Nina Swart returns to soaps as Elzette Potgieter in Suidooster

Seasoned actress Nina Swart has returned to the world of soap operas, joining the cast of kykNET’s Suidooster as Elzette Potgieter.

Swart arrives in the fictional Ruiterbosch neighbourhood as the mother of Justin, played by Eden Classens, at a crucial point in his life as his wedding to Frankie, played by Mienke Ehlers, approaches.

The role marks Swart’s return to soaps more than two decades after she appeared as Wilmien de Lange in 7de Laan.

Nina Swart on her return to acting

Swart’s return in front of the camera came after an unexpected gap opened between her directing projects.

“Earlier this year, I realised that I had a gap between directing projects during the second half of winter. The gap came about because of unexpected changes in the television landscape.

“I started thinking about everything I could do besides directing, but what interests me at the moment requires a degree of recognition and a ‘name’. I’m interested in people on a social-psychological level. I’m not afraid of appearing in front of people, and I’d like to work with groups to achieve goals. It’s a lot like being a director, but with the focus on self-discovery and development.”

Swart said spending so much time away from the spotlight also influenced her decision to return to acting.

“It had been so long since I was in the spotlight that people probably no longer knew who I was – apart, perhaps, from a small percentage of older 7de Laan viewers. To put my name in the ring and be able to work with people on a larger scale, I had no option but to step in front of the cameras again.”

She contacted Suidooster creative producer Colin Howard, whom she has known for 25 years.

“I called Colin Howard, the creative producer on Suidooster. We’ve known each other for 25 years. He was very kind and offered me the role of Elzette.”

Who is Elzette Potgieter?

Elzette arrives in Ruiterbosch as Justin approaches his wedding to Frankie.

Swart describes her character as a driven woman who has built a career helping others.

“Elzette is a driven woman whose career is devoted to fighting for people who need help. Her work involves connecting large corporations with NGOs and securing funding. She’s a doer – when she sees a problem, she wants to solve it. That drive is what has made her successful internationally.”

Her dedication to her career has also affected other areas of her life.

“She devoted the first part of her life to her family, but at some point decided to follow her own passion. That may simply be the kind of person she is, though it may also stem from a touch of guilt: in recent years, she has been utterly devoted to her work and has become something of a workaholic.”

Returning to soaps after two decades

Despite the time between her roles in 7de Laan and Suidooster, Swart said the experience of working on a soap has changed surprisingly little.

“I can honestly say that very little has changed. The cameras may be better (after all, we now broadcast in high definition), and the post-production process is naturally more digital, but beyond that it is the same.”

One major difference, she said, is the type of stories audiences now see.

“Perhaps the greatest change lies in how different the storylines look from 25 years ago. Characters and storylines that would have been regarded as daring then are commonplace today. It makes me happy to see how far our viewers have grown and changed in that respect.”

What makes soap operas different?

For Swart, the ongoing nature of a soap creates a different relationship between audiences and characters.

“My sense is that viewers know a drama series or film is a once-off. It is an entity with an ending; it reaches a conclusion. You are invited to watch and respond to it.

“With a soap, there is no ending; the invitation is to share in the experience and live alongside it. The interaction between viewer and soap is therefore more intimate than that between viewer and drama or film.”

Adjusting from director to actor

Returning to the demanding production schedule also meant Swart had to adjust from overseeing an entire production to concentrating solely on her performance.

“Ha-ha! I don’t think I did adjust! Learning lines and preparing are part of the job every day.

“As a director, I am deeply involved in, and responsible for, every aspect of a production. As an actor, you’re responsible only for your part.

“I constantly struggled to focus only on my own small part and my own work – my mind was often occupied with lighting problems, questions about storylines and ideas for systemic improvements. I had to keep reminding myself that it wasn’t my job.”

Swart’s arrival as Elzette brings her back to the soap genre while introducing a new figure into Ruiterbosch as Justin prepares for a major moment in his life.

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