She considers Kenan İmirzalıoğlu (Ezel) as the best turkish actor in this moment. She refuses to believe on what it was quoted from Murat Yıldırım (Demir) against her. Arab’s love for her is a grace.
Tuba Büyüküstün: I haven’t loved my husband at first sight and there is a special chemistry between me and Cansel Elçin (Murat teacher).
Tuba Büyüküstün has become the most popular and famous star among the Turkish actresses in Arab world after she declared her rebellion in “Asi” series which transferred her overnight to the ranks of women icon for the Arab audience. “Not only for her natural and soft beauty but also for her interpretation with an apparent ease, her delicacy and her proximity of the hearts”, in the words of her lovers “fans”, and there are a lot of them! Now she is recuperating the name of “Lamiss”, which she carried in ”Ihlamurlar Altinda”, in the series “Gonülçelen” whom is gaining an immense popularity and in which she acted with the actor Cansel Elçin (Murat). So what would say our newly married guest in this exclusive interview?
Our Turkish guest who abandoned fashion design to devote herself to her real passion acting, found a new love from a flesh and blood this time, in the person of the actor Onur Saylak with whom she get married last July. Tuba who is known as very reserved with reference to her private life, did not use, as usual, the right of veto against our questions; but she talked about her love and her husband even if she did it in a succinct way. First of all, we tried to know the secret of her popularity in Arab world, so we asked her:
What does it mean to you that you have become a symbol in the Arab world, where the public does not even know your language? What is the secret in your opinion?
- The Main reason is due to the fact that the stories and topics addressed by the Turkish series are not limited to Turkish people but go beyond to people and nations that have a similar culture and feelings. I think that what is offered by those projects catch the interest and the feelings of people in the Middle East, especially the Arabs. In the end, we live in the same area and we have the same feelings and the same problems and we experience similar living conditions; and therefore, the stories and the emotions we present in our series are universal themes and feelings. As for me, it is a great honour to be loved by Arab people and to benefit from this considerable support out of my country. This is a blessing for me, Thank you all from the bottom of my heart.
In your opinion, will the Turkish series have won all that success if they weren’t dubbed into Arabic?
- Honestly, I can not give my opinion on this topic. I am Turkish and I know very well the specificity of the audience in my country and how it deals with the projects presented. But I do not know the Arabs, how they deal with our series and their habits in watching TV, so I do not know whether it will succeed without dubbing or not.
In a previous interview with Snob Magazine, you have said that you would like to learn Arabic, where is that wish now?
- In fact, I haven’t begun yet formally, it is a very difficult language! But I know a few words and short sentences and phrases.
In the same interview, you have mentioned that you have learnt singing for your role in “Gönülçelen”, do you have any intention to become a singer besides acting?
- I am first and last an actress, and I think only in acting. On the other hand, there is no need to become a singer since there are so many talented and professional singers who have wonderful voices.
“Demir” or “Murat (Teacher)”?
"I have enough intelligence to realize that beauty alone is nothing at all, and has no value!"
"I do not know the Arabs, nor their habits in watching Tv and how they deal with our series."
"I have not received any offer for any joint Arab/Turkish movie though I welcome the idea."
With reference to “Gönülçelen”, Did you find as Arab viewers did, that there is a natural chemistry between you and the actor Cansel Elçin “Murat”?
- Yes, it is true, especially on screen between us. And the chemistry between the actors is very important for any acting project since without it, the public will not believe us and the project will not succeed.
On the other hand there are fans who prefer you with Murat Yıldırım (Demir) and who consider that you have formed together a more successful couple, what is your comment?
- The story of Asi series that I have performed with Murat is completely different from “Gonulçelen” with Cansel . And the role of “Demir” is very different from the character “Murat”. Also, both actors differ from each other in their character and their way of performing. Personally, I love and get attached to each character I perform and every role I play.
What about the tension between you and Murat Yıldırım (Demir) following his negative comments against you? Is the dispute still ongoing? And why, in your opinion, he said what he said?
- I have not heard or read anything negative on behalf of him against me from all what has been mentioned, said and attributed to him. But I think that, as a professional actor, he couldn’t have said or uttered such negative things.
We heard about a joint Arab - Turkish movie in which you are the leading actress. How true is that?
- No, there is no such thing up to now. I haven’t received any offer about any movie project of this kind though I welcome the idea of course.
It has also been said there is series project which brings you together with the most prominent Arabs and Turkish stars?
- That is a rumor. But as a matter of principle, I do not mind at all participating in a project of this kind. The most important thing for me has been always the quality of what I present and the story it deals with.
Is it true you're considering buying a house in an Arab country, is likely to be Lebanon?
- This is also rumor. I didn’t plan for such thing and nothing like that occurred. Also, the idea has not been raised for me so far.
How true is what has been said about the fact you haven’t accepted acting along with Kenan İmirzalioğlu (Ezel)?
- Such news have spread in Turkey as well. But this is not true at all. I haven’t refused any project with Kenan. He is, in my opinion, one of the best actors in Turkey and the most important of them currently.
"My husband and I know each other before working together in “Gonulçelen"
"We have not get married secretly, but we have just wanted to celebrate the wedding with relatives and family."
"When someone falls in love, there are no longer the specifications of the man of his dreams. There is nothing else but love."
Why do you always decline being compared to other stars who have won a large popularity in Arab world?
- The popularity has never been a goal for me, but the continuity has been always all what I was seeking. I have no concern with the comparison with anyone, because in the origin, each person is different from the other and therefore, I don’t resemble the others. I have my own way that I am taking.
It is said that the love with your husband Onur Saylak began during the shooting of “Gonulçelen”, was it love at first sight?
- No, it was not a love at first sight and its story did not begin between us during the shooting of the series. Onur and I know each other before working together in “Gonulçelen”. We were good and very close friends for nearly five years.
Does he have the characteristics that you were wishing for your life partner?
- When someone falls in love, there are no longer the specifications of the man of his dreams and the features set out in his mind and the ones he wanted in his partner in life. It is just love, and nothing else.
Why did you decide to marry in total secrecy in France, which has disappointed your fans who were expecting a public celebration?
- We have not get married secretly, but we have just wanted to celebrate the wedding with relatives and family. The number of guests in the wedding has not extended twenty people. And during the marriage ceremony we weren’t an actor and an actress but just a man and a woman.
Is it true that you are pregnant with twin girls, and that you have been obliged to cancel many projects because of pregnancy?
- This year, I had already decided to not commit to any acting project and therefore I did not cancel anyone.
You have previously stated to Snob Magazine that you are absolutely against plastic surgery? Do you still have the same opinion?
- Yes, I consider that there is no justification for any plastic surgeries except in the case of deformities, as for all the rest, I am totally against it. I cannot find any justification for those who resort to it. I still consider that the greatest grace is that I am at peace with my body and my soul. I repeat my advice to everyone that they also have to be at peace with their bodies and their souls.
What added to your fame and stardom, the fact that you are Pantene ambassador for two years respectively?
- I am very happy to work with this well-known brand. Personally I used Pantene and I am very satisfied with its products and the technology it adopts; both of us are enjoying working with each other because both of us understand the other one and because we share the same values.
As the ambassador of Pantene, how did you take care of your hair to preserve your image?
- I think that the periodic and right care of hair makes it healthier and stronger over time. So, after washing it with shampoo I always put the conditioner and the special care cream. Through these steps, I get the best result from each product.
But didn’t your beauty play a significant and fundamental role in your access to stardom?
- I know that I am beautiful and I don’t deny it. But there are a lot of beautiful women; and I have enough intelligence to realize that beauty alone is nothing at all, and it has no value! My advice to women is to ascertain this. If I rely solely on my beauty without intelligence and talent, my charm will fade and disappear when I start speaking.
What hobbies are still dreams for you?
- I adore designing everything that is new in this life. And, I still wish to act on stage, as well as to design the stage and its decoration.
Acasa 
İKİZLERİNE HAMİLE OLAN TUBA BÜYÜKÜSTÜN,
Asi ve Demir
