Braeden Buys Makes His Skemergrond Debut on kykNET & kie

Braeden Buys makes his Skemergrond debut as Justin Daniels

Viewers of Skemergrond have already heard about Justin, the man from Chelsea’s past. Now he finally makes his appearance in Gemoedsdrif, and his arrival is set to shake up more than one life.

Braeden Buys plays the role, and he says wat makes Justin interesting to him is that he is not the typical new character who arrives with hidden motives or secret agendas.

“Usually when new characters enter there’s an initial air of uncertainty and ‘settling in’, but Justin just slots in as if he’s always belonged. There’s almost no mystery to him, no ulterior motive. What you see is really what you get.”

He describes Justin as someone who puts people at ease and lights up a room the moment he walks into it.

“Justin is warm, hard-working and successful. I think he’s a beautiful example of what you can achieve outside your circumstances and immediate environment when you dream bigger.”

A large part of Justin’s storyline revolves around his history with Chelsea. According to Braeden, the appeal of their relationship lies in a question many people have asked themselves before: what if?

“They share a ton of history and for the most part had a strong foundation. Their obstacle was distance, and I think many high school sweethearts who transition into adulthood suffer the same fate. What makes this instance so interesting is that they both get a second shot at their ‘what if’.”

Although Justin returns after years to a world that has changed considerably, Braeden believes his character approaches challenges with remarkable maturity.

“He is extremely good at regulating his emotions, whilst still feeling deeply and sincerely. As valid as his emotions are, he is great at validating everyone else’s.”

Justin’s arrival, however, places new pressure on the dynamic between Chelsea and Louis.

“That’s just the kind of impact someone like Justin has. I wouldn’t say it’s necessarily his fault – it’s his way of being. He creates a lot of insecurity for someone like Louis, and the difference between these two men are quite stark. The only thing they have in common is the fact that they care deeply for Chelsea.”

For Braeden, it was Justin’s genuine interest in people that made the character particularly special.

“I love talking, I love listening to stories, I love engagement, and I definitely share this with him.”

The role also came at a good time in his career. Braeden had just completed a nine-month run of the musical Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat when he received the call to join Skemergrond.

“I finished the musical contract and started shooting Skemergrond right after. For me, preparation for the character was about going from musical theatre to television and easing back into the telenovela flow and style. Fortunately, Justin’s character spoke to me very naturally and organically.”

While there were no scenes he found particularly emotional to film, Braeden remembers his scenes with Troy Paulse, who plays Sal, with great fondness.

“Any time myself and Troy were on set together it was an absolute ball. When shooting scenes with kids it’s really important to keep it fun and let your imaginations run wild with them. As actors we can get so stuck overthinking, but kids have such a joyous freedom and lack of inhibition.”

As for what viewers can expect from Justin, Braeden is keeping his cards close to his chest.