Actor Dennis Willekens: ‘In the advertising world they ask me as the friendly friend or ordinary neighbor’

Behind the scenes of the musical Mamma Mia! . Dennis Willekens says that he hesitated to participate in this musical. “I thought: that show again? But when I heard that they wanted to put everything in a new form, I got excited. ABBA’s strong songs have remained, but we now work with contemporary lyrics, a new decor, new costumes and a very fresh approach. The story has depth, but at the same time it is a feel-good musical that makes you happy. That works for the audience but also for ourselves.” He could use such a boost after a tough time.

Key moment 1

The day: May 15, 2002

The place: a room at the teacher’s college

Quitting his studies

“I grew up in Rheden, near Arnhem. As a child I was in the marching band. Later I guided young members on their way into music. I enjoyed working with young people so much that I decided to go to teacher training college. I lasted there for more than two years. The internships for the class went well, but I hated the theoretical part. I ended up falling behind on my reports. Then I had to go to the study coordinator for a serious conversation. It gave me the opportunity to catch up on everything, but also gave me the choice to stop.”

“I thought the latter was best. It was only a year and a half before graduation, so others advised me to continue. But I was sure: that theoretical material is not for me. So stop. I am still happy that my parents supported me in this decision. And I still find it a strange turn of events that the study coordinator gave me a push to put an end to the teacher training course. Otherwise I might have been in the classroom for twenty years now and I would never have found the exit to my dream job.”

Key moment 2

The day: September 5, 2004

The location: the office of the Orchestra of the Royal Netherlands Air Force in Gilze-Rijen

A failed audition

“I played slide trombone and trumpet in the brass band. Our conductor worked in the Air Force. He advised me to join the air force orchestra. I seemed to have a chance and was allowed to audition. That’s where things went completely wrong. On the way with the car I got a flat tire, so I arrived late. There was no time left to play and I was so nervous that I didn’t do anything. Completely over my nerves. Bottom line: audition botched and I was able to leave. I have long wondered what my life would have been like if I had given concerts in an army uniform until I retired.”

Key moment 3

The day: November 26, 2005

The place: the cabin of a moving van .

Career switch

“To earn some money, I started working as a mover. Lifting washing machines up the stairs and moving a lot of school furniture. During the school holidays I did animation work at a campsite in Drenthe. I also played in a musical at a school for amateur arts. During rehearsals I was given the tip to look for work in the musical world. I remember telling my colleague in the cabin of the moving van that I thought it would be really cool to make acting my profession.”

“That’s why I auditioned at the branch of the Frank Sanders Academy in Nijmegen. The acting and singing went well there, but I also had to dance. My father drove me there and had his doubts about my dancing. Because there I stood with my large figure in sports pants between all the slender girls in leotards doing my steps. Apparently I put my foot down reasonably well, because I was accepted.”

“I feel completely at home in the musical profession. It took some getting used to the fact that I ended up among classmates three or four years younger, but the advantage is that my age has made me think much more consciously about my career choice. Because of my age I immediately got an internship. There were plenty of roles for me too. Everyone knows that in this business it is a lot about type. That’s why I will never play the handsome seducer, but I don’t see that as a disadvantage. There are also many roles for men of my stature in the theater and in front of the cameras. And in the advertising world they ask me as the friendly friend or the ordinary neighbor.”

Key moment 4

The day: November 6, 2006

The place: a crumpled car

A car accident

“Sara was a classmate of mine at the Academy. At that time I was in a relationship with someone else. When that went wrong, I was able to talk to Sara about it. Things got serious between us after a car accident. We were in a small cookie tin and crashed into a car in front of us. The cart was badly damaged, but nothing was wrong with us. Sara was very shocked and asked if she could spend the night with me to relax. The first night it went very well and I arranged an air mattress. But when she came again the next night, things became serious between us. We had a daughter four years ago.”

“We went to live in Haarlem. Sara grew up in Heemstede and wanted to be near her parents again. I get it. In Haarlem you have everything you need and it is close to Amsterdam. That is practical, because in my work almost everything happens in Amsterdam. Sara works as a dramaturge and spends a lot of time in Amsterdam for that purpose.”

Key moment 5

The day: April 29, 2019

The place: the Spaarne Gasthuis in Haarlem

A daughter

“Sara and I had a daughter. She announced herself on my birthday, April 28. Sara and I were sitting at home late that night, relaxing after the party, when the labor started. Actually, that’s why our daughter was the last gift of the day. Our child is the most beautiful thing that ever happened to us. But as an actor, the father role is sometimes difficult to combine with work because it is so irregular. Fortunately, Sara knows the theater trade. This means she understands that I often go out into the country in the evenings. And that I play a lot of afternoon performances on Sundays. On the other hand, I have more time during the day on other days.”

“When the theaters closed during the corona period, I suddenly had all the time. Still, it was tough. I missed my work and we had financial worries, because there were no subsidies or schemes for us. That’s why I now enjoy my role even more Mamma Mia!. That story revolves around a girl with wedding plans. She wants her father to take her to the altar, but doesn’t know who her father is. And her mother doesn’t want to say anything about it. Daughter Sophie knows from her mother’s old diaries that there are three candidates. I am one of them. The Harry I play wants to have a daughter. I am glad that that wish has already come true in my own life, because there is no better role than the role of father.”