Science Meets Hollywood Dreams

Branden Garret is a Slovenian actor, producer, electric guitar player, and physicist. He was born in the small town of Šempeter pri Gorici, Slovenia, and raised in Ilirska Bistrica, Slovenia, as well as Stuttgart, Germany. Branden has two sisters and a brother.
Growing up, he attended music school and played the accordion before moving on to electric guitar, breakdance, and electric boogaloo. He completed TSC high school and later studied electrical engineering and educational physics at PEF and FMF in Ljubljana, earning a master’s degree in physics from FNM Maribor.

After several years working in science, education, and electronics, Branden felt a strong inner calling to shift toward performing arts, film, and photography. While searching for a true acting mentor, he met Janez Vajevec, a direct disciple of Lee Strasberg. Under his guidance, Branden began studying the Lee Strasberg acting technique and became a member of ActorStudio.si in Slovenia. He is passionate about Strasberg’s approach, which emphasizes inducing—not merely indicating—a character’s experience. His dedication and achievements earned him lifelong membership at the Actor Studio in Slovenia.

Branden’s first professional on-camera experiences were in commercials such as Ex-Smokers Are Unstoppable, followed by work for companies like Tilia Insurance and Finland Telekom. Enjoying his time in front of the camera, he soon pursued film roles. His early film appearances included extra roles in Dual and Seduce Me. While on the set of Dual, he met director Andraž Šumrada, who encouraged him to study at the Brothers Vajevec ActorStudio. Branden took the advice seriously and began training intensively. Over time, his love for the natural sciences gradually shifted toward artistic expression, especially film, where he discovered a deeper sense of personal expression. Auditions brought him new opportunities. He was cast in various Slovenian indie films, including The Last Man: Mangata, directed by Predrag Radulović, and Šuplje Priče: Zdej te je, a zdej te ni, directed by Samir Bajrić and produced by Slowlywood. In spring 2014, he was invited to play a supporting role in We Will Be World Champions, directed by Darko Bajić. Seeking to explore the entertainment industry beyond Europe, Branden traveled to Los Angeles at the invitation of an agency that organizes programs for international actors. “This experience was crucial for me,” he said. “I didn’t sign with anyone, but I got very good feedback, learned many new things, and gained a real sense of how the entertainment business works.” On his second trip to Los Angeles, he signed with an agent in Beverly Hills. Branden has also produced short films such as In the French Style, based on a story by Irwin Shaw, and Hills Like White Elephants, based on the short story by Ernest Hemingway. In 2013, he played a thief in the Indian TV series Swathi Chinukulu. He was originally cast as Erik in the film Vloga za Emo, but was later replaced by actor Vojko Belšak. The following year, he appeared in Episode 8 of Season 1 of the Slovenian TV series Mamin Dan (“Obletnica Mature”), playing the role of a guard. In spring 2015, Branden auditioned for the upcoming Winnetou trilogy. After a successful audition, he officially signed on to star in the RatPack Film Production alongside Wotan Wilke Möhring, Nik Xhelilaj, and Lazúa Larios, playing Tadeusz—a Polish worker who travels to the Wild West. His next major project was the Slovenian TV series Usodno Vino, where he had a recurring role as Dr. Jamnik, a gynecologist.

Branden currently lives in Los Angeles. He is preparing himself for lifetime membership in the renowned Actors Studio West, founded in 1966 and modeled after the Actors Studio in New York City. In addition to acting, Branden is also involved in the production of the feature film Pure Vortex, in collaboration with Mirror2Mirror Production.