Catherine van Woerden

Catherine van Woerden is a Dutch puppeteer who is best known for performing Ieniemienie within the Dutch co-production of Sesame Street, Sesamstraat. She has performed the mouse since the character's debut in 1980. Catherine must be so proud to be the main performer of one of the characters. Woerden does the head of Ieniemienie while Marike Koek or Lindai Boogerman did the arms. She also got to perform alongside other Dutch puppeteers such as Bert Plagman, Daphne Zandberg, and Erik J. Meijer (to name a few). She has also puppeteered on various shows outside of Sesamstraat such as Bereboot, Koekeloere, and WaWa which must have featured some of her friends. I wonder why Catherine van Woerden didn't operate both the head and arms of Ieniemienie. Hand-rod puppets are mostly operated with the puppeteer doing the head and both arm rods. She probably wanted her character to have freer movement. Catherine should receive awards from her performance of Ieniemienie because she's done it for many years and Sesamstraat was popular in The Netherlands. Woerden should also be interviewed more so people will know how she feels about performing a mouse character. I hope that she continues to perform Ieniemienie when new episodes of Sesamstraat get produced again (whenever that is). It can happen anytime just not yet. Catherine van Woerden, you're an excellent puppeteer and you've done a great job being a mouse since 1980. When the series starts up again, either you keep performing your character or find someone to inherit the role. Keep your character alive Catherine. You rock Woerden!

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