The pair, who are well known for their roles in the South African soapie “;Suid-ooster”;, could not stop talking about the beauty of the country and the warmth of Namibian hospitality.
Van der Merwe, who has appeared in television series such as “;Hooten and the Lady”; and “;The Wrong Mans”;, says working as an actor is no child”;s play, and if one is serious about building a career in the arts they must put in the work.
He also cautions that it is difficult to break into the arts sector, which can have some “dark times”.
“If you want it this bad, you work at it because it will take you through the dark times. But, if you want this, know why you want it. Art is an agent for change and change is constant, art is the core of society so it will always be there.
“Fame is overrated, like a cloud, but if you are in the art for the passion, then you have a message and a responsibility, but be willing and prepared to work for it and stand your ground,” says Van der Merwe.
The actor says playing the role of the conniving and crooked Nazeem in the South African series takes effort, especially in terms of shedding the character once he gets off set.
“Your body knows not the difference between the real person and the character you play. You must find ways to offset that stress and energy.”
Kusch says actors operate in a demanding environment, in that they must prepare for the role, stay in character and do the actual work daily.
“Sometimes, we have a headache here, a backache there, but the show must go on,” says Kusch, who has appeared in films such as “;Indemnity”; and “;Noem My Skollie”;. – unWrap.online
