Chad Baai, better known for his role as Kaleb Jacobs on local series Arendsvlei, has bagged two Royalty Soapie Awards nominations.
The charming young actor has been on our screens for nearly a year and received nominations for his breakthrough role in the outstanding newcomer and viewers choice: best actor categories.
Baai said: “I am so grateful. Arendsvlei is my first time being on screen, and I never knew whether or not what I was doing was the right thing. I was winging it.
“The nominations are a confirmation that this is what I’m meant to be doing. All the insecurities I had have been washed away. The nomination inspires me to do more and push harder.”
He began his role at the end of 2020 after receiving a message from someone at Penguin Films asking him to audition for the character of Kaleb. The young actor is also known for his on-stage performance in the David Kramer musical, Danger in the Dark.
Baai attributes his success today to his faith and said he wouldn’t be where he is today without God.
“God has guided me all the way. A lot of things have come my way, and it’s everything I’ve prayed for.”
The Belhar High School old boy said his love for acting grew tremendously when he was in Grade 11.
“That made me start to think about what I want to do after school. I was naturally drawn to the arts,” he said.
“In my matric year, I started applying for scholarships because my family never had the funds for me to further my education.”
At the end of his schooling career, he performed as the lead as Tyrone Jackson in Fame the Musical at the Masque Theatre. Baai described his first on-stage performance as an eye-opener.
“I’d never sung or danced for an audience before then. Everyone in the production wanted to know what I was going to do after school, but I told them I don’t know because I don’t have the funds to do it.”
“Luckily, one of them was friends with Delia Sainsbury, the founder and managing director of the Waterfront Theatre School.”
Baai recalled receiving a phone call that said that he stood a chance to receive a four-year scholarship at the college.
“I was so grateful. I saw it as God answering my prayers because I had nowhere to go.”
He received the scholarship and said that in his first year, it already felt like it was meant to be.
“When I came here, I was insecure in my craft. I just wanted to find the confidence to be a performer with skill and talent,” he said.
Baai is in his fourth and final year of studies at the Waterfront Theatre School, completing its full-time course in musical theatre, dancing and acting.
The 22-year-old actor said the industry had taught him that he’s part of a bigger picture.
“Being a performing artist doesn’t mean it’s all about you and being in the spotlight. It’s about being in a cast and creating the story together,” he said.
“It’s about teamwork. There is a seat at the table for all of us.”
Even at his young age, Baai said his biggest challenge in the industry was being typecast in his career, based on his looks and the way he speaks.
“The diversity of my college taught me it’s not about race, it’s about who you see yourself to be. My goal is to be as versatile as I possibly can.”
Baai’s words of wisdom to aspiring actors are: “Don’t stop doing what you need to do, to get to where you want to be.
“Live your life. Good actors are actors that have lived - that way you’ve experienced something, and you can show that when given the opportunity.”