Ayça Ayşin Turan Has Found Her True Calling

Throughout her career, Ayça Ayşin Turan has demonstrated her versatile acting range, masterfully bringing to life an impressive range of characters. Originally set on pursuing a career in law, Ayça’s fascination with what goes on behind the camera conjured up an insuppressible curiosity, which subsequently propelled her on a different adventure in front of the camera.

Ayça’s acting career has soared since landing her first role years ago, but despite the heights she has reached, her appetite for taking on new challenges remains insatiable.

In our first-ever cover story, we caught up with the actress for a candid conversation about how her acting journey began, her approach to taking on strong characters, and much more.

How did your passion for acting begin?

Initially, I didn't have a dream to become an actor. I was more interested and curious about what was happening behind the camera. My fascination with the intricate process of building and capturing worlds led me to study cinema and television, and suddenly I found myself on sets as an actor. Acting eventually became a passion for me. Now, looking back, I realize that I've found my true calling. Acting allows me to explore and express myself fully. It's on the set where I feel most liberated, where I lose myself in the craft, pouring my heart into every performance with love.

 

What do you find creatively the most challenging as an actress?

Discovering the essence of a character can be an intricate process. As an actor, I become my own toughest critic when it comes to portraying a character. I can't help but think I could have delved deeper, performed better. I strive to be more creative and bring the character from the script to the screen in a more imaginative way. I wouldn't say I struggle, but I place extreme importance on this.

How would you say you’ve evolved as an actor since your first role?

Each of them has truly enriched me. Every character has brought about a transformation in me as an actor. I feel like I'm still at the beginning of the journey and I'm striving to further develop in the field of acting.

 

Your talent has earned you fans worldwide; would you be interested in starring in an international project? If yes, is there an international actor or actress you would absolutely love to star with?

I believe every actor has an international dream. We're in the business of dreams, essentially. It's a great fortune for all of us that our work resonates and sells internationally. I certainly dream big in this regard. It wouldn't be right to name a specific person. You can learn something from everyone, from the youngest actor to the oldest. It's a field with endless possibilities, and we're always in a state of becoming; we can never say we've fully arrived.

You have played many strong characters in the past. How do you develop each character's backstory? How do you emotionally and mentally prep yourself for the emotional scenes?

Empathy. Although the characters we read in scripts may seem like fictional characters on paper, they're actually people who coexist with us in our daily lives. In some characters, you can find a piece of yourself or someone you know. I love empathizing with these real characters. I wonder why this character does what they do. The most important qualities that facilitate our work are curiosity, observation, and empathy. I love observing people, empathizing with them, and creating stories about their lives while watching them.

If you could name a book, movie, or series that really impacted your life, what would it be and why?

I think it was during my high school or middle school years when "Çemberimde Gül Oya" series was popular among my circle. That's when my curiosity about this profession began.

When you are not on set, what are some of the activities you enjoy the most?

I try to live each day differently. Whether it's watching something new, diving into a book, cycling along the shore, taking trips to different places, spending time with loved ones, or staying active through exercise, I keep things varied. Recently, immersing myself in nature has been particularly fulfilling.

What’s next for Ayça? Any exciting projects in the near future?

I'm a bit reserved when it comes to sharing my dreams. At the moment, there are certainly some projects that pique my interest. Only time will tell how things unfold :)