Elma Postma (born 6 September 1978) is a South African actress and presenter. She is best known for her acting roles on 7de Laan, Binnelanders and Isidingo. As a presenter, she's most recognised for presenting the first few seasons of the South African version of Farmer Wants a Wife.^[1][2]

She was born on 6 September 1978 in South Africa.^{[citation needed]}

She is married to her longtime partner Paul Potgieter.^[3] The couple married at Kuthaba Bush Lodge in Limpopo on 14 December 2016. In an exclusive interview with Huisgenoot dated 15 June 2023, it was revealed that the pair emigrated to Canada.

Television

In 2000, she made her television debut on the popular SABC2 soapie 7de Laan where she played the role of 'Dezi Terreblanche'. She eventually left the show in June 2007. She returned to the world of acting in 2010 when she starred as 'Dr. Sara van Graan' in the widely popular SABC2 drama series, The Mating Game alongside the likes of Renate Stuurman, Maggie Benedict, Khabonina Qubeka and Lindelani Nkosi. The series went on to win a South African Film and Television Awards (SAFTA) for Best Ensemble Cast. In 2011, she joined the cast of kykNET soap opera Binneland which was initially referred to as Binnelanders. In the soap, she played the lead role 'Bea Basson'.^[3] She later reunited with Khabonina Qubeka and Lindelani Nkosi in 2017, who played her friend and boss - respectively, on the long-running SABC3 soap Isidingo. Elma played the role of 'Lalage Lategan' on the show until it was cancelled in 2020. As Lalage, she was also reunited with another co-star, Deanre Reiners who played her son's friend, Emil on Binnelanders. On Isidingo, he portrayed her son Zandre Lategan.

Film

She made her film debut in 2011 as Sister Suzaan in the film Superhelde and went on to star in several other Afrikaans films such as 'n Man Soos My Pa in 2015 and Wonderlus in 2017.

Presenting

Her presenting debut was on the kykNET breakfast TV program 'Ontbytsake'. She followed this up by presenting the first three seasons of the reality show 'Boer Soek 'n Vrou'.^[4]

Theatre

She's starred in several theatre productions at art festivals, including Heart Sins in 2004 directed by Henry Mylne, Haaks in 2005, Monsters in 2006 directed by Pierre van Pletzen and Hell on Heaven and Earth directed by Vicky Davis. In 2014, she joined the radio broadcast of Die Nag van Legio.^[5]

Music

Apart from acting, Postma is skilled at playing instruments such as the cello and clarinet. In February 2023 she visited her childhood music school, NW Musikon, and donated her clarinet.

Media

She's graced the covers of several magazines in South Africa including: Rooi Rose, Huisgenoot, Sarie, TV Plus, Vrouekeur, TimeOut, Tydskrif, Insig, and Leef.^[3]

On 18 February 2006, Elma was bitten by a lion while on a family visit to a lion farm near Klerksdorp. After she moved closer to tame lions through the fence when her ring got caught in one of the lion’s claws. When she attempted to dislodge the ring from the claw, the tamed lion became distressed and bit her hand. While her fingers were severely damaged, doctors managed to repair the damaged fingers.^[1]