Melis Birkan: I have enjoyed every character I’ve played

 Sunday’s Zaman spoke with Birkan about Aybige, her character in “You Name It,” which is now in theaters, as well as her career in general.

Birkan has a calm life -- outside the film set. The successful young woman, who we know from many movies, ads and TV series, says she will stop when she has to but for now she is pleased with her fast-paced career. Stating that she is happy to have the opportunity to perform in various fields, she stresses that her daily life outside the film set belongs to her and she does not want people delving into the details of her private life. “I have a tranquil life outside the movie set. In fact I do not have time to be engaged in other things. My life outside the film set is the part that should just belong to me. This, in fact, has an effect on my life. If I play different characters in every job, I do not want people to have certain ideas about me. When you have to play a character that is very different from you, these opinions in your subconscious can influence your performance,” she says.

‘I don’t think “Issız Adam” stuck to me’

Noting that she was not formally trained as an actress, she says she sees the film set as a great acting school. “For now, I am attending ‘the film set school.’ But if I have time, I would like to do something to add more to my profession,” Birkan notes. She says she felt a lack of self-confidence when she started in the profession because she did not receive formal training. “But, every project you participate in contributes something, and you gain experience. When you evaluate these well, your self-confidence improves,” she says.

Birkan became famous for her role in “Issız Adam” although she later appeared in other movies and TV series such as “Bu Kalp Seni Unutur Mu?” (Will this heart forget you?). As to whether she feels uncomfortable being known as “the girl in ‘Issız Adam’,” Birkan says she does not think this is necessarily a label. “This is not like a label. I think it is a sign of my success. I like it, as it is a sign of the box office returns and the feedback of appreciation from the people. I do not think that movie stuck to me.”

Birkan, who has a background in modern dance and ballet, says this education has been of great benefit for her. “I would appreciate it if I was offered a character related to ballet or modern dance. But even if I am not, I think my education has greatly contributed to my professional ability,” she notes.

Why should people see ‘Adını Sen Koy’?

Birkan says “Adını Sen Koy” consists not only of love but also human relations and values. “There are not only darlings in the movie. There are also themes such as friendship, altruism and courage. We are already a nation that attaches importance not only to love but also to other values. This is a movie which depicts all these feelings, and everyone will be able to find something that resonates with them,” she explains. Stating that she did not hesitate to say yes to the project because it was Kiremitçi’s debut film, she says that since she is still at the beginning of her career she sees every movie offer as an opportunity. Noting that she enjoyed shooting the film, Birkan says they worked hard and she thinks the cast and crew did a good job. “Of course, there will be criticism. I advise those criticizing the movie to come and see it first. What is important is to be free of prejudices and be objective,” she says.

As for the question of which character -- Ada in “Issız Adam,” Aybige in “Adını Sen Koy” or Cemile in “Bu Kalp Seni Unutur Mu?” -- she feels closer to, Birkan says all are close to her heart. “They are all close to me. This is because they come to life through me, I characterize them. They all have distinct features, to me. But their common point is that I characterize them.”

‘Cemile in “Bu Kalp Seni Unutur Mu?” is special for me’

Birkan is the leading actress in the popular Turkish TV series “Bu Kalp Seni Unutur Mu?” The series has been in the news recently for a plot arc questioning the harmful policies of the military regime in the wake of Turkey’s Sept. 12, 1980 coup. The series not only mentions the conditions that led to the military’s interference in politics but also offers a courageous display of the suffering the coup caused individuals. For most observers, the series is one of few TV productions to shed light on a mostly hidden face of Turkey. The Sept. 12, 1980 military coup took place with the approval of military commanders and was the best-planned and most well-organized coup in Turkey’s history. After Sept. 12, the 1961 Constitution was eliminated, and the coup ushered in a new period of Turkish politics.

The coup was a source of great suffering for Turks, as a total of 650,000 people were detained during this period. Police compiled files on 1,683,000 people. A total of 230,000 people were tried in 210,000 cases, mostly for political reasons. Some 7,000 people faced charges that carried a sentence of capital punishment, and 517 people were sentenced to death. Fifty of those who received the death penalty were executed. As a result of unsanitary conditions and torture in prisons, another 299 people died while incarcerated. A total of 144 prisoners died in crimes where the perpetrators could not be found, while 14 died during hunger strikes, 16 were shot to death because they were supposedly trying to escape from prison and 43 prisoners committed suicide.

As for how she feels acting in a series depicting a period she did not witness, Birkan says this is what the series is all about. “We aim to both understand what happened during a period about which we can only learn through documentaries or books and show people,” she says. “I see it as a big opportunity for me to have a part in this series,” Birkan says.