MARCH 2024 Issue – 18 WITH Demet Özdemir

“ON THE TOP OF HER GAME” Issue with Demet Özdemir

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH Demet Özdemir

1.How did you start your career?

I started dancing at a young age, 
and as I progressed professionally in this field, 
encouraged by my friends who saw my talent in theater, 
I began taking acting lessons. Through this, 
I discovered my passion and decided to pursue my career in acting. 
After two years of acting training, 
my professional acting career began in 2013 with the lead role in the series 
"Sana Bir Sır Vereceğim."

2. In 2015, you gained recognition for your role as "Aslı" in the series "Çilek Kokusu.
" What kind of experience did this role give you?

I try to embody every character I portray by truly living, 
understanding, and embracing them. 
My career started with roles that wouldn't come to many aspiring actors. 
In "Sana Bir Sır Vereceğim," I played a character with electric powers, 
and in "Kurt Seyit ve Şura," set in the 1920s,
 I portrayed a Russian girl who was emotional yet knew how to seek revenge,
 strong yet delicate.
 Aslı was a character more relatable and closer to my heart. 
This series helped me mature as an actress and added a skill to my personal life:
 baking beautiful cakes. 😊
3. You made a big breakthrough in 2018 with your role as "Sanem" in the TV series
    "Erkenci Kuş". Can you tell us what you gained from this role?

Sanem has serious audacity about her. 
She doesn't care much about appearances and is guided by her dreams. 
Through Sanem, I realized that good acting actually comes from this ease and perspective. 
My dream, my goal, is to be a great actress. 
If I have to cry my heart out for a role or look "ugly," I will. 
If I worry about looking good on camera, 
I will not do what the role requires and then I’ll be betraying my dreams.
4.Which of the characters you've played is your favourite?

All the characters I've played are a part of me, and I love them all. 
I won't say I have a favorite, but Sanem is different. 
Some roles have boundaries, like playing a mother, but Sanem had none. 
She wasn't like typical young girls, 
but she made one feel like the inner voice of every woman. 
If you ask me this question next year, my answer might change. 
So, I can't really pick a favorite.
5.Which project is the turning point in your career?

"Sana Bir Sır Vereceğim" holds a special place as it launched my acting career, 
but "Erkenci Kuş" can be considered the turning point,
 as it helped me reach a wider audience worldwide.

6.You are world’s-renowned actress. What is this experience like for you?

It's truly an incredible feeling. 
To be loved and cared for by people thousands of kilometers away 
and from completely different cultures is something not everyone experiences.
But at the end of the day, 
I'm aware that this love stems from the characters
 I play and that this situation is temporary. 
Today, love and attention for me, but tomorrow it could shift to someone else. 
Being loved and supported like this is truly wonderful,
 but I don't live my life around it. 
7.What is your dream projects you want to do in the future?

My dreams regarding my career are endless. 
I want to do theater.
 I started my career with dance and then discovered my love for acting.
 I really want to be part of a musical where I can combine both.
 I have more dreams, but let's leave it at that for now. 😊

8.Is there anything you want to say to your Indian fans?
I see their love for me on social media. 
Thank you for embracing me and showing your love.
 मैं भी तुमसे प्यार करता हूँ (I love you too).
 Hopefully, one day, I'll get the chance to visit your country and meet you all.
9.What are your expectations from 2024?
Health and peace. It might sound a bit cliché, 
but considering the pandemic and subsequent 
wars, economic crises, earthquakes,
 I believe everyone would agree with me.

10.If you weren't an actress, what would you like to be?
An advocate fighting against injustices. 
Actually, I became one in a way. 😊 
I portrayed a lawyer in "Doğduğun Ev Kaderindir." 
One of the things that made me fall in love with my profession
 is being able to do different professions in each project. 
If I were just a lawyer, I'd only be a lawyer, 
but now I can be a lawyer, a doctor, a dancer, a writer...

11.Can you share your thoughts about Indian cinema and television?

I don't know much about Indian television, 
but Indian cinema, especially Bollywood, 
is a well-established industry known worldwide. 
The colors, music, dance—they all entice me, 
and I enjoy watching it immensely. 
As an audience I appreciate it, but as an actress, 
I believe participating in such a project would be very enjoyable
 and would enhance acting skills. 
Maybe it's because I love dance and music so much. 
😊 Even though when we think of Bollywood, we often think of films with dance ,
 I'm aware that there are different genres and themes.
 As an actress, I believe working on projects from different cultures expands my horizons.
 While saying this, let me also mention that
 I'm open to recommendations for Indian films and series.