“Fame makes you a little lonely — but if you love solitude, it’s not a problem!” Kerem Bürsin full interview

He’s one of Turkey’s most popular actors. Handsome, charming, and talented. He experiments with different genres in his craft and refuses to be boxed in. “For me, acting is what matters. Just because the system doesn’t like something, does that mean I shouldn't laugh or have fun? Honestly, I don’t even understand the whole ‘leading man’ concept — when I hear the term, I only think of things I don’t want to be,” he says. But that’s not all — he’s also outspoken about women’s rights, advocates feminist ideas, and reflects deeply on global issues. “The more you immerse yourself in the world and try to understand it, the more your capacity grows — and naturally, you start to change.”

We’re meeting Kerem Bürsin to talk about his new film, Şımarık, which just hit theaters this week. We also chat about why he set up a woodworking studio at home, what he’s like in love, and sides of him that people don’t usually see.

It’s a sunny winter day when I meet Kerem at Six Senses Kocataş Mansion. He’s holding a game console. Lately, he’s been playing video games in his downtime to relax. Whether he admits it or not, he’s incredibly handsome — but also witty and approachable. “I like the side of me that can joke around and be a little ridiculous,” he laughs. During the photo shoot, we walk down to the shore. People out jogging stop and smile when they see him, greeting him warmly. He takes time to chat and pose for selfies with fans. Then we sit down and start our conversation…

◊ You’re handsome, talented, and socially aware. It’s like you’re good at everything — is that really the case?

You’d have to ask the people close to me. I don’t think so. What matters is living life the way you want. And if you’ve got responsibilities, try to fulfill them in the most helpful, meaningful way you can.

◊ Your industry comes with a set of rules. You’re the lead guy, the so-called “heartthrob.” How did you manage to break away from those rules and start living life on your terms?

What matters to me is acting. Just because the system doesn’t allow fun, does that mean I should stop laughing? And honestly, I don’t even know what this “heartthrob” thing is supposed to mean. When I hear it, I think of things I don’t want to be. I think putting people in boxes is silly anyway. What really counts is the circle of trust you build with your team — and trusting yourself, too.

◊ So, what are your flaws?

I can be kind of boring. My inner nerd is taking over more and more.

◊ So you’re not a party guy — more of a stay-at-home, hard-working type?

Exactly. Right now, I’m building a sort of woodworking studio at home. That’s what excites me the most.

◊ What are you going to do in there?

I want to make miniature models and record them properly so I can use them in post-production. In our industry, models aren’t used much, but with today’s tech, it’s easier and more possible than ever. I’m also writing scripts and spending lots of time at my computer.

◊ I caught you earlier with a game console in your hand…

Yeah, it really helps me unwind on set. Lately, I’ve been into strategy games.

◊ You come across as super chill — do you ever get angry?

Unfortunately, I’m not that zen. If we’re working, even if it’s with a friend, the goal is to do the job properly. So in that sense, I can turn into a different Kerem. Also, unfairness and disrespect really get under my skin.

◊ You seem like the fun, cool guy from the neighborhood — but you’re also sexy. Which version of Kerem do you prefer?

The side that jokes around and acts silly. That’s my favorite.

“Fame makes you a little lonely — but if you love solitude, it’s not a problem!”

“WHY SHOULD I BE UPSET FOR SAYING TWO WORDS IN ENGLISH?”

◊ One of the things public figures face most is online backlash. At last year’s Golden Butterfly Awards, you said a couple of sentences in English — and social media went wild…

I think it’s about capacity. If someone can’t comprehend something, or if their capacity is a little limited, they react. They can’t connect with it. But let me put it this way: one of the world’s biggest problems today is that looking something up on Google doesn’t equal true knowledge. Knowing something is different. But now everyone acts like they know everything. We need to ask: who’s saying what, and why?

◊ Did that whole thing upset you?

No. I’d only be upset if I felt guilty about something. But I said two words in English — why should I care? At another awards show recently, everything — the signs, the brand names — was in English. So why’s it an issue when I say a couple of English words?

◊ You’ve always been vocal about violence against women and feminist issues. Do you think celebrities speaking out actually makes a difference?

I don’t know. But here’s the thing — something bad happens and immediately, people expect celebrities to post something. The next day, it’s forgotten. Everyone feels like they’ve done their duty by posting a story and moves on. What does that actually solve? Maybe something changes, but it’s not systematic. It’s not an effective cycle. People take action, but then forget. Why do we forget? That’s become the cycle itself.

◊ You attend conferences and educational programs related to women’s issues. Is being part of the process the key to finding solutions?

Absolutely. The deeper you dive into that world, the more you understand it, the more your capacity grows — and that naturally changes you. You realize that some of the things you used to do actually support the patriarchal system. When you stop, people around you ask, “Hey, what’s going on?” But then they’re affected too. That’s how it works. But without understanding, reading, or knowing — how can real change happen?

“You have to deliver what you promise the audience.”

◊ Why aren’t you on mainstream TV this year?

Mainstream is tough — people approach it with fear.

◊ Why is that?

On a technical level, the shows are good. But with these super long episodes, the story can only go so far. You can’t get through 60 episodes without hitting nonsense. And at the end of the day, we actors can only work with what’s written. When you believe in a project and work with a passionate team, and then you get some ridiculous scene, it feels disrespectful. Then people start saying, “Let’s just finish the job and get paid.” But with that mindset, you can’t connect with the audience. And the audience deserves respect — they’re giving you their time.

◊ Do you think that’s why cinema attendance is also declining?

That’s one of the reasons, for sure.

◊ How so?

Going to the movies costs money — tickets, popcorn, everything. So when people make the effort, the film better deliver. If it doesn’t, they lose trust. And that’s what’s happened. Of course, some films are amazing, but when they don’t do well at the box office, it’s heartbreaking.

◊ You co-wrote The Blue Cave. Was writing your way of reacting to all this?

I didn’t start with a “let me show you” attitude. But when something bothers you, people say, “Then go make something yourself.” That’s what I did. I understand the appeal of romantic comedies — they sell well globally. But I felt like we were repeating ourselves. I wanted a film that hit all the clichés but also reflected life — full of surprising emotions and twists. Why not? The problem is, we always ask “Why should we?” but never ask “Why not?” And that kills creativity.

“I like singing and dancing alone — but I get embarrassed if someone sees me.”

◊ How into social media are you?

On a scale of 1 to 10, I’d say 6.5.

◊ Do you have a fake account?

I don’t have the energy for that.

◊ If you like someone, do you check them out with your real account?

Why not? Is that a bad thing? But I don’t really use social media like that.

◊ Do you get inappropriate DMs?

I don’t even check that stuff. I’m into space videos, sports clips, things like that.

◊ What’s the word you say the most every day?

You tell me.

◊ Could it be “f*ck”?

(Laughs) Yeah, probably “fck” or “sht.”

◊ If you had to be stuck in an elevator for an hour, who would you want with you?

Gupse Özay. I heard she’s terrified of that — we’d laugh until we cried.

◊ What’s something you were caught doing and got embarrassed?

Singing and dancing alone. If someone sees me, I get shy.

◊ What’s something you start and just can’t stop doing?

LEGO.

“I think I’m a bad lover — not very good at it.”

◊ You once said, “My story involves tears, sweat, and sometimes blood.” What have you been through?

Life is about blood, sweat, tears, and respect. I’ve experienced all of that.

◊ But to us, it seemed like you came to Turkey, starred in Waiting for the Sun, and instantly became a star…

Before that, I lived in LA for four tough years. I was trying to become an actor, but I couldn’t hold down any jobs.

◊ You’ve been one of Turkey’s top actors for 11 years now. What has fame cost you?

Fame makes you a little lonely. But if you like being alone, it’s fine.

◊ And do you?

Yeah, I love solitude.

◊ But you love love too…

(Laughs) Look at your eyes light up like you scored a goal, Hakan. Who doesn’t love love? It’s beautiful.

◊ What kind of lover are you?

Honestly, not a great one. I don’t think I’m very good at it.

◊ Come on, you’ve played amazing lovers in all those rom-coms…

I don’t know! I just love my job so much. Nothing else gives me that kind of joy.

◊ Now that you write romantic stories too, how would you define love?

Love shouldn’t be something that fits into logic. It should be something you want to explore.

◊ You’re in a relationship with Melisa Tapan. How’s that going?

It’s going great.

◊ What grabs your attention in a woman?

I’m curious about her relationship with herself. The more beautiful that connection is, the more she shines — and that draws me in.

“Why isn’t water, fire, and earth enough for us anymore?”

◊ Your new movie Spoiled is out now. How spoiled are you?

Nothing like my character, Mete. He’s awful! Artificial, living like everything unimportant is the most important thing in the world. But playing him was a blast. It’s based on a Russian film — I’m super excited about it.

◊ In the film, Mete’s father teaches him a lesson through a game. What’s the biggest lesson you’ve learned in life?

The more you drift away from yourself, the harder life becomes. You’re all you’ve got. If you can’t love yourself, who will?

◊ The character ends up in the 1500s. Would you want to live in that era?

I’d go even further back. I’d prefer to see even more chaotic times.

◊ Without giving too much away — there’s a Truman Show vibe in the movie. Mete lives in a fake, watched world. How much are we living that reality today?

A lot. And the scary part is — we’re doing it willingly. Everyone’s sharing something, trying to broadcast their life. There are millions of videos on YouTube and social media. The other day, someone made an AI image of me in a hospital bed. I really don’t know where we’re heading. It’s upsetting. Sure, there are exciting aspects of tech — like AI in medicine. That’s amazing. But I also look around and wonder — why isn’t water, fire, and earth enough for us anymore?

◊ Mete is a womanizer. What about you?

We have nothing in common. If I saw Mete on the street, I wouldn’t even look at him.

◊ What was it like working with Onur Ünlü?

It was amazing. I’m so glad we worked together — it was incredible.

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