Best remembered as Sonny Jacobs in Generations, Cedwyn Joel is back in the soapie world with Suidooster, and so is his actress daughter, writes Debashine Thangevelo
CEDWYN Joel is one of South Africa’s treasured actors. And although he is no longer on Generations, fans still remember him fondly as Sonny Jacobs, the affectionate bartender.
Over the years, he has popped up in TV shows like 7de Laan, Buurtwag, Known Gods, League of Glory, Malan en Kie, Stellenbosch, Meeulanders, Swartwater and Transito.
Of late, he has been actively involved in theatre productions. He was getting ready for a holiday in Cuba when he was headhunted by Suidooster to play the role of AB Samsodien, a staunch Muslim pharmacist.
Having concluded his final scene for the day, Tonight caught up with Joel before he could make his way to the star-studded launch party of the Cape Town-shot soap.
He says: “I actually did not audition for it. They really wanted me. I had plans to go overseas and they kind of jeopardised those plans. So I said I would do it providing they gave me something substantial.”
Although he had to put his trip on hold for the time being, Cuba has been a dream destination for him for a long time… and he plans on getting there at some point.
His daughter, Portia Joel, has also been cast in the soap as Lee-Ann Jacobs. The last time these two were on the same show was in Generations.
A very energised Joel says: “That was purely coincidental. I told her, from the beginning, it’s about what she brings to the party. Of course, I would guide her but I didn’t want her crying to me when she decided to join this industry. In fact, we just shot a scene together five minutes ago. It’s the second one we have had together – the first one was on Generations – and everyone was commenting on the father-and-daughter being on the floor together.”
There are unmistakable traces of a proud father when he makes that comment and he admits: “I just don’t show emotions much. I keep telling her, ‘You’ve got to work hard, my darling.’ I understand that there is a lot of pressure because she is my daughter.”
Suidooster features three principle families – the Octobers, Samsodiens and DuPlooys – in a fictional Cape Town suburb called Ruiterbosch. Their lives intermingle as they all work in Suidooster, a small shopping and business centre.
AB is a doting father and husband. He is also very authoritarian when it comes to sticking to their tradition.
Joel says: “It will be the first time a Muslim family is featured in a soapie – so it is quite historical as well. AB is very staunch. He loves his family to bits, worships the ground his wife walks on. He has twin sons: one is in London and the other is with him.”
On slipping into the skin of this character, the veteran actor says he didn’t have to research much as he has many Muslim friends and he is also familiar with the culture.
He adds: “AB is the local chemist. He inherited it from his father. The centre belongs to the Octobers. So it is about the trials and tribulations of the three families and their children.”
He adds that most of the scenes are shot in the specially built studio with a few location outdoor shoots.
AB’s sons don’t exactly toe the line with all his rules and their mother becomes a buffer between the father and sons.
On why viewers should tune in, he reveals: “The viewer will be introduced to a dialect of Afrikaans that they are not used to. So it might sound strange to those not from Cape Town. Also, the more the story unfolds with regards to AB and his wife, the more skeletons are let out of the closet.”
But, for now, viewers will be exposed to a picture-perfect South Africa family, rooted in their Muslim values. Of course, appearances can be deceiving…
Suidooster airs on kykNET and kykNET & Kie at 6pm on Monday to Wednesday from November 16.