Carel Nel is a renowned South African actor, celebrated for his exceptional range, depth, and intensity on both the screen and stage. With a career spanning over a decade, Nel has established himself as a prominent figure in the entertainment industry, locally and internationally, earning recognition for his captivating performances and nuanced character work.
He is perhaps most notable for his role as Karl the Android in Ridley Scott's sci-fi series Raised by Wolves, a performance that showcased his remarkable ability to bring humanity and complexity to unconventional roles. Additionally, he portrayed Abraham Lincoln in the historical miniseries Grant on The History Channel and appeared in the Emmy-nominated remake of Roots.
Nel's extensive screen work includes a diverse range of international and South African productions, such as the SXSW Ecological Horror Gaia, the true crime series Catch me a Killer, the dystopian action series Blood Drive, the courtroom drama Shepherds and Butchers, the sci-fi western Young Ones, the poetic drama The Endless River, and the French-Belgian thriller Flight of the Storks. His remarkable ability to effortlessly shift between genres has made him a highly sought-after actor in both film and television.
On the festival circuit, Nel has garnered significant acclaim, winning back-to-back Best Actor Awards at the kykNET Silwerskerm Festival in 2016 and 2017 for his work in Hum and Slaaf, the latter of which he also co-wrote. In 2019, he received a Best Supporting Actor nomination for his portrayal of Oedipus in Oedipus: The Musical.
As a trained theatre actor, Nel studied Drama and Theatre Arts at the University of the Free State in Bloemfontein, where he was born and raised. After completing his studies, he relocated to Cape Town, where he continues to build a diverse and dynamic body of work across film, television, and theatre.
On stage, he has appeared in over 20 professional productions, including Athol Fugard's People Are Living There, for which he was nominated for Best Supporting Actor, and Die Rebellie van Lafras Verwey, which earned him the prestigious Fleur du Cap Theatre Award for Best Actor. Other notable theatre credits include the one-man show Slaaf, nominated for Best Solo Performance, 'n Begin, Die Fliek, A Midsummer Night's Dream, The Demon Bride, Koöperasiestories, Balbesit, The Garage Sale, and Anton Chekhov's Die Kersieboord.
Carel Nel continues to push creative boundaries through his commitment to bold, layered performances. Whether portraying complex historical figures or original characters in speculative worlds, he brings a grounded emotional truth to each role, earning him a reputation as one of South Africa's most compelling and versatile actors.
