Fans of the popular local TV series Diepe Waters on KykNet have been glued to their screens in recent weeks as one of their much loved characters, Chris van Staden – played by Henri Strauss – ‘comes out’ to his father and discloses the gay relationship he has been having with Brian.
Introduced to the Diepe Waters audiences in December 2023 in the current second series, Henri has revelled building this television character; a role that’s deeply personal to him and one close to his heart, more especially in recent weeks as the gay relationship has been developed and featured.
The character of ‘Chris’ is studying philosophy in Stellenbosch and is a deep thinker who loves poetry and esoteric novels. He quotes philosophers and questions the world he finds himself in without trying to be a know-it-all. He is kind and very smart, sweet and understanding.
As is sometimes the case, the role has been ‘life imitating art’ – Henri was born in a small town in the North-West, raised by a loving grandmother and extremely hardworking parents, while at the same time grappling with self-acceptance within his conservative Afrikaans Christian community.
The turning point arrived during a fateful performance of Equus in 2014, sparking a newfound passion for the stage.
With a swift change of majors from BSc to Drama & Film (graduating with Honours), he embarked on a journey that led him full circle to starring in a remake of the very play that ignited his passion.
A promising talent from the onset, Strauss transitioned from a successful theatre career to excel in both production and on-screen performances.
In 2023, Strauss served as the Production and Cast Coordinator on the KykNET’s reality program Die Brug, showcasing organizational finesse and a keen eye for detail. Likewise, as the 1st Assistant Director for Vetkoek Paleis 2, Strauss demonstrated exceptional leadership, ensuring the seamless execution of the production. This marked the beginning of a series of significant contributions in the television landscape.
Making his acting debut as Chris van Staden in Season 2 of Diepe Waters, a character that challenges the same traditional Afrikaans norms he was so scared of, Henri has moved from behind-the-scenes roles to also captivate audiences with a compelling on-screen presence.
Henri had this to say about portraying Chris in Diepe Waters; “I am incredibly grateful to KykNET for giving me this opportunity to portray the role of Chris and being allowed to interpret his journey the way that I have been able to, to keep Chris authentic. For gay kids like me, it’s difficult to grow up in a world that showed so much hate. But I want to take this moment to thank everyone who stands up for us.”
For those youngsters in a similar situation to what he had growing up, he says; “With this new platform, I hope I can be an example for others, who may feel just like I once did, so that they can see that in this world, things can turn out okay. Don’t focus on the negative, know that you don’t need to change for anyone. You deserve to be happy, just as you are.”
From the shy boy in Hartbeespoort to the unapologetically queer individual he is today, he’s eagerly working towards the next exciting chapter in his career.
While those next steps are being finalised, this actor/model/producer promises audiences it’ll include a journey marked by creativity, dedication, and unwavering commitment to the art of storytelling.
Catch Diepe Waters on KykNET (Channel 144 on Dstv) daily from Mondays to Thursdays at 18h30.
Follow Henri Strauss online at:
