10 Interesting Facts About Skeem Saam’s Harriet Manamela (Meikie Maputla)
10 Interesting Facts About Skeem Saam’s Harriet Manamela (Meikie Maputla). Hate her or hate her, Meikie Maputla is the reason a lot of people tune in to watch Skeem Saam every weekday. The feisty character is played by the one and only Harriet Manamela.
1. Harriet Manamela was born on the 13th of October 1971, in in Diepkloof,
2. She matriculated from St. Anthony’s Centre in Boksburg. joined Squints Artists Community Theatre Group in Alexandra and performed in The Virus and Let’s Talk About Aids at The Market Theatre Laboratory Annual Festival.
3. With The Market Theatre Laboratory drama school she performed in Broken Dreams, appeared in Theatre Sports for SABC3, toured Sweden with Gommorah, Koze Kuse Bash, Ways of Dying, Bozoli at The Market Theatre and The Grahamstown Arts Festival.
4. The award winning actress’ television career started in 1998 with Soul City, Isidingo, Yizo Yizo II, Justice For All II & III, Zero Tolerance, Soul Buddyz and Behind The Badge.
5. She is most famous for acting as “Meikie Maputla” on SABC 1’s soap Skeem Saam.
6. Meikie is a businesswoman who works for her husband at the Maputla supermarket. She is highly protective over her children, and will take on anything that threatens the well being of her family. She has lied, bullied her daughter-in-law, and she has even shot and killed a man who held her family hostage.
7. In 2012 Manamela scooped a SAFTA for Best Supporting Actress for her role in the film ‘Life Above All’ and was later nominated in the Vita awards for Best Supporting Actress, for her role in a then popular Soapie.
8. In 2013 she joined the e.tv soapie Rhythm City in the role of Nomzamo, Suffocate’s alcoholic mother who has been drinking heavily for decades and uses alcohol as a coping mechanism.
9. The films that she has starred in include Dr Lucille, Hijack Stories, Country of My Skull and Yesterday. She also played the lead in ‘My Other Mother’.
10. Manamela has been divorced for over 20 years. Her marriage lasted for six years and she has three children with her ex husband.
