Tom Waes Takes on a Challenging Role with New Series, Badgast
Actor Tom Waes is stepping into uncharted territory with his new series, Badgast, a drama set on the Dutch island of Terschelling. Waes plays Vince, a professional diver on holiday with his teenage daughter, Zoe (played by Freya van Campenhout). The role represents a significant departure for Waes, who intentionally sought out a character drastically different from his own paternal experience.
“He is an inept father who does not no how to deal with his teenage daughter,” Waes explained. “He is sullen and they don’t talk much. That is so far removed from my relationship with my daughter, so I wanted to play that.”
Filming Badgast fostered a strong sense of community. Due to the distance from Belgium, Waes and the Flemish cast and crew – a group of 25 peopel - remained on Terschelling throughout the production. “It almost feels like family when you sit together for so long.This way you get to know the island and the islanders,” Waes shared. He later returned to the island by sailboat and received a warm welcome, forging lasting friendships with the local community. “They are friends for life.”
The series incorporates numerous stunts, especially underwater sequences.Leveraging his professional diving experience, Waes performed all of his own stunts, including a challenging scene requiring him to excavate an object from a wreck at a depth of 14 or 15 meters in freezing conditions. He emphasized the expertise of the camera crew, stating, “We were in the water with an experienced camera crew, people I know well. When I see the images now, I think: We really got the most out of it.”
Despite the dramatic elements, Badgast is intended to be family-kind. A friend of Waes playfully dubbed it “a wet hair series,” suggesting it’s perfect for cozy family viewing. “You can give the children a bath in the evening and then watch the series together in the bathrobe or pajamas with wet hair,” Waes said, also highlighting the beautiful imagery of the island, which he believes will be particularly enjoyable during the winter months.
Badgast will begin streaming on December 11th on NPO Start via KRO-NCRV. the cast also includes hannah van Lunteren, Anneke Blok, and Ferdi Stofmeel.
