Elma Postma
What’s going on in your favourite actress’s head?
When Elma Postma joined Isidingo (1998- current, see more on p18) in 2017 as housewife Lalage, she knew that her character wouldn’t be happy knitting at home until her husband Hendrik (Gérard Rudolf) and kids Anja and Zandre (Lee Visagie and Dèanré Reiners) came home. “Lalage has always felt that there is more to her life,” explains Elma. Lalage is now working as a PA at the Bokamoso Hotel and living a whole new life as if she was another character entirely. And with over 18 years of TV work to her name, 43-year-old Elma knows her stuff when it comes to the industry…
What was the first TV show you acted out with friends? It’s a little vague [Laughs]… but I remember that we made our own radio shows and recorded them.
Who was your first TV crush? Jason Priestley, who played Brandon Walsh in teen drama Beverly Hills 90210 (1990-2000). Yes, I know… [Laughs]
What did you do when an “adult” moment came on while watching TV with your family?
I blushed, but I didn’t really know what was going on back then.
What item/product have you wanted ever since you saw it on TV?
I usually skip through the ad breaks. Technology is amazing!
Whose TV wardrobe do you want?
All the women from period drama Downton Abbey (2010-2015)! But then I’d have to live in that era.
Whose TV house would you love to live in?
The manors in Downton Abbey. Did you know that they’re actually real-life manor houses that people live in and not sets that were built for the series?
What shows are you fanatical about now?
Medical drama Grey’s Anatomy (2005- current), reality cooking show MasterChef Australia (2009- current), superhero series The Flash (2014- current) and royal period dramas The Crown and Victoria (both 2016- current).
If you worked behind the scenes, which job would you want and why?
Definitely make-up and set design. I qualified as a make-up artist years ago, so I have a creative side. Maybe something like production co-ordinator as well – I am a good organiser, like my character Lalage.
What is your favourite plot twist from a show?
Working in TV makes it kind of easy to predict storylines, which can suck. So I really love it when the show takes a completely different angle and I’m sitting there saying to myself, “Wow, I did not see that coming.”
Which character is your favourite hero and why?
Wonder Woman [played by Gal Gadot in the 2017 movie of the same name]. She’s just so beautiful, strong and honest in her quests.
What is your nightmare scenario while filming?
An outside shoot while there’s a rainstorm. I don’t think that has ever happened during my career, but it would be a nightmare.
With all the reboots happening, which series would you like to reboot and be part of?
Fantasy series Buffy The Vampire Slayer (1996-2003; a reboot is currently being planned for early 2019). I loved the growth of the characters and their storylines. I only recently discovered it and couldn’t stop watching. The special effects were sometimes terrible, but you fall in love with the characters. I don’t think it will be the same if it’s rebooted, so maybe I’d rather have loved to have been in the original.
If you could play any character on any show, who would it be and why?
The queen in a medieval series! I absolutely love historical dramas. The costumes, the hair and those incredible sets!
What show are you binging on currently?
Grey’s Anatomy. Yes, I know… [Laughs]
What show and episode made you cry most recently?
Beauty & The Beast (2017) – I watched the movie on the smallscreen, so that counts as “TV”, right? I’m a sucker for a little romance and fairytales.
Your favourite TV icon is?
Meryl Streep and Reese Witherspoon – they have made the move into television and I’m looking forward to them in season 2 of thriller Big Little Lies (2017current). And Dame Judi Dench (the Duchess Of York in 2016 miniseries The Hollow Crown). I admire their longevity and their integrity as human beings. They are unpretentious.