Last night (Thursday 26 July) saw the introduction of actress
Dorette Potgieter to e.tv's new soapie
Rhythm City, in the role of "tough gal" Gina.
Gina is a cynical tough cookie and ex-stripper who will be running David’s (
Jamie Bartlett) underground strip club empire.
David and Gina are ex-lovers, but were never officially together. Gina is the only person in whom David confides in. Although he belittles her sometimes, he regularly discusses his legal affairs with her.
It's the first major television role for Potgieter in some while. The blonde actress first made her name as "ice queen" Susan Bosman on
Egoli in 1997, playing the role for two years.
After matriculating with Drama and Ballet as one of her subjects, Dorette explored a career in theatre, film and international modelling.
She has made numerous guest appearances on television shows including
Charlie Jade,
Sorted, Fishy Feshuns, Madam & Eve,
Hard Copy and
Tshisa; and in the Afrikaans dramas Villa Rosa, Plek van die Vleisvreters and Soutmansland.
Potgieter has also been a guest presenter on shows such as
Pasella and
Top Billing, and had a role in the 2003 feature film
Citizen Verdict, starring
Armand Assante and
Jerry Springer.
Telly viewers will also recognise her from a number of television commercials, including a 1989 advert for Timotei (think girl in white with long blonde hair), and a more recent one for Auto & General, in which she and her "husband" are served by
an ultra-efficient waiter who knows exactly which dishes they want before they have a chance to order them.
She also appears in a cinema advert for Cell C, as a terrified woman in
a Psycho-like shower scene who is murdered by a madman for leaving her cellphone on during the movie.
e.tv has not revealed how long her Rhythm City contract is, but her character - Gina - seems set to get right into the thick of things.
Catch Dorette in Rhythm City every Monday to Friday at 18h30.
EXTRA RESOURCES
Dorette Potgieter Actor Profile
Rhythm City Mini-Site
Bee's Rhythm In The City Recap Blog