Wilna Snyman
(b. Kimberley, 14/09/1935). Actress. won the Computicket Award for Best Actress in 1975, 1977 and 1978. Won a Rapport “Oscar” in 1979. Performed in Maria Stuart, Ampie-oppie-Dickens, Die Seemeeu, Siener in die Suburbs, Kanna Hy Kô Hystoe, Vroue van Troje, Anastasia, Die Vader, Die Kersietuin (with PACT). (SACD 1973) (SACD 1977/78) (SACD 1978/79) (SACD1979/80) (SACD 1980/81)
(1935-) Stage and TV actress. Born in Kimberley, she studied drama under Babs Laker One of the foremost character actresses of the 1970s to the 1990s, she **** Among her more prominent portrayals for PACT are Oom Wanja, directed by Robert Mohr in 1969, *** , ****, In 1976 she played ** in Vroue van Troje for the Market Theatre. In TV she became nationally known for her role as “Madel” in the long-running and popular Afrikaans soap opera Sewende Laan (“Seventh Avenue”). SNYMAN, Wilna. She starred in and received a Best Actress award for her role in Adam Small’s Kanna, hy kô Hystoe which was staged at the Alexander in 1974. She starred in François Swart’s production of P.G. du Plessis’ ‘n Seder Val in Waterkloof together with Annette Engelbrecht, Don Lamprecht, Franz Marx and Johan Malherbe was a huge success for PACT in 1975. She starred in Barney Simon’s production of an Afrikaans translation of The Women of Troy together with Aletta Bezuidenhout, Grethe Fox, Sandra Prinsloo and Jana Cilliers at the Market Theatre in 1977. She starred in Die Kersietuin (Chekhov’s The Cherry Orchard) directed by Robert Möhr, together with David van der Merwe, Rika Sennett and Carel Trichardt for PACT in 1979. She starred in Schlengemann’s Die Drie van der Walts together with Don Lamprecht and Errol Ross with direction by François Swart for PACT in 1979. She starred in Eduardo di Filippo’s Filumena, directed by François Swart, which formed part of the opening season of the Pretoria State Theatre in 1981. She starred in an Afrikaans translation of James Goldman’s The Lion in Winter called Die Leeu in die Winter together with Louis van Niekerk under direction from Francois Swart for PACT in 1982. She starred in Bobby Heaney’s production of Jean Genet’s The Maids at the Windybrow in 1987. She starred in Dieter Reible’s revival of The Lion in Winter in 1988. She starred in James Kirkwood’s Legends at the Andre Huguenet in 1988. She starred in Deon Opperman’s Stille Nag at the Adcock-Ingram Theatre in 1989. She starred in Deon Opperman’s Dear Mrs Steyn at the Windybrow in October 1999 . Her autobiography, *** came out in 200* SNYMAN, Wilna: (60) 1995. Kimberley gebore. Klas by Babs Laker. Speel in Herman Steytler se Vyf dogters. Na vier amateurproduksies vir Jaats bied NTO haar ‘n permanente aanstelling aan. Later verhuis sy weer Kaap toe, hervat klasse by Babs en doen radiowerk onder Suzanne van Wyk. Doen Die Teken deur Deon Opperman by Upstairs by die Mark. Ook Stille Nag van hom. Later ook Dear Mrs Steyn en Sweet Sorrows. Ernst Eloff speel ook daarin. Die Leeu in die Winter speel sy Eleanor. Louis van Niekerk speel ook. Reza de Wet se Mis in 1994. Kanna hy kô hystoe. Sy speel Anastasia, Die Vroue van Troje, Hamlet. Francois Swart (dir), First Monday in October, 1980, CAPAB. (First English role). Theodora, 1981, Staatsteater, Pta. Bloedbruilof – Federico Garcia Lorca, Regie: Francois Swart, Vertaling: A Brink; met Jacques Loots & Johan Malherbe. Ontwerp: Chris v/d berg, Sand du Plessis Theatre, Aug. 1985. Don Juan onder die boere – Bartho Smit; Regie: Francois Swart, Pierre van Pletzen, Arnold Vosloo, Johan Malherbe, Jacque Loots. Ontwerp: dekor – Johan Badenhorst; Kostuums: James Parker; Sand du Plessis Theatre, 1985.
Nominee 1991 Snyman, Wilna in `Dear Mrs Steyn' (Johannesburg Repetory Players Award for best actress in a leading role in English);
Vita Award as Best Supporting Actress for her role in the PACOFS production of Gulls, 1992.
Sources
Tucker, 1997
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