Mathilde Hanekom

(1896-1976) Pioneering Afrikaans actress.

Had a travelling theatre group with husband Hendrik Hanekom. She toured with the National Theatre Organisation throughout 1948 with a company including André Huguenet, Siegfried Mynhardt, Leon Gluckman, Frank Wise, Lorna Cowell, Vivienne Drummond and Enone van den Bergh doing many productions. Starred in an Afrikaans translation of John Van Druten’s I Remember Mama in 1954. It was directed by Taubie Kushlick and also starred Wena Naudé and Johann Nell.

HANEKOM, Mathilde. (Original name "Mathilda" - Néé De Beer) (18*-19*) Actress. Born December 9, 1896 and raised in Beaufort West, she and her brother Thys de Beer became involved in local amateur dramatics. There she met and married Hendrik Hanekom on 5th August in 1918. She played lead roles in all their productions, and in June 1926 when they amalgamated with Paul de Groot, she became a member of the Paul de Groot Toneelgeselskap. **** With the founding of NTO, she did a number of plays for them, including Nag het die wind gebring (1948/49), Oupa Brompie (1950), Candida (1950), **Their daughter, Tilana Hanekom, also became an actress, and was married to actor and manager Eghardt van der Hoven.

Died in Pretoria on December 29, 1976.

HANEKOM, Mathilda. Pioneering Afrikaans actor. Lead a travelling theatre group with husband Hendrik. She toured with the National Theatre throughout 1948 with a company including André Huguenet, Siegfried Mynhardt, Leon Gluckman, Frank Wise, Lorna Cowell, Vivienne Drummond and Enone van den Bergh doing many productions. Starred in an Afrikaans translation of John Van Druten’s I Remember Mama in 1954. It was directed by Taubie Kushlick and also starred Wena Naudé and Johann Nell.