Suzanne van Oudtshoorn

Suzanne van Oudtshoorn (b.1946) was a once-off actress

Biography

Suzanne van Oudtshoorn was a physiotherapy student at the University of Pretoria (and one of the rag princesses) when director Elmo de Witt chose her for the title role in the film Debbie, based on the popular novel Groen Koring by Tryna du Toit. It dealt with the then touchy subject of illegitimate pregnancy and the Publications Control Board initially imposed a 4 to 16 age restriction, which was later increased by the Minister of the Interior to 4 to 21. Ironically this meant that at least theoretically the leading actress would not be allowed to attend the premiere – the restrictions were later rescinded. However, it was to be her only film appearance. The town of Oudtshoorn is named after one of her ancestors.

Sources

Le Roux, André I. & Fourie, Lilla – Filmverlede: geskiedenis van die Suid-Afrikaanse speelfilm (1982)

Sunday Times, 30 May 1965

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