She might choose finance or business, following her father’s footsteps. She might select something completely different—art, writing, medicine, law, tech, or anything else that captures her interest.
What matters most is that the choice is hers. Her parents have given her the gift of privacy, education, and unconditional support. They’ve modeled integrity, work ethic, and balanced living.
She’s inherited her mother’s warmth and her father’s steadiness. She’s experienced privilege without entitlement. She’s grown up with fame in the house without letting it define her.
As she writes her own story, fans of Sarah Rafferty will watch from a respectful distance—hoping for her happiness while honoring her privacy. That’s exactly as it should be.
FAQs
How old is Oona Gray Seppala now?
She is 18 years old as of January 2026, having been born on October 22, 2007.
Who are Oona Gray Seppala’s parents?
Her mother is actress Sarah Rafferty (Suits, Chicago Med), and her father is Aleksanteri “Santtu” Seppälä, a financial analyst and Vice President at Angeleno Group.
Does Oona have siblings?
Yes, she has one younger sister, Iris Friday Seppälä, born January 27, 2012.
Is Oona Gray Seppala on social media?
No, she does not maintain any public social media accounts. Her family prioritizes privacy.
Did Oona appear on Suits?
No, though she visited the set regularly during filming. Sarah Rafferty kept her daughters off-screen.
What is Oona’s cultural background?
She’s Finnish-American—her father is from Finland, and her mother is from Connecticut.