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Turkish actress Seda Bakan said Turkish television dramas have built up an extraordinary presence abroad, pointing to the strong recognition she experienced during a promotional visit to Madrid and describing it as a source of pride.
Speaking to Anadolu Agency in the Spanish capital, which she said she was visiting for the first time, Bakan said she was deeply impressed by Madrid and understood why it is counted among the world's most beautiful cities.
Even so, she made clear that she would not trade Istanbul for anywhere else.
Bakan said the strength of Turkish dramas can be felt in everyday settings abroad, adding that people recognized her in places such as pastry shops and stores and on the street. She said this was especially striking in Spain, where her series "Another Self," known in Turkish as "Zeytin Agaci," had become very popular.
She said Spaniards know many Turkish dramas and admire them, which, in her view, shows that Turkish productions are doing something right.
She also said people who come up to her abroad often say they know her and usually mention the name of the series they watched.
Bakan added that she takes particular pride in hearing such reactions, especially because many viewers connect with the character she played. She said some people even tell her, "You are like me," because they see something of themselves in that role, which makes the response even more meaningful for her.
Bakan also drew attention to what she sees as a natural closeness between Turks and Spaniards.
She said Spaniards reflect the warmth often associated with Mediterranean societies and noted similarities in food culture, the habit of sharing, and the way emotions are lived deeply.
She said that just as Spaniards are familiar with Turks, Turks are also familiar with Spaniards, and she described the two peoples as being remarkably alike.
During her visit, she said she especially enjoyed tapas, a Spanish style of small shared dishes or appetizers, as well as seafood, meat plates, and cava, a sparkling wine from Spain.
When asked about possible film projects in Spain, Bakan responded in a lighthearted way, saying, "I send my greetings to Pedro Almodovar."
She added that she wished she knew Spanish well enough to sing a song in the language, while also noting that memorization is already part of an actor's job and that many things can be done.
She said she is an admirer of Oscar-winning Spanish director Pedro Almodovar and named Javier Bardem and Penelope Cruz as the Spanish stars she would most like to share a film set with.
At the same time, Bakan reflected on why Turkish cinema has not traveled abroad as strongly as Turkish television dramas. She said Turkish films may need to take up more universal subjects, while image quality and stronger editing could also play a role.
She added that Türkiye tends to produce more box-office films and said she believes more emotionally affecting films, similar to its dramas, should be made.
While she noted that some directors from Türkiye already stand out in world cinema, she said it may still be necessary to move a bit further toward more universal screenplays.
Bakan also said she had just come off the set of a new 13-episode series titled "Ruya Gibi." After that project, she said she wants to step back from television dramas for a while.
She added that she is currently reading some scripts and may take part in some short-format film or digital projects in the near term.
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