Abel Knobel joins ‘Diepe Waters’ as triathlete Liam, shaking Boskruin

When Abel Knobel makes his entrance intoDiepe Waters, it’s impossible to miss him. With six-pack abs, muscular arms, and a focused sprint through a Boskruin park, his character Liam quite literally runs into our living rooms shirtless, driven and already radiating intensity. But beneath the sculpted physique is a performance Abel describes as the most demanding of his career.

“This is the most intense role I’ve ever played,” Abel (34) says of joining the kykNET drama phenomenon. “The preparation and challenges with Liam have taken me to a new level of self-discovery and growth as an actor.” Liam is introduced as a famous triathlete with relentless discipline and unstoppable energy. To embody that physicality, Abel had to transform his daily routine.

“I may not be a professional athlete, but like Liam, I have always had a great passion for training and sport,” he explains. “I was therefore able to prepare physically for this character whom I adore.” Abel committed to a strict two-month regime before stepping onto set. “I went to the gym twice a day, followed a strict diet, and even started swimming myself; seriously,” he says.

[paywall]

“In those two months before my first day on set, I trained incredibly hard.” The results are visible from his very first scene, but the physical preparation was only part of the journey. Appearing shirtless on screen can feel daunting, but Abel says his previous role in Khaki Fever on Showmax helped him feel more comfortable in front of the camera. “It can sometimes feel strange to appear shirtless on screen,” he admits, “but that experience definitely prepared me.” For Abel, the aesthetic was about authenticity rather than vanity. “It’s precisely because I want to portray Liam as authentically as possible that I need to look the part.”

[/paywall]