Newsletters
Turkish actor Boran Kuzum shared candid stories about his personal life, acting career, and international breakthrough during his appearance on the YouTube program “Ibrahim Selim ile Bu Gece” (Tonight with İbrahim Selim).
He spoke about everything from avoiding his physics class to bringing Turkish cultural details into his Netflix role.
The episode drew attention for its relaxed and confessional tone, with Kuzum’s mother also present among the audience.
Throughout the conversation, the actor reflected on the moments that shaped his career, including his decision to leave economics for conservatory training, the death of his father, his move toward international work, and the challenges of creating space for Turkish representation on a global set.
Kuzum recently joined the main cast of “Big Mistakes,” a Netflix crime comedy created by Dan Levy and Rachel Sennott.
The role marked a significant step in his international career, as he became the first Turkish actor to appear in the main cast of a U.S.-produced Netflix series, according to earlier Türkiye Today reporting.
Kuzum said his relationship with acting began during his school years, when he joined the theater club partly to avoid physics class. At the time, he said, he wanted to do something more creative.
His path did not immediately lead to acting. Kuzum first began studying economics, but said he later realized the field was not right for him when he struggled even to define inflation properly.
He then turned toward conservatory exams, despite social expectations around him that pointed toward more conventional professions such as medicine or engineering.
Speaking about that period, Kuzum recalled one piece of advice from his father as especially important: “Whatever you become, try to be the best at it.”
The actor later graduated from the Istanbul University State Conservatory and built a strong profile in Türkiye through roles in “Wounded Love” (Vatanim Sensin), “The Protector” (Hakan: Muhafiz), “Respect” (Saygi), “Mothers and Mothers” (Analar ve Anneler), “Cingoz Recai,” “Doom of Love” (Askin Kiyameti), and the stage production, “The Seagull” (Marti).
One of the most personal moments of the interview came when Kuzum spoke about losing his father.
He described his father’s death as the greatest fear of his life and said experiencing that loss changed the way he approached other risks.
“After living through my biggest fear, nothing scared me that much anymore,” he said, adding that the experience gave him a sense of freedom.
Kuzum connected that emotional shift to his decision to restart his career abroad. He said facing his biggest fear made other uncertainties feel less intimidating, including the possibility of rebuilding his professional life outside Türkiye.
That decision eventually led him to “Big Mistakes,” where he plays Yusuf, a volatile figure in the criminal world at the center of the series.
In earlier remarks to GQ Middle East, Kuzum described his move toward global work as a long-held ambition, saying he did not want to look back later in life and regret not trying.
Kuzum also recalled the moment he learned he had been accepted into the international project.
He said he received the news while he was in Bostanci, Istanbul, and became so excited during the phone call that he lost his way.
The actor later travelled to New Jersey for his first day on set, where he said he brought baklava for the crew. He also spoke about wanting to add Turkish cultural details to the character of Yusuf.
“I especially wanted to include things we have, like kissing the hand and placing it on the forehead,” he said, referring to the traditional gesture of respect toward elders in Türkiye.
Earlier, the Turkish actor had revealed that Yusuf was not originally written as Turkish. The character had first been imagined as Russian or Eastern European, but the writers changed his background after casting Kuzum.
The actor also suggested the name Yusuf and occasionally improvised in Turkish during high-tension scenes, some of which were kept in the final version.
In the interview, Kuzum also commented on casting habits in the Turkish industry. He said the same role might not necessarily have been offered to him in Türkiye, stressing that he did not mean this as a criticism but as an observation about typecasting and industry preferences.
Beyond his international career, Kuzum gave several glimpses into his daily life. He said he goes to karaoke once a week and described it as his only social routine in Istanbul.
“I balance myself with therapy and karaoke,” he said.
He joked that he does not like cooking, but makes very good rice. However, for one role, he said he spent about a month working in a kitchen as part of his preparation, learning techniques related to fish, presentation, and service during an intense summer training period.
Kuzum also spoke openly about relationships and personal boundaries. Asked about his most difficult trait, he said he is deeply attached to solitude.
“I am too fond of being alone. I want my own space a lot. This can sometimes be toxic,” he said.
On jealousy, he said he can be jealous but tends to experience it internally rather than projecting it onto the other person.
The actor also shared a humorous memory from the early years of his career. Asked whether he had ever claimed to have a skill during an audition that he did not really possess, he admitted that he had once done so.
Although he had a driving license, he had not actively driven for a long time. On one set day, he had to get behind the wheel for a scene, but failed to control the car while reversing and damaged it, forcing the crew to shoot the remaining scenes from different angles.
The Turkish actor also defended his hometown, Ankara, despite living in Istanbul.
“Ankara is my red line,” he said, describing it as a city that people without friends from Ankara may struggle to understand.
He contrasted Ankara with Istanbul’s social atmosphere, saying that in Istanbul, where one goes often matters more than whom one is with. His comments framed Ankara not only as a hometown, but as part of the personal identity and social world he continues to protect.
When asked how someone could win his heart, Kuzum avoided giving a fixed formula. “It depends on the person and the situation. I am not unreachable,” he said.
Throughout the interview, Kuzum presented his career as a series of risks shaped by personal loss, creative restlessness, and a willingness to start over.
His latest comments also add a more intimate layer to his international breakthrough, showing how a role in a U.S. Netflix production grew out of older decisions, private fears, and a continuing desire to carry parts of Türkiye into global storytelling.
Set as preferred source
Set as preferred source
2 min read
