Emma van Heyn on her role as Dalene in Eksie Perfeksie

Emma van Heyn (Matilda en Matthys, Twintig Tone In ’n Hangkas) stars in the Showmax Original raunchcom Eksie Perfeksie as Dalene, who is still friends with all her exes – something her new boyfriend (Pietie Beyers) doesn’t like at all. 

Watch the trailer for Eksie Perfeksie

With Eksie Perfeksie premiering on Showmax this Friday, 9 August 2024, Rozanne Els sat down with Emma to hear more about her chemistry with Pietie, composing the film’s soundtrack, and farting in the bath… 

How would you describe Dalene? 

Dalene is extremely dynamic: she’s smart, independent and loves a bit of adventure. But she is also terribly naive. 

Are you very different from each other or was it easy to find common ground?

At first I didn’t think I resonated with Dalene – until I talked to Corné [Koegelenberg, the writer-director]. I then realised that in high school I was a version of Dalene. I was definitely not as rough with the boys as she was [laughs], but I was a wild child and a big extrovert. I was an incredibly spontaneous person, adventurous, and always open to a joke. I loved making new friends, and many of my pals were guys. So it was quite confusing for my 17-year-old brain when guys I was friends with suddenly had a crush on me or told me they were in love with me. I just didn’t understand it at all. But during filming I went to look at photos of me at that time, and saw how loving I was with my boys – maybe a little too loving! [laughs] I didn’t realise then that I messed with the poor guys’ feelings. 

In the movie, the concept of different types of people in relationships is depicted by means of a list consisting of eight types. What number would you classify yourself as?

I find the classification so cute! I would say I’m a talker: a 1. My nickname is Elsie Geselsie and everyone who knows me knows that I can talk an awful lot and really enjoy talking [laughs]. 

But I believe that one can change. I think it has a lot to do with the person you are in a relationship with and the effect that person has on you. If you are with the right person and you are willing to work on yourself and willing to open your eyes to see how you can grow, then I feel most of us have the potential to be an Anneline Kriel [number 8, a bride]. 

The spark between you and Pietie is already on fire from that first scene, from the time Dalene sits down at his table with that look (and then how she eats his chip). How did you and Pietie create those sparks?

Sometimes you feel a spark and sometimes you don’t. But what Pietie and I have is a type of spark that can sometimes actually feel overwhelming. Pietie creates the space for me to be able to give 150% and more in every scene, and I have always wanted to create the same space for him. We are actually very sensitive to each other and I feel this has helped tremendously with Dalene and André. There is this constant ebb and flow between them. Playing opposite Pietie feels like you’re on a rollercoaster, but you’re also so safe and strapped in. For me, this is literally the greatest gift an actor can ask for.

What was it like working with Corné as a director? 

I really enjoyed working with Corné. I first met him at Silwerskerm through Bibi Slippers. Then the first time I worked with him was on Bibi’s romcom Matilda en Matthys, where he played a cameo role as a delivery man. I literally had to cry all day that day, because we shot a crying montage. He made me laugh so much, but at the same time I had to cry all the time, and it was just such a mixed bag of emotions. The way he handled it was really great for me and I felt very safe. 

There were challenges because Corné likes to force me out of my comfort zone. For example, there is a scene where Dalene farts in the bath. It was really horrible for me to do that and so against my grain. I was low-key traumatised!  [laughs]

Corné is a visionary and if he has an idea, it’s really worth trying, even if sometimes it feels like you struggle to find yourself in the moment. I am grateful for that; it kept me on my toes and improved my game. 

I also did the music for Eksie Perfeksie, so I worked very closely with Corné on that too. The whole process was fantastic: it was nice to get into his head and wonderful to also give life to his vision with music.

What’s it like to do both the acting and the music this time? 

As an actor, you step in and do your thing, but you never really know what’s going to happen in post-production. So to see those choices and then also how I can fill them in even further and paint them with sound is really wonderful. 

What are the themes that will resonate most strongly with viewers?

It is definitely a movie about self-awareness. To be willing to break patterns that are actually destroying your relationships and your life so that you can then move forward. If you are willing to grow, it can end up having wonderful consequences. There are also themes of resistance, reflection, and looking at the people around you and your value systems.

Why should people watch Eksie Perfeksie?

People should watch it because it’s a big treat, a masterpiece of comedy from start to finish. It’s not for the sissies, but it’s light enough for anyone to have fun and enjoy themselves while watching it. You will not be bored for a moment. I have a feeling viewers will also be blown away by the ensemble actors, especially the group of exes, and the likes of Cindy Swanepoel and Maude Sandham!

Join the conversation:  #EksiePerfeksieShowmax

You can also catch Emma on Showmax as Matilda in Matilda en Matthys, opposite Adrian Steyn, and at Silwerskerm in the knockout romcom Gebokste Liefde, starring Tarryn Wyngaard, premiering on Friday, 30 August 2024.