From farm life to the small screen
Balancing motherhood, marriage, acting and a growing portfolio as a writer and director, Christel van den Bergh has built a career defined by versatility and relentless creative energy. Together with her husband, actor David Louw, she splits her time between the bustle of Gauteng and the wide-open serenity of their farm situated between Harrismith and Warden — a lifestyle she admits can be exhausting, yet deeply rewarding.
The seasoned performer, long familiar to audiences from the beloved kykNET soapie Getroud met Rugby, is currently captivating viewers in her latest role on the telenovela Diepe Waters. She portrays Leandri Viljoen, a former Olympic hurdler fiercely devoted to maintaining her high-achieving family's flawless public persona, all while contending with escalating violence and manipulation from her on-screen husband, Schalk Viljoen, played by Izak Davel.
"She's a nice challenging character for me because I'm actually still getting to know her. Her issues around pretending and radiating this perfect image to the outside, is actually just an age-old thing, isn't it? Even before social media. I've always believed that if you have enough respect for yourself, you don't even have to worry about what others think."
Van den Bergh describes Leandri as someone who lived for the approval of others rather than herself — a trait the actress says she does not share. She notes with a laugh that Leandri is "a bit prudish" but ultimately "half normal", making the character the first she has played who is not concealing some dark secret. The challenge, she says, lies in portraying someone so different from herself, though she finds that distance actually makes the performance easier.
New energy from young talent and fresh ambitions
Reuniting with longtime colleagues on set has been a source of joy for Van den Bergh, but it is the emergence of fresh faces that has truly reinvigorated her passion. She singles out Xander Venter, Chartyn van Heerden and Carla Schönfeldt — who play Leandri's three children — as performers who fill her with optimism about the next generation of South African artists. She describes the trio as remarkably talented and sincere, noting their genuine love for the craft without any obsession with celebrity.
Her friendship with co-star Izak Davel has also proved invaluable in navigating the show's heavier storylines. The pair keep things light between takes, a coping mechanism she considers essential when dealing with intense dramatic material. Returning to the soap opera and telenovela format after pursuing other creative ventures felt natural, she says — like muscle memory kicking in.
Beyond acting, Van den Bergh has been channelling her creative ambitions into several ambitious projects. These include writing and filming a lifestyle programme centred on hunting, as well as directing a poignant short documentary about the welfare organisation run by her friend, actress Hanna Grobler. She and Louw are also set to take to the stage later this year at the Vrystaatse Kunstefees in their popular theatrical comedy Trou is nicht perdekoop.
"There is purchasing power in Afrikaans content. Our viewers are loyal, proud and supportive. I'm excited to see how the industry will adapt again. Maybe it also makes other platforms or channels realize that they need to invest more in Afrikaans content? Yes, it's challenging, but to some extent also exciting."
Van den Bergh remains strikingly upbeat about the future of Afrikaans entertainment, even amid upheaval caused by changes at streaming platforms. She refuses to dwell on challenges or limitations, describing complacency with one's talents as almost sinful. Whether it is her maturity, her role as a parent or the grounding influence of farm life, she has resolved not to lose sleep over matters beyond her control. The pandemic, which left her without work for nearly three years, ultimately deepened her faith and taught her to live each day as it comes.
"After Hanna's movie, I just felt that I never wanted to complain again. We talked to a father and daughter who got a tin house after first living on an ash heap. When we asked the daughter what her dream was now, she said that — except for a 'vegetable garden and a little job' — she now has everything she dreamed of. These people live in extreme poverty and are so happy and grateful for everything. Such stories just bring you back down to earth."
It is this perspective — forged through community, service and a refusal to be consumed by self-interest — that continues to drive Van den Bergh forward in both her personal and professional life.
South Africa's Afrikaans entertainment industry continues to demonstrate resilience and growth, with seasoned performers expanding into writing, directing and stage production alongside television work. Observations about loyal Afrikaans audiences and the need for greater investment in local content highlight an evolving media landscape where homegrown storytelling holds significant commercial value. As streaming platforms reshape the industry, sustained demand for quality Afrikaans programming could encourage broader investment and create new opportunities for emerging artists nationwide.
