Hélène Truter
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    Hélène Truter

Hélène Truter

Hélène Truter is a seasoned South African actress, screenwriter, and director with over three decades of experience in the entertainment industry. She began her career in the late 1980s and gained prominence in the 1990s. Truter is best known for her role as Poppie in the SABC2 sitcom Vetkoekpaleis, which aired from 1998 to 2005. She also contributed significantly to the South African television landscape as a scriptwriter, notably for Egoli – Plek van Goud, where she penned 300 episodes, and later as the head writer for Generations, Africa's most-watched soap opera, from 2001 to 2008. Additionally, Truter co-created and served as head writer for several acclaimed series, including Hart van Staal, Begeertes, Erfsondes, and Swartwater. In her acting career, Truter has portrayed various characters in popular South African TV dramas such as Amalia, Die Boekklub, Die Boland Moorde, Die Byl, Huis Lelieveld, and Swartwater. She has also appeared in films like Vir Altyd (2016), Klein Karoo (2013), and Running Riot (2006). Her contributions to the industry have been recognized with multiple South African Film and Television Awards (SAFTAs), including nominations for Best Supporting Actress and Best Achievement in Scriptwriting. Beyond her professional work, Truter is married to fellow actor and script editor Percy Pretorius, and they have a daughter, Jana Pretorius, a graduate of the Stellenbosch Academy of Photography and Design. The family owns a vintage shop named Amulet in Hermanus.

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