Arab channel organizes poll of Turkish actors

ISTANBUL - Doğan News Agency

Kıvanç Tatlıtuğ and Songül Öden starred in the melodrama "Gümüş," which became a huge hit in Arab countries after it was screened in Turkey.

Arab television channel MBC4, which airs in the United Arab Emirates, the Middle East and North Africa, has organized a poll about Turkish actors Kıvanç Tatlıtuğ, Engin Akyürek and Kenan İmirzalıoğlu, all of whom are well known in these regions because of the expanding popularity of Turkish television dramas.

The poll, produced by Zeynep Özek and organized for the program “Turki Ekstra,” posed questions to Turkish and Arab viewers in Istanbul.

The viewers were asked which couple, Kenan İmirzalıoğlu and Bergüzar Korel, or Engin Akyürek and Tuba Büyüküstün, was the most suitable and why.

Both couples star in dramas popular in Arab countries. İmirzalıoğlu and Korel star in “Karadayı,” while Akyürek and Büyüküstün are the stars of “Kara Para Aşk” (Love Laundering).

Most of the participants stated that Akyürek and Büyüküstün were more suitable for each other, saying “they are sweeter,” “they get along well,” “they look nicer,” “they are more romantic.”

Those who preferred İmirzalıoğlu and Korel said the “couple acted better,” “they are warmer” and “they are an very beautiful couple.”

Tatlıtuğ is known in the Arab world by the name Mohannad and is perceived as the “Brad Pitt of the Middle East.”

On its Twitter account, MBC4 asked which actress – Songül Öden, Beren Saat or Hazal Kaya – would be most suitable for Tatlıtuğ, who has gained the sympathy of the Arab world with his roles in “Gümüş” (Noor) and “Aşk-ı Memnu” (Forbidden Love).

Although she acted in “Noor” a long time ago, Öden is still one of the most popular Turkish actresses in Arab countries. She was chosen as the Best Turkish Actress in the category “Queen of Drama” in the Middle East in a poll conducted by the same channel.

Saat played the role of Fatmagül in “Fatmagül’ün Suçu Ne?” (What is Fatmagül’s Fault?), which gained many fans in the Arab world, and she is almost as popular as Öden in the region.

After her performance in “Forbidden Love,” Kaya also became more popular in Arab countries, thanks to her hit series “Adını Feriha Koydum” (I Named Her Feriha).

Korel wins over Büyüküstün

In another recent survey conducted by MBC4, Korel was named the best Turkish actress, winning over Büyüküstün. The survey asked respondents to grade the actresses in both their beauty and acting performances.

Korel was chosen for this title as she “resembled the Turkish woman” and won the hearts of the respondents for her “modesty” and “humbleness,” whereas adjectives such as “natural” and “noble beauty” were used by respondents to describe Büyüküstün.