Hélène Truter

TRUTER, Hélène (19**-). A South African actress and television scriptwriter best known for her starring role as Poppie in the SABC2 sitcom Vetkoekpaleis, from 1998-2005. She studied drama at the University of Stellenbosch Drama Department.

Started her script writing career in the early nineties when she joined the Egoli – Plek van Goud scripwriting team. She wrote three hundred Egoli – Plek van Goud episodes before joining the Generations script department as Assistant Head writer in 1997.

Took over in 2001 as Head Writer on Africa's biggest soap, Generations. In the seven years with the serial she wrote over 180 scripts and conceptualised over 700 episodes.

She conceptualised and co-wrote the 39-part drama series Hart van Staal, which was screened on kykNET and later on M-Net.

This was followed by another serial, Begeertes, also commissioned by kykNET. Once again, she was head-writer and co-writer of this series.

Together with Henrietta Gryffenberg, Hélène was on the original creative team for Erfsondes. She was also the creator and head writer of the SABC2 drama series Swartwater.

As television actress she played the parts of Tina Wilsenach in Amalia (seasons 1&2), Elna in Erfsondes (season 4), Mrs van Tonder in Home Affairs (season 4), and Meisie van Rensburg in Swartwater (season 1).