Ottomans were schemers, says US actor John Malkovich

ISTANBUL

US actor John Malkovich attends a news conference in Santiago de Chile, Chile, 03 September 2012, where he arrived to participate in the theatrical opera 'The Infernal Comedy'. EPA/MARIO RUIZ

The Ottomans were often involved in court intrigues, U.S. actor John Malkovich has said during an exclusive interview with daily Hürriyet, wading into a recent debate about the depiction of Süleyman the Magnificent in a hit TV series.
 
"I wouldn't want to start up a fight with your prime minister, but Ottomans were schemers," Malkovich said when asked about the recent debate focusing on "Muhteşem Yüzyıl" (The Magnificent Century), which is widely popular in Turkey and the surrounding region.
 
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan recently dished out heavy criticism about the series for its portrayal of Süleyman. The show focuses more on Süleyman's personal life and palace life, portraying characters from the harem and the royal family, rather than depicting his campaigns as the prime minister would like to see.
 
Malkovich said the histories of all countries "are made up of love, betrayal and plots."
 
‘I was offered Atatürk’s role’
 
Malkovich also said he had been offered to reprise the role of modern Turkish founder Mustafa Kemal Atatürk but had to decline due to his age.
 
"I was too old for the offered role," Malkovich told Hurriyet. "How can I play the Atatürk in the days of the Gallipoli victory? But if they ask me to play him in his elder days, I would love to accept that."