Biography

Karin started her television acting career at age 7, in the SABC Christmas production They Came from Afar. After studying a Bachelor of Arts and a Performers Diploma in Speech and Drama at the University of Cape Town, she performed in theaters across South Africa before getting a lead role in the soap opera Isidingo. She played the role of Maggie in the SABC 3 soap for 12 years. South African Television credits include roles in Zero Tolerance, Going Up, Hard Copy, Justice for All, Sorted, 7de Laan, Skeem Saam, Huis Lelieveld and Molly and Wors. International television work includes: The Three Investigators and Cape Town. In International Features Karin played Tant Sannie in The Story of an African Farm opposite Richard E Grant. The movie was re-released in USA as Bustin' Bonaparte. Karin also performed in international movies: Les Deux Mondes, Hoodlum and Son, Hey Boy, God is African and short films: The Witness and Hermit Rose. Karin has an extensive CV in theatre including many musicals. She played Lilly and Miss Hannigan (understudy) in Annie, Fraulein Kost in Cabaret, the Fairy Godmother in Sinderella and the witch in Bietses en Brousels as well as other roles in Boy Meets Boy and Scribble, the Musical. In 2008 Karin was nominated for the People Magazine's Crystal Award for Best Actress in a Soap Opera. In 2003 she was nominated for an Avanti Award for Best Supporting Actress in a Soap Opera. She won the FNB National Vita award for Best Performance by an Actress in a Comedy role and was nominated for another FNB Vita Award for Most Outstanding Performance in Musical Theatre. She also won both the FNB Vita Award and the Fleur du Cap award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role. In 2012 Karin won the SAFTA (South African Film and Television Award) for Best Actress in a Soap Opera for her role as Maggie in Isidingo. Karin was Casting Director for Endemol South Africa and Isidingo for 10 years and cast many television series and films including: Isidingo, Snitch, Mzansi, Zero Tolerance, Ready Steady Cook, Murmer, Swartwater, Desert Rose, Poppie Nongena and City S'esla. Both City S'esla and Isidingo have received numerous Golden Horn Awards and Karin received a Golden Horn award for Best Ensemble Cast for both productions. She is also an accomplished Script and Continuity Supervisor working on films such as A Royal Surprise and Goodbye Gogo.
- IMDb mini biography by: Karin van der Laag

Karin started acting on television when she was 7 years old.