Sebastian and Andreas Jessen: Brothers on and off the Stage
Sebastian and Andreas Jessen: Brothers on and off the Stage
Sebastian and Andreas are brothers who both chose to walk the same path in life—a path that few choose and even fewer succeed in.
But they have. They have both become successful actors. What they share is that they both more or less accidentally ended up on the big screen, as acting started as a hobby in childhood before it developed into a passion. They are both quick to tell us which career paths they would have followed if they hadn't become actors.
We talked to them about what it's like to share the stage, for better or worse, with none other than your own brother.
MMG: Could you start by telling us a bit about who you are and what you do?
Sebastian: My name is Sebastian Jessen. I am an actor, and I debuted in 1997 in Peters Jul at the now-defunct Amager Scenen. Since then, I have appeared in several Danish films and TV series.
Andreas: My name is Andreas Jessen. I am 34 years old and also an actor. I made my professional acting debut in 1997 at Amager Scenen in Copenhagen. Later, I graduated from the Danish National School of Performing Arts in Odense in 2016, and since then, I have worked full-time as an actor.
This was before they even considered what career path to follow, and without it being in the cards, with a father who was a real estate agent and a mother who was a lab technician, they had both tried being on stage. Since then, they have appeared in numerous national and international series and films. They have even appeared in the same productions several times, most recently in 2020, where they played brothers opposite each other.
MMG: What is the best part of having a brother who does the same thing as you?
Sebastian: The best part of sharing my passion for acting with my brother is that we always understand each other in that area and can always put ourselves in each other’s shoes. It can be difficult for our friends outside the industry to fully understand our work situation and the challenges that come with it, but fortunately, that’s not the case with my brother. Thank God.
Andreas agrees and adds that one of the best parts of having a brother who does the same thing is that he has someone to talk with both when work life shows its good side and its less good side.
Andreas: There must be a common perception that brotherhood equals competition. I honestly don’t feel that’s the case in my relationship with Sebastian, especially not in relation to our work.
MMG: If you weren’t actors, what would you be?
Sebastian: If I weren't an actor, I would like to do something within food, and preferably wine too. I love to eat and drink, and I also love to cook, especially when I have time to immerse myself in it. As a child, I used cookbooks as bedtime reading.
Andreas: I flirted with the idea of becoming either an architect or a furniture designer before I finally decided to go all-in on acting. I am also convinced that I would be self-employed in one way or another.
MMG: And finally, if someone has a dream of realizing their acting dreams, how do they best get started?
Sebastian: I started acting as a child and viewed it for many years as my hobby before I decided to try to make a living from it. I am self-taught and usually say I have been and still am an apprentice. I have worked with some of Denmark's biggest names and tried to absorb everything like a sponge. In that way, I am privileged and often feel lucky to make a living from what I am passionate about.
My short answer would be to do what my brother did. Apply to the country's theatre school, and cross everything you have on your body. If you get in, just enjoy it and soak up all the knowledge you can. Believe in it, give it your all, work your butt off, and unfortunately, you also have to be a bit lucky.
Andreas: I made my acting debut at the age of 8, and I was lucky to land in the industry long before I dreamed of making it my career. Therefore, I'm probably not the best to answer that question.
My best guess would be to find a folk high school or something similar that teaches acting, to get in and try it out in a safe space where there is room to explore and learn. After that, the Danish National School of Performing Arts would be the natural way to go. You can certainly also create a career outside of schools, but it's an excellent way to get in touch with the industry.
