* As published by the Sunday Independent and transcribed on jamiebartlett.com

Favourite ‘bad boy’ in rhythm with life and his rewarding craft

He is known mostly for his ruthless, power-hungry and fraudster character on e.tv soapie Rhythm City, where he plays David Genaro.

I sat down with Jamie Bartlett to discover how he has managed to play his role so convincingly over the past six years, and why he thinks he attracts “bad boy” characters.

Bartlett is also known for his shady role on SABC 3 soapie, Isidingo, where he played Mike O’Reilly. He is perfectly fine with play a bad boy because women are attracted to bad boys; bad boys are usually lucky to get the “sexy lines” and “sexy scenes”, he says. Bartlett says he is committed to his craft and thanks years of training that have helped him to “breathe” and “interrogate” the roles he plays.

He is known to break the rules and sometimes adds his own metaphors in his lines to make it “naughty and exciting”, he says. Bartlett might have been on Isidingo for years but says it’s his role as Genaro that he is most proud of and that people respect him for. He slams the stereotype that Rhythm City appeals only to black and poor communities. He adds that he gets stopped by “millionaires” who admire his work.

“David Genaro is a huge and phenomenal character,” he says, adding that his character is also big in neighbouring countries. He spoke of his visit to a market in Zambia and was astonished at how the vendors left their stands and mobbed him.

“It was crazy. Babboons came and helped themselves to the vegetables because the guys were all over me,” he laughs, recalling the incident.
Bartlett says what sets him apart from his counterpart id that he is solely focused on his acting career. He refuses offers to do commercial adverts or voice-overs, no matter how much they pay, because he wants to protect his brand. “I’m not for sale”, he says.

If your life was a city, what city would it be and why?
It would be the capital of Northern Sudan, Khartoum. I love how the two rivers come together, I love the nothingness of the desert and also love how the camels wink at you.

What do you have in common with David Genaro?
Many things, but I don’t kill (he has killed eight people in Rhythm City so far). I’m a very emotional cry-baby like him. I weep about a lot of things.

What defines a good actor?
You have to earn the right to call yourself an actor, and gain the respect of the audience. You cannot receive a few callbacks, appear on an advert and release a CD and then call yourself an actor. I became a professional actor 27 years ago, but it’s only in the last 10 years that I really called myself an actor.

If you were not an actor, what would you be?
I only ever wanted to be an actor. I never spent one single day of my after-school life not acting.

What’s the craziest fan encounter that you have ever experienced?
I have a thousand per day but the craziest one was when three staff members at Lanseria airport saw me and got up and ran away. While they were running they kept on shouting Genaro and they were laughing. I think they were scared of me.

What motivates you to keep on doing what you do?
I have so much passion; acting excites me, its like I’m playing a test match every day. You’ve got to be very passionate, and if you lose your passion just take a walk (get out of the business).

How do you manage to portray such a ruthless character as David Genaro so well?
If the proposal is proper, I surrender to it. Surrender to the proposal and breathe into it.

Three things you would save if your house caught fire?
My (William) Kentridge paintings and Guy Tillim photo.

One thing you would like to do before you die?
Get on the mail boat (the only boat that goes to St. Helena) with my son and go to St Helena Island in South Atlantic. The island was made famous by the great Napoleon because that’s where he was sent to die.

What motto do you live by?
Interrogate, investigate, exercise more, be interested and therefore you will be interesting.

Your favourite album of all time?
Jethro Tull’s Aqualung

Who would you invite to your dream date? Dead or alive.
I think I’ve had my dream dinner dates already.

What makes you proudly South African?
Everything about me, recognizing that everything I am is enforced by South Africa.

You can follow Bartlett on Twitter @jambarts.