Not enough time for my friends, says Tatlıtuğ

Gülbahar Karakuş ISTANBUL - Hürriyet

Kuzey is a different character than I played on other TV series. Kuzey is a character who is hard to understand because he comes from a different background and culture in Turkish society, says Tatlıtuğ. Photo by Sinan Özbalkan

Daily Kelebek talks to Kıvanç Tatlıtuğ about the character he plays in Kuzey-Güney. The popularity of the TV series rises each day, and the star’s popularity also rises with the series. However, the star finds very little time to spend with his friends and family. “I am trying to meet everyone and make everyone happy.”

“Kuzey is a different character than I played on other TV series,” said Tatlıtuğ, adding that Kuzey is a character who is hard to understand because he comes from a different background and culture in Turkish society.

Tatlıtuğ said he creates the character as he analyzes what is happening to Kuzey in the script. “It is hard to realize how and what he does.” The character Kuzey takes the blame on himself when his brother is guilty of a traffic accident. “There are many people in Turkey living that way. I am trying to play and create this character by thinking of other lives, by thinking of other people’s cultures,” Tatlıtuğ said.

Each day learning something new

Each day, he learns something new about his characters, he added.

Tatlıtuğ, who prefers to talk about his career rather than personal life, said every job he does is equally important for him. “I am very selective in terms of choosing the characters that I will play. I never thought that everyone should talk about the TV series that I act in. It was never my ideal in my career.” However, Kuzey has another special thing in him, according to Tatlıtuğ. “He is a wounded soul. In fact he can do much better in life, but he has prejudices.”

Playing Kuzey role has earned Tatlıtuğ many awards. Recently he received the best actor award from a local Rotary Club. “I cannot express how this is important for me. The award is such an important thing for me,” he said.

The Rotary Club brought the award the TV series set, because the actors and actress could not attend the awards ceremony. “It is very important to gain the appreciation of the audience for me,” he said.
Tatlıtuğ said he was trying to make everyone in his life happy, but his busy work routine makes this hard to do. “I have a family, and I have my friends. I try to spend time with them.”

“I am acting all the time,” he said, noting that there is only one day a week that he is not on set. “I am trying to become Kuzey six days a week,” he added. Every gesture and move Kuzey makes stays like a heritage with Tatlıtuğ, he said.

Waiting for movie version of series

A movie based on the TV series Kuzey-Güney will be shooting very soon, said Tatlıtuğ.

Speaking after Tatlıtuğ, Öykü Karyel, who plays Cemre in the series, said not much has changed in her life since the series started. Karayel said she mainly takes roles on theater stages. “I feel better on the theater stage; it is freer.” Zerrin Tekindor, who is a famous theater actress and plays Cemre’s mother in the series said: “My role is an entertaining one. After playing the madam role on Aşk-I Memnu [Forbidden Love] I am currently enjoying my role a lot.” Tekindor said she is very content and happy to have a role in the same series as Tatlıtuğ.