As a novice actress, she started with a flirty supporting role in Goede Tijden, Slechte Tijden (Good Times, Bad Times), followed a few years later by small appearances in Bitches, Het glazen huis (The Glass House) and the series version of Costa!
A regular role followed later on HotNews.nl, broadcast on the children's channel Jetix. Schaap played Maja, one of those teenage reporters for an online magazine. From there, she moved on in 2006 to a guest role on Keyzer en de Boer Advocaten, where she returned a few years later in another guest role (2008).
Schaap's name then began to circulate in the Dutch film and television world. Schaap appeared in several films, including Bride Flight, The Marathon, and Matterhorn, and over the years, he occasionally appeared in De vloer op, an improvisational program that was occasionally revived.
She also does this in Welcome to the Golden Age, a sketch show in which Schaap plays various roles. Later, she also follows Welcome to the Romans, Welcome to the Iron Age, and Welcome to the Eighty Years' War, shortly after guest appearances on Doris and Thijs's Girls. Ultimately, Schaap's real breakthrough came in 2015.
This breakthrough immediately demonstrates her versatility. On the one hand, there's Familie Kruys, in which she takes on the role of Ruxandra, playing a pregnant Romanian bride. Funny, fun, and hilarious all at once. On the other hand, there's De TV Kantine. Here, Schaap ventures into parodies of Dutch celebrities—from Sylvie Meis to Famke Louise—and makes a brilliant splash.
By now quite a name for herself, Schaap also appears in Soof: A New Beginning, while she returns to the 'Welcome to...' sketch series with Welcome to the 1920s and 1930s. She can also be seen briefly in Barrie Barista and the End of Times, as well as in I.M.
That's all after a very different role. In 2019, Schaap appeared in the Netflix series Undercover, starring the legendary Frank Lammers as Ferry. Schaap shines alongside him as best she can, as Danielle van Marken, the girlfriend of the notorious drug lord. Her character develops from a gentle friend to a key figure in a criminal universe. She also reprised this role in the prequel film Ferry. She returns as Danielle again in Ferry: The Series.
In 2021, between her Undercover work, Schaap was nominated for a Golden Calf for her role in the film "My Flater is an Airplane." She also appeared in Soof 3 and appeared in the series "Exen," among others. In 2023, she returned to the "Welkom in" series, again as a parody of presenter Yvon Jaspers, this time in "Welkom bij de Oranje." Another sketch show she regularly appears in is "Nieuw Zeer."
In 2025, Schaap remains highly productive. "Dood Spoor" starring Peter van den Begin was released in February of this year, and with "Welcome to the 70s and 80s," Schaap continues a familiar tradition. Still to come is the crime series SUGA: Ride or Die, which will air on Prime Video from September 4, 2025. Schaap plays a ruthless prosecutor who does everything he can to get Suga—back from prison and devastated by his loss—back behind bars. Think: biker gangs, betrayal, emotional fuel added to the fire, ending in: drama.
Finally, Amsterdam Empire follows in October, another crime series, this time set in the Amsterdam cannabis scene. Schaap isn't one to stick to one genre or role. She imitates, performs in psychological dramas, crime series, and comedy formats. One thing is certain: her acting is memorable. So know this: there's still plenty of Elise Schaap to discover in the coming weeks!
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To my surprise, I haven't seen a single thing of any of the series and movies mentioned in this column. I recognize a few by name, but that's about it. The woman herself doesn't ring a bell either. But... never too old to learn, so thanks anyway :-)