Actor Sebastián Mrkvicka from Dertigers: ‘Being rejected at an audition says nothing about your future’

How do you actually become an actor — and what does that first moment feel like when you realise you can do it? Since graduating from the Acting programme at the ArtEZ Academy of Theatre & Dance, actor Sebastián Mrkvicka has been building a successful career, from his first supporting role in Dirty Lines to his current breakthrough in Dertigers. But what does life as an actor really look like after drama school? We spoke with Sebastián about his path from training at ArtEZ to working on screen. ‘Suddenly my work isn’t being watched by 250 people, but by a few million.’

The soft hum of a coffee machine, a neighbour calling hello — the sounds of Amsterdam are never far away. Sebastián smiles. ‘Born and raised,’ he says. Moving to Arnhem for drama school wasn’t always easy. ‘I travelled back and forth a lot, especially on weekends. I wanted to connect more with my classmates and the city, but I was young and still figuring things out.’

He looks back on his time at ArtEZ with a sense of gratitude. ‘You learn so much there. The programme is incredibly well structured. At my audition I immediately felt: wow, you’re responding to what I offer, not forcing me into a mold. They saw possibilities in me, which meant autonomy was expected from day one. That was really refreshing.’

Most people know Sebastián as Ruben in Dertigers, the flamboyant character who begins an affair with his best friend. ‘I still remember that audition,’ he says. ‘Auditions are always stressful, but something clicked — it felt right. When I heard I got the part, I called my mother immediately.’

He notices that queer characters on screen are often defined solely by their sexuality. For Ruben, he wanted to shift that perspective. ‘I didn’t want the story to be about the fact that I fall in love with a man. I wanted it to be about falling in love and not being heard. Those insecurities are universal. Everyone recognises them, regardless of who you are.’

He believes characters become smaller when approached only through labels. By taking a more universal approach, he tries to break away from that. ‘We think in categories far too often. But understanding each other begins with recognising what we share. We all know what it feels like to fall and get back up again, or to feel unseen. That’s something I want to show in my roles.’

Sometimes he receives messages from viewers who finally recognise themselves in a gay character on TV. ‘That really moves me.’

Since graduating from ArtEZ, Sebastián has built an impressive résumé. He performed with Toneelgroep Oostpool and Theatergroep Golden Palace, and appeared in Moordvrouw, SpangaS, Dirty Lines and Flikken Maastricht, alongside his role in Dertigers. A strong beginning — especially considering he graduated during the height of Covid.

‘Everything had come to a standstill,’ he says. ‘Nothing new was being made. My whole launching pad disappeared. But in hindsight, that time helped me figure out what I truly wanted. Suddenly my teachers’ questions made sense: what do you want to make, what do you want to say? I always kept things broad because I wanted to explore the field first. But because of Covid, there was no one saying: ‘Let’s call him.’ It was tough, but it pushed me to take steps that brought me to where I am now.’

For now, his focus is on television. ‘When I got my first role in Dirty Lines, I realised how much I enjoy acting for the camera. I’ve now been offered a lead role in a film, which will hopefully open many doors.’

He is also exploring the creative side of the profession. ‘A theatre company in Utrecht asked me to join as one of their makers, which I love. If everything goes according to plan, I’ll create my own performance with them in 2027. That experience also inspired me to look more into filmmaking — I’m developing a project I might also act in.’

But is it easy to support yourself as an actor?
‘Alongside acting, I teach and lead training sessions, and I work on smaller projects. That approach has to suit you, but I enjoy the variety — and financially it’s more stable.’
 

After several years in the industry, Sebastián knows how the world of film and television works. ‘One of my former teachers at ArtEZ, Monique Kuijpers — someone I respect deeply — came to see one of my performances. Afterwards she said: ‘Sebas, when you arrived at drama school, it was already there. We just had to give you the tools to refine it.’ That hit me hard, because I had always thought I wasn’t good enough yet.’

Being accepted means the talent is already there, he says. ‘And if you’re rejected, it says nothing about your future. It simply means you and the school — or the director — didn’t understand each other at that moment. That’s what an audition is. It’s not a judgment of your worth.’

His advice to students is simple: stay close to yourself. ‘Do what you find exciting, no matter what others think. And look beyond the Netherlands. If you get the chance to spend some time abroad — do it. It enriches you.’

He laughs. ‘In your first year at drama school you sit down, keep quiet and listen. In your second year you can speak up a bit more. In your third year you start exploring. And in your fourth year it’s: go get ’em, tiger. After graduation things may be tough, but you’ll get there — as long as you stay authentic. I forgot that for a while, and that’s why I tell others now.’

Where does he see himself in five years? ‘Right now I’m looking forward to that lead role,’ he says. ‘And I want to explore the creative side of the field more. I can imagine doing many things: creating a performance for a museum, directing a film… But above all, whatever I make has to have social meaning. That’s the thread running through my work.’

Countering polarization has always been a driving force for him. ‘There’s so much happening in the world, but I believe we are the same at our core. Where we come from and where we are going shapes us, but the path in between is shared. That’s what I want my work to speak to.’

It has never been about money or prestige. ‘I don’t create for myself alone. I create for my mother, my friends, my neighbours — and for the rest of the world. In the hope that together we can make the world a little better than it was yesterday.’