Wena Naudé
(1905-1978) Actress for stage and screen and company manager.
(Also billed over years as Wani Naudé, Wina Naudé, Wania Naudé, Wenda Naudé, and Vena Naudé)
Contents
Biography
Born 31 December, 1905 in Volksrust, Transvaal, and baptised Agnes Alwena Naudé. She died in Pretoria on 6 September 1978. She was married to Willem van Zyl.
Training
Career
Her first appearance was as a servant girl in Huis Toe for Paul de Groot in 1925. In June 1926, when Hendrik Hanekom and Paul de Groot amalgamated, she became a member of the new Paul de Groot Toneelgeselskap. For them she did Oorskotjie (1926), In 1928 she was given a second company, with which she toured under the De Groot banner, playing . In 1928 the company split and she joined Hendrik Hanekom's Afrikaanse Toneelgeselskap, for whom she did Oorskotjie and the lead in Onskuldig Veroordeel (a role in which she was billed as "the Mary Pickford of South Africa") in 1928-29, Die Uur van Vergelding ("The Hour of Retribution" ostensibly by "Friedrich Gunter") in 1930. In 1930 she married Willem van Zyl, and later the year they became Hendrik Hanekom's partners when the company was renamed the Hanekom-Van Zyl Geselskap. She did Wie is Wie (Who is Who by Will Evans) and Die Silwer Koning (The Silver King by H.A. Jones) for this company in 1931. She also played By die ou Meulstroom for André Huguenet's new company in 1938. . See *** by **. Involved in the professionalization of theatre. For example in 1936 she was on the first executive of the shortlived Toneelbond founded by the F.A.K. and an advisor to its Toneelburo (1937).
Contribution to SA theatre, film, media and/or performance
One of the truly great Afrikaans actresses of stage and screen.
On stage she has appeared in Huistoe (1925-6), Die Inbreker by van Ees on tour 1927, led by WN, As Mans Huishou (1927), Oorskotjie (1928), Onskuldig Veroordeel (1929), Die Silwer Koning (circa 1931), Van Riet van Rietfontein (Amsterdam 1934), Die Verstoteling (circa 1935), Klein Lagduiweltjie produced by her company circa 1935, By die ou Meulstroom (1938), Vergewe en Vergeet (1945), Die Ryk Weduwee (NTO 1953), Ek Onthou vir Mamma (1954), Die Wit Perde van Rosmersholm (1955), Bruidjie Dit en Bruidjie Dot (1964), Die Lewe wat ek jou Gegee het (1964), Op Hoop van Seën (1964), Tartuffe in Afrikaans (1968), Moenie Praat Nie (1968), Die Idioot (1969), Die Vader (1969), Kwart voor Dagbreek (date unknown).
Film roles include Die Vlugteling, Die Vlindervanger (film), Voor Sononder, Hans die Skipper, Jy's Lieflik Vanaand.
Awards, etc
She received the "Erepenning vir Toneelkuns" from the Academy in 1954.
She became honorary member of the actors equity union in 1971, and in 1975 Pact honoured her with a special award during the golden jubilee celebrations of the professional theatre in South Africa. A room is devoted to her and her work in the National Afrikaans Literature Museum and Research Centre in Bloemfontein, and a bust of her was later unveiled at the Johannesburg Civic Theatre.
Sources
Tucker, 1997.
Helikon, 4(16), 1954.
Theron, FA Record Title:The contribution of Wena Naude to Afrikaans theatre and cinema. MA [1990 - 1991] University of Pretoria.
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