your partner, your challenges and your dreams

She is one of the actresses of the moment in many countries, since ‘My daughter’ It is among the most exported series from Turkey in recent years. Leyla Lydia Tugutlu plays Candan in this great bet of Atresmedia for Sunday night (leading in April with an average of 16.7% and 2.5 million viewers and sweeping this month of May). Although those most familiar with Turkish fiction discovered it before in ‘Sweet revenge’ (Nova), which allowed us to see it in a completely different register.

Born 31 years ago in Germany and representing Turkey in different international beauty contests, among others, Miss World, after being chosen Miss in her country in 2008, is the daughter of a Turkish father and a German mother, which has meant that at home She has grown up with the traditions of both countries, to which she feels deeply connected. Paired for years with Ceyhun Ergin, from whom he has inherited his passion for martial arts, answers our questionnaire in very fluent and elaborate English, so we can also say that there would be no language barriers for him to undertake an international career should the case arise. About her past, present and future we spoke with Leyla Lydia Tuğutlu, who has numerous projects in mind and dreams to carry out, as she herself confesses.

QUESTION: ‘My daughter’ is reaping enormous success in Spain, where it is broadcast on Antena 3, and in other countries, do you consider this series to be a before and after in your career?

ANSWER: I believe that each project comes at its right time. ‘My daughter’ is one of the most special I’ve ever worked on. The fact that it has attracted so much interest and has loved so many people makes me very happy.

Q: You work with Buğra Gülsoy again, what would you highlight about him?

R: We have had the opportunity to work together on different occasions. He is a professional with whom I like to work.

Q: What was the biggest challenge in playing your role as Candan in ‘My daughter’? The relationship between Öyku and Demir is very magical.

R: Although Candan comes from a wealthy family, the ties between them are severely weakened and he reaches a breaking point due to a tragic event. With this great sorrow and the guilt that she has carried from a very young age, she has had to mature quickly. She left home very young and worked to support herself and has been alone for a long time. He has no one to trust, so he has built walls to protect himself from the outside world. The versatility of the character is that she has at the same time a cold and strong attitude towards people and is a motherly woman who cares and feels compassion.

Q: The main theme of the series is a little girl who finds her father and tries to have a good relationship with him. Did ‘My Daughter’ make you think about your own future, start a family and have children?

R: I think it has brought about a change in my relationship with children and my perspective. It made me see the most maternal part of myself. I also realized that children can be affected by the smallest things and that these events could have a great impact on their development. As for our history, raising a child as a single parent is a great responsibility and a child only needs the feeling of family.

Q: Lately, you have worked on another TV series, ‘Uyanış: Büyük Selçuklu’. What can you tell us about your character?

R: The series is about the Seljuk Sultanate and I played a character called Elçin who is very different from all the ones I have played so far. That was the main reason I accepted this job. After she loses her father and her brother is captured, she becomes the head of a group of nomads. She is strong, smart, brave, and a fierce warrior. He is a very proud person who is determined, who does not want to go back, no matter what happens.

Q: What projects do you have in the future?

R: I always think and dream about the characters that I want to play and I consider that somehow they end up meeting me. I make sure that each character has something that forces me to be different from the previous ones. I will choose the next one following this criteria.

Q: You have 2.5 million followers on Instagram. Do you interact a lot with your fans? What do you think of social networks?

R: Social media is something I use for business. I consider that they are beneficial for the work. We, as a generation, have witnessed a period in which social networks did not exist and another in which everything has become social networks. I don’t spend much of my free time on them and there are even certain periods that I don’t use them, which makes me feel mentally healthier. On the other hand, I love being in contact with people who follow and support me, to share their thoughts and comments on our work and to read them. I think they reduce the distances between us and bring us closer together.

Q: In Spain you are also known for ‘Sweet revenge’ (Divinity), which deals with the mistakes we have made and for which we sometimes have to be held accountable. Is there something that you regret in the past and that you are especially proud of?

R: I think you shouldn’t feel guilty about your past experiences because it is those acts from the past that have brought us to the present. We have to make peace with ourselves, whether we have done things right or wrong, and accept ourselves as we are.

Q: We know that you support UNICEF and that you care about the world’s problems. What are the causes you are committed to and how do you think you can help others since you are a public figure?

R: We can reach the masses through social media and it empowers us to become effective figures, which is why it is important to become a role model. I think we can get an important message across if we use these platforms in the right way.

Q: You were born in Germany. Do you go there often? Do you follow any German tradition at home?

R: I grew up with both cultures. For this reason, the traditions of both countries have always been very present in my family. I also go to Germany every year.

Q: You studied German and German literature in Istanbul. What are your preferences in this field? Would you consider writing a novel, as Buğra has done?

R: I love reading books and find this experience very valuable, especially in today’s digital atmosphere. The writers and genres I read change from time to time. For example, there are periods in which I only read novels and in others I begin to read poetry. I try to read in different languages ​​too. I have not thought about writing a book at the moment, but I cannot say that I will not change my mind in the future.

Q: One of your passions is music. You learned to play the piano and the violin. Are you still practicing?

R: I started playing again when I spent a lot of time at home as a result of the pandemic. Sometimes he had to take a ‘break’ when he had busy seasons. Confinement was tough for all of us, but I tried to spend my time in a productive way, so I started playing my instruments.

Q: You also like to ride horses. Do you have any of your own?

R: I have no horses. Owning a horse means a great responsibility and of course I don’t know much about it. There are very good horse farms, so I prefer to go to one and ride them there. Doing so now is difficult as a result of the pandemic.

Q: You practice martial arts. When did you start doing it and what attracted you to that world?

R: My boyfriend is an ex-wrestler. My interest in the arts started with him. We should consider that these sports are not only for fighting but also as a self-defense system. I believe that martial arts are very important for women to be aware of our own personal strength, to use them correctly and to develop self-confidence.

Q: Have you ever been to Spain?

R: I haven’t had a chance yet, but I will when I can travel.

Q: Since you speak several languages, have you ever considered having an international career?

R: If the right project comes along, of course I can participate in an international one.

Q: Do you have any beauty secrets?

R: My beauty secrets are getting regular sleep, drinking lots of water, and vitamin supplements. I also use sunscreen and moisturizers on a regular basis. Changing your perceptions of life and that of others is also very important, because it can make people beautiful in every way.

Q: What are your goals for the future, are there any particular ones that you would like to achieve?

R: There are some things that I want and dream about. I want to develop different musical projects, continue to act in projects that I love and start the things that I write. I would also like to travel a lot when the right circumstances arise after these hard times that we are all going through.

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