Nadia Valvekens (born 5 March 1982) is a South African actress best known for co-presenting the SABC2 reality show Die Nutsman.
The veteran actress is one of the longest-serving actors in the kykNet soap opera Binnelanders, having starred as Pippa Venter since the show’s first season in 2005. She played Nicole Kannemeyer on the soap opera 7de Laan.
| Nadia Valvekens | |
|---|---|
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| Personal Details | |
| Name: | Nadia Valvekens |
| Born: | 5 March 1982 (age 43 years old), Pretoria, Gauteng |
| Nationality: | South African |
| Parents: | Cecile (Mother) |
| Education: | Drama |
| Alma mater: | Technikon Pretoria |
| Occupation: | Actress |
| Spouse: | André Okes |
| Siblings: | Natasha (sister) |
Early Life
Nadia Valvekens was born on 5 March 1982 in Pretoria, Gauteng, South Africa. Her mother, Cecile, raised her and her younger sister, Natasha, in Centurion.
Education
Valvekens studied at Wierda Park Laërskool and matriculated at Eldoraigne Hoërskool. She had her first taste of drama in school and became involved with it for many years.
Wanting to pursue acting, Nadia Valvekens enrolled at Technikon Pretoria to study drama. She was part of many stage productions, including “Maid in the New South Africa”, for Clive Morris. She received her diploma in 2003.
Career
Valvekens began as a co-presenter with Riaan Venter on the DIY program Die Nutsman on SABC2. She later landed the role of Else, a temp secretary, in the soap opera Egoli: Place of Gold.
After which, Valvekens played small cameo roles in many productions until 2004. She landed the role of the jewellery designer Nicole Kannemeyer in SABC2 soap opera 7de Laan. She left the role in February 2005.
Valvekens has also played minor roles in local shows. She portrayed Brittney in the eTV soap opera Scandal and Petra in the SABC3 drama Dryfsand. She played Sanet Swarts in the kykNet telenovela Diepe Waters, and also appeared in Song vir Katryn on M-Net and Villa Rosa.
In 2002, Valvekens was cast in the short films Daddy and The Road. She portrays the orthopaedic nurse Pippa Venter in the M-Net soap opera Binnelanders, making her debut in 2005.
She reprised the role of Pippa in Binnelanders Buiteweste, a theatre production based on the soap opera Binnelanders, at the Aardklop Kunstefees in Potchefstroom in 2007.
Valvekens was nominated for Best Actress in a Telenovela or Soap as Sanet Swarts at the 2024 Silwerskerm Festival Awards and was announced the winner in 2025. She was the guest speaker at the SA Council of Business Women’s local awards.
Personal Life
Nadia Valvekens married a mechanical engineer, Englishman André Okes, in a wedding witnessed by about 60 friends and family members.
She had dated fellow actor Karl Thaning, whom she met while working at Binnelanders, for six months. She met her ex-boyfriend in her matric year in Pretoria. Even though she wanted the relationship to end, she waited for him to, but he didn’t. So she ended it on the night of their anniversary.
Filmography
| Shows | Roles |
|---|---|
| 7de Laan | Nicole Kannemeyer |
| Afgrond | Leoni Lottering |
| The Estate | Suzaan le Roux |
| Scandal! | Brittney |
| Projek Dina | Joyce |
| Hotel | Nadia |
| Egoli: Place of Gold | Else |
| Dryfsand | Petra |
| DIY Met Riaan | Co-Host |
| Diepe Waters | Sanet Swarts |
| Binnelanders | Pippa Venter |
| Alles Malan | Tessa |
References
- TheVibes Editors. “Nadia Valvekens: Biography, Age, Mother, Husband, Wedding“. The Vibes.
- “What to watch on Showmax in Nigeria in October 2024“. Showmax.
- “SA Council of Business Women local awards“. Mossel Bay Advertiser.
- Cornelia Le Roux. “Lights, camera, kykNET! And the winners of the Silwerskerm Awards for Film and TV are…”. The Citizen.
- https://www.tvsa.co.za/actors/viewactor.aspx?actorid=603
