Renate Stuurman is one of South Africa’s top actresses. She has worked in films, TV shows, and theatre for over 20 years. Born in Cape Town in 1978, she plays real-life women with many sides to their personalities. She started as a drama fan in Cape Town and became a SAFTA award winner. She appears in small theatre plays, popular TV dramas, and Netflix movies, making her important in South African entertainment today.
Profile Summary
| Full Name | Renate Stuurman |
| Date of Birth | December 8, 1978 |
| Place of Birth | Cape Town, South Africa |
| Nationality | South African |
| State of Origin | Western Cape |
| Partner | Vuyolwethu Ngcukana (former, ended 2023) |
| Children | No biological children |
| Occupations | Actress, Baker, Mentor/Educator |
| Net Worth | Estimated $50,000 – $500,000 USD |
Early Life and Education
Renate Stuurman first loved performing in Cape Town. In primary school, she took ballet classes and played the angel Gabriel in a nativity play. This started her interest in the stage. In high school, drama classes grew from her playground stories. She did kids’ theatre shows during holidays.
Her parents worried about acting jobs being unstable. She picked drama over ballet after seeing a pantomime. This convinced her family she was meant for it. In 1999, she got a Drama degree from Rhodes University in Grahamstown. She learned from experts like choreographer Gary Gordon.
Career
After 1999 graduation, Stuurman moved to Johannesburg for TV and film opportunities, starting with early 2000s roles. Her television breakthroughs included Denise in 7de Laan (SABC2), Jade in Isidingo (SABC3), and Tamia Bardill in Scandal! (eTV), plus medical dramas like Jozi-H, Binnelanders as Dr. Charnay Adams, and Hartklop as Dr. Veronica Pietersen (2024 SAFTA nominee).
She won a 2011 SAFTA for Best Ensemble in The Mating Game. Films feature Princess in Happiness Is a Four-letter Word (2016, SAFTA nominee), its Netflix sequels Happiness Ever After (2021) and Happiness Is (2024), plus The Giver (2014), Zama Zama (2012), and Wild Is the Wind (2022).
In theatre, she starred in Suddenly the Storm at the Market Theatre, favoring it for deep character work while mentoring interns and running BakedByRenate.
Personal Life
Stuurman keeps her private life low-key. She dated actor Vuyolwethu Ngcukana from The Queen from 2018 to 2023, sharing public moments until their split amid reported issues. She has no biological children; her ex has three daughters. This allows career flexibility. Her parents supported her arts path but stay private.
She runs a bakery called BakedByRenate, blending passion and income. With 161,000 Instagram followers at @renatestuurman, she shares lifestyle, quotes, and work updates. Fluent in English and Afrikaans, she reflects her diverse Cape Town roots.
Renate Stuurman Net Worth
Stuurman’s net worth sits between $50,000 and $500,000 USD, from TV, films, theatre, Netflix deals, and baking. Her awards and steady work ensure stability in South African entertainment.
Filmography
Feature Films
| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Happiness Is | Princess |
| 2021 | Happiness Ever After | Princess |
| 2022 | Wild Is the Wind | Doctor Dube |
| 2019 | Holiday in the Wild | Tabitha |
| 2018 | Table Manners | Lindiwe |
| 2016 | Happiness Is a Four-letter Word | Princess |
| 2014 | The Giver | Dinah |
| 2012 | Zama Zama | Sofia Phiri |
| 2009 | The Prisoner | 21-16 |
| 2007 | Meisie | Esmeralda September |
Television Series (Selection)
| Year | Series | Role | Network |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023-Present | Hartklop | Dr. Veronica Pietersen | kykNET |
| 2018 | Unmarried | Brenda | e.tv |
| 2010 | The Mating Game | Roxanne Davids | M-Net |
| 2006-2010 | Scandal! | Tamia Bardill | eTV |
| 2004-2008 | Isidingo | Jade | SABC3 |
| 2000-2005 | 7de Laan | Denise | SABC2 |
Awards and Nominations
Major Awards
South African Film and Television Awards (SAFTA) – Best Ensemble Cast (2011) – WINNER
- The Mating Game
Nominations
SAFTA – Best Supporting Actress in a Feature Film (2017)
- Happiness Is a Four-letter Word
SAFTA – Best Supporting Actress in a Television Drama (2024)
- Hartklop
Her consistent casting in top projects underscores her industry standing.
