MACASSAR – Bitten by the acting bug way back as a young boy in Grade R, a young Helderberg man has followed his dream right through to the studios of the award-winning Afrikaans telenovela Arendsvlei.
Craig Adriaanse, better known to fans of the popular TV show as Wesley Rossouw, proudly shares his first taste in acting. “I’ve always loved participating in school plays and classroom role-play activities,” he says. “My very first experience was in Grade R, when I was part of the Christmas play.”
There was no stopping the now 25-year-old from seeing his name in lights. He enrolled in an acting course three years ago and halfway through was called to audition for the role in Arendsvlei. “I was really excited and didn’t think twice. However, my callback was on the same day and time as my last exam paper at the end of the term,” Adriaanse recalls.
“It wasn’t a difficult decision to make; I prayed about it and decided to follow my dream, because I knew I could always go back and study, which I [eventually] did while filming the show.”
With the role of Wesley Rossouw his first-ever television role, the young actor remembers seeing himself on the telly for the first time, and how nerve-wrecking it was, comparing it to the feeling he experienced during exams at acting school. He landed the part as a second-year student in June 2018.
“I still pinch myself to this day,” he says of being in one of the country’s biggest telenovelas. “Being part of a show that tells our stories is such a privilege and I wouldn’t exchange it for anything. I enjoy telling stories and being a voice for the voiceless. Acting is a beautiful form of art to create change and awareness.”
How does Craig relate to Wesley? “Wesley and I are quite different, but we share a few personality traits. We’re both compassionate, we go to great lengths for the people we love and we’re both hard-working. A fun fact is that Wesley was head boy at high school and I was not. So I got to enjoy head boy responsibilities in the show,” Adriaanse quips.
Another aspect he enjoys about playing Wesley is how he started standing up for himself, especially when he came to terms with his sexuality. Wesley compressed his emotions because he was a “people pleaser”, but this all changed when he started dating Lee-Roy and, with the support of his friends, Wesley started to accept who he is.
Speaking on the biggest lessons he has learnt from being part of the Arendsvlei cast, he says: “The one great lesson I’ve learnt by playing this character is to be true to yourself. Love yourself first and accept yourself for who you are. If not, you’re making it almost impossible to love others and to hold space for them.”
Hard work and faith are integral themes in Adriaanse’s acting career, and his parents Yolande and Christie have been supportive of his career since day one.
“They have also motivated me to working toward being better than the previous day,” he says.
Apart from his parents, Adriaanse regards fellow actor and good friend Marlo Minnaar, whom he admires for his work ethic, as an inspiration. “I also watch a lot of motivational seminars,” he says of how he is inspired to keep going.
As expected, Adriaanse has faced many a challenge in his young career, and shares that the entertainment industry is a rather tricky one. “It takes a lot of patience, because there are days when things may be a bit quiet and work may be coming in a bit slow. You need to have a thick skin and be able to handle rejection.”
For him, growing up in Macassar and being recognised as a role-model to many in the community means a great deal to him.
“To be recognised in my very own community is still a bit overwhelming at times, because I don’t always know how to react, but I definitely feel proud knowing there are young people who look up to me and my journey. For me to be that example to them makes me really happy.”
Just what does the future hold for this talented young actor?
“I leave my entire future in God’s hands. He will present certain opportunities to me at the right time.”
