Simoné Nortmann
Simoné Pretorius is a South African actress, director, screenwriter and producer. As an actress Pretorius is best known for portraying Irma Humpel in the 2016 Afrikaans biographical film Vir die voëls, for which she gained prominence and international recognition. In 2024 she makes her screenwriting and directorial debut for the award-winning, "Som van Twee", that won seven awards at the Cape Town Silwerskerm festival, including for Best Director and Best Screenplay.
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Early life
Simoné is born on 18 May 1990 in Pretoria, South Africa. Both her parents served in the South African Air Force. Her father, Hannes Nortmann, served in the South African Border War and was awarded the Honoris Crux Award for bravery in 1988. Her mother, Tinkie Nortmann, noticed her daughter's passion for acting when she one day climbed on top of KFC’s counter and started performing for the patrons. Pretorius was a natural leader and achiever in her school years, serving as Headgirl in Primary School as well as her High School, Hoërskool Centurion, and passing matric with seven distinctions. She went on to earn a BDram degree in Theatre Studies from Stellenbosch University and serving on the Student Representative Council in 2012.Career
Film
In 2015 she attends a three-week acting workshop led by Academy Award nominee and Broadway regular, Diane Venora, in California. Shortly after returning to South Africa she lands her first film role as the lead, Irma Humpel, in Huisgenoot Magazine's award-winning biopic, "Vir die Voëls" for which she received her first international nod by winning Best Actress at Tallgrass International Film Festival in 2017. Pretorius also won Best Actress for the same film at the Tempo Awards in 2017. She subsequently went on to star in South African box office hits and international film festival winning films "Vuil Wasgoed", "Stroomop", "Wonderlus", and "Vlugtig". She makes her international acting debut in Hallmark's "A Safari Romance" as antagonist, Amy Bradshaw in 2023. She also plays Jolene in Showmax's, "Die Onderonsie".She makes her debut as film director and screenwriter in 2024 for the film, "Som van Twee" that premieres at the Silwerskerm festival in Camps Bay. She also co-produces the film with Dries Scholtz under her own production company, Second Circle Films. The film walks away with ten nominations as well as seven wins, including for Best Film.