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Joy Awards appearance followed by candid remarks puts Meryem Uzerli back in focus

Meryem Uzerli arrives at the Joy Awards 2026 in Riyadh, drawing attention with her elegant embroidered gown and poised appearance during one of the Middle East’s most high-profile entertainment ceremonies. (Photos via Threads)
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Meryem Uzerli arrives at the Joy Awards 2026 in Riyadh, drawing attention with her elegant embroidered gown and poised appearance during one of the Middle East’s most high-profile entertainment ceremonies. (Photos via Threads)
January 24, 2026 08:01 AM GMT+03:00

Meryem Uzerli, the Turkish German actress who gained international recognition through her role as Hurrem Sultan in the historical TV series "Magnificent Century," has once again become a trending topic, this time due to remarks she made after attending the Joy Awards 2026 in Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia.

While her appearance at the ceremony drew widespread praise, her later statement describing life as “very boring” set off a wave of discussion across social media platforms.

A high-profile night in Riyadh that drew global attention

The Joy Awards is a major entertainment ceremony held annually in Riyadh and followed closely across the Middle East and beyond. The 2026 edition saw strong participation from Turkish actors, including Hande Ercel, Baris Arduc, Halit Ergenc, Pinar Deniz, Tuba Buyukustun, Busra Develi, and Kaan Urgancioglu. Among them, Uzerli stood out for her elegance, fashion choices, and relaxed presence, which quickly turned her into one of the most talked-about figures of the night.

During the event, a lighthearted exchange between Uzerli and actress Hazal Kaya also caught public attention. Kaya was heard praising Uzerli’s appearance with a humorous remark about her not aging, a comment that later fueled debate online, especially after some users pointed out the relatively small age difference between the two actresses.

Past burnout adds context to present-day remarks

For international readers, Uzerli’s career has been marked not only by success but also by openness about personal challenges. In 2013, at the height of "Magnificent Century"s global popularity, she left the series unexpectedly and returned to Germany, citing burnout syndrome. At the time, she described herself as feeling like a machine whose battery had run out, explaining that the intense workload had taken a serious toll on her mental health.

After a period of recovery, Uzerli gradually returned to acting in Türkiye and most recently appeared in the TV series "Sakir Pasa Ailesi," signaling a renewed presence on screen and keeping her in the public eye.

Airport interview brings a new wave of interpretations

Following the Joy Awards ceremony, Uzerli spoke briefly to reporters from Gazete Magazin at the airport. In her comments, she played down the excitement surrounding the event, indirectly saying that life felt repetitive and that beyond attending the award ceremony and spending time with fellow actors, there was not much else happening in her daily routine. Her remark that everything felt “very boring” quickly circulated online, leading to varied interpretations.

Some readers linked her words to her earlier experiences with exhaustion, while others viewed them as a casual and unfiltered reflection rather than a deeper statement. The actress herself did not elaborate further, leaving room for speculation but adding to the ongoing conversation surrounding her public image.

January 24, 2026 08:01 AM GMT+03:00
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