Acting heavyweight, Jamie Bartlett, steps out of his comfort zone as the new judge on e.tv's SA's Got Talent, writes Debashine Thangevelo
JAMIE “Jay” Bartlett is a household face in South Africa. The veteran actor is a tour de force on stage, TV and film. He has also worked alongside Hollywood’s finest in his career – Michael Dudikoff and Steve James (American Ninja 2 and 5), Angelina Jolie (Beyond Borders), Hillary Swank, Chiwetel Ejiofor and the Oscar-winning director, Tom Hooper (Red Dust).
His soap role as Mike O’Reilly (Isidingo) was eclipsed when he started playing David Genaro on Rhythm City.
The award-winning actor is as consummate as they come. Watching him on set is a revelation. He takes command of every scene, acutely aware of where the cameras are and whom he is working with.
He always delivers, and then some.
But now, for the first time in his career, he is going in front of the camera, unscripted.
He will be filling the spot previously held by Lalla Hirayama, who is trotting the globe for her new M-Net show, Lalla Land.
Tonight caught up with Bartlett to find out more about his first brush with reality TV.
He says: “SA’s Got Talent lost a judge and gave me an opportunity to come on board. When they contacted me, I was anxious. I’ve always been hidden behind characters. And I have never shown myself to people. All of a sudden, they want me to take off the mask.
“I had to really think about it. It’s a genre I have never been in. And it’s not me having total control as I do of the character world. This is reality TV and it can be edited.”
So he turned to his parents and son, who is in London, for advice.
Bartlett laughs: “Well, my dad said: ‘You are ugly enough. And you are 49. Your weekends have changed and it’s largely a weekend job, Jay. It will keep you rather busy.”
Then he Facetimed his son, who also concurred on him doing the show.
Being the detailed person that he is, he did his research.
He offers: “This is a suspense game. They want to see what your individual reaction is going to be. This is a big, big step for me. I have to cross the threshold and be myself (hysterical and outrageous) and hope for the best.”
With this being one of the most successful formats on TV, he is bracing himself for a gamut of talent (and duds).
Having been in the industry – not to mention travelled extensively – for just more than three decades, he has been exposed to all forms of artistic expression.
He adds: “I’ve performed on stage in London and Germany. And I’ve made a lot of mistakes. I know what it’s like to put my a**e out there and fall off the horse. I know how nervous people are. So I get it.”
On working alongside Shado Twala and DJ Fresh, Bartlett says: “I know both of them. I met Shado in Durban when actors used to still go down and perform. DJ Fresh, I have met and, of course, I’ve heard him on radio. To say, I ‘know him’ would be a lie.”
So what will he bring to the table as a judge?
He reveals: “Jamie’s reaction is different to David’s. I want to show all the shades of Jay. In the same way that you can’t have a soap opera where there is happiness in a home and, as a result, no conflict, therefore no drama, it’s the same with SA’s Got Talent. You can’t always have people who concur. There is a little bit of brains behind the drama – it must have entertainment value. Personally, I’m going to shoot from the hip.”
Before auditions start in Cape Town, Bartlett and the other two judges will get a crash-course on what is expected of them, so they are all on the same page, maintaining the integrity of the brand.
“As a judge, I will be looking for acts that celebrate us and, in so doing, demand a reaction from me. So bring it, I dare you to move us,” challenges the new judge.
KeeLeen Irvine, Rapid Blue executive producer, said: “Jamie is a respected actor, who is well-loved by the e.tv audience. With his larger-than-life personality and colourful nature, viewers can look forward to being blown away by what he brings to this season’s search for South Africa’s next big star.”
• SA’s Got Talent starts September 4 on e.tv and Openview HD at 6.50pm.