Interviu pentru MARIE CLAIRE MAGAZIN

Scris de **Simi** Mier Oct 31, 2012 11:58 pm

Murat Yildirim prefers not to give interviews, he does not like pose for photos, & does not he like to talk about himself. The interview took place at the Pera Palas Hotel, to which he commented “this is the first time I enjoyed giving a photo shoot/interview, thank you to the entire crew”, and for these comments we were extremely grateful. After the taking of the photos he answered all of the questions openly and honestly. Welcome to the world of Murat Yildirim behind the scenes.

~ Reaching out to you is very difficult. I do know that you do not enjoy photo shoots/interviews; is this because you prefer your persona to be kept in the background?

MY~ Naturally being an actor naturally keeps me in the forefront and it is because of this I prefer to keep my private life out of the limelight. Actually I felt this while I was a musician. I felt very good while playing the drums; while on stage and performing I was stage, but in the back and no one really saw me. I really enjoyed this.

~ Is this because you prefer to be a hidden hero?

MY~ I do not know the real cause but I think is the way I was raised as a child. Just as I enjoyed playing the drums, I also enjoy being an actor, and I prefer to be in the forefront with my performance.

~ With all of the exposure do you really believe that you can stay out of the limelight?

MY~ Its impossible (smiling). I think I need to say that I enjoy being in the limelight (smiling).

~ In your daily life are there times that you prefer not to be seen?

MY~ Not be seen! (smiling) actually this is what has happened in the past seven months; I let my hair grow in, lost some weight and people did not recognize me. This was good to the extent of being in public view. Actually after my second year of being in the public eye I was able to overcome the feeling of discomfort. Being asked to have a picture taken or sign an autograph does not shock or make me uncomfortable anymore. I see this as part of my job. When I am approached by the public is it because of my job. Otherwise I was raised in a village with my mother Hayat Yildirim & my father Mehmet Salih Yildirim; I am not approached for being their off spring. I am approached for the character portrayals that they know on television or cinema.

~ You mention that you enjoyed playing music. Can you explain why youstopped?

MY~ I think I was searching, I spent my life searching because a person needs to discover them self, this is what was presented to me; it is not because I just want to do this. It is because I needed to find this within myself. I was searching. First it was being a Doctor, then an Engineer, then a Musician and while searching I discovered theater, acting and I realized this is what I was happy doing.

~ Are you still searching?

MY~ Why was I born into this life? What is going to make me happy? These are not things that I searched for. I lived with what was presented to me, and while doing so I staying with acting the longest period of time.

~ So you could stop acting today?

MY~ I cannot make any predictions that I will still be acting in 5 or 10 years, but for right now I am enjoying it. This could of course have been something different occupation; but currently I am enjoying being an actor and this is why I continue.

~ Being an actor satisfies what part of your soul?

MY~ To be frankly honest I never really thought about why I enjoyed being an actor. Maybe it is due to the diversity involved with being an actor. I am able to portray a Musician, Lawyer, Doctor….being able to display whatever the emotions are on the inside to the outside.

~ Where did your talent come from?

MY~ I have no idea. I have never stated that I have talent…..

~ If you did not have a natural talent, regardless of how much coaching or education you would not be able to do what you do.

MY~ In all honesty as life goes on I want to be able to live through all the feelings and emotions. Keeping this in mind I feel that I am able to fulfill this with acting. What is important to be is life itself. With whatever life presents to me I first bow my head with the thought that “my neck is thinner than a strand”. Afterwards I think that “you have stated something to me, and I need to respond”. I believe that life has given me the opportunity to be able to do this.

~ Do you ever feel that you do not have the right to respond?

MY~ While this being the case on certain occasions I still believe that there is something to be learned from this experience. This is obvious with my first choice of becoming an engineer. I always wanted to be able to discover the cause of the problem; even if I could not find the initial cause I always knew that there was another answer. Without having control over some obstacles that I may be faced with during the course of life, I always try to find an answer or solution.

~ Are you unable to stop?

MY~ Stopping is not an option for me, because even if you stop life always throws something at you and I always want to be prepared with a response (smiling).

~ What would you dream about as a child?

MY~ Actually looking back it seems to be a reality now; however as a child I was disappointed (smile). I always wanted everyone to know me, and like me as a child. This may be a reality now, but as a child that was a dream. I never thought about what I would be doing today or what I wanted to be as an adult. This is also the reason why I cannot speak frankly about being an actor. Three, five years from now I don’t know what I will be doing, or even what I want to be doing, I don’t want to think about it, it is much better this way.

~ Is this why you are able to enjoy what happens in life when it happens?

MY~ Exactly…Life can bring whatever it wants, I will resolve whatever I can, and what I cannot resolve I will learn to love with its pain.

~ How much do you believe in luck and fate? If you had not been an actor there is the possibility that you would not have met your wife Burcin Terzioglu?

MY~ I personally believe in fate over luck. Fate is a part of life, and fate is how Burcin came into my life. Life can bring you many things and it is up to you to review and put into focus and make a decision. A person has the freedom to choose what should or should not be in their life. With anything that you accept if it is 51% correct than you stand behind your decision, I review what life has presented me, I make a decision and stand by my decision.

~ Usually when discussing marriage many say “it was love at first sight, I knew instantly that she was the woman I wanted to marry” I personally have not been in this position so when you saw your wife did you say this to yourself?

MY~ Yes I did (smile). I never said “I am how old or that I needed to get married”. Americans believe in the feeling or saying that “Yes this is it” without that sense they do not proceed. I also am the same. When I sense yes this is it, I do it, whether it was in my decision to get married or any other aspect of life…if I want to do it I do it. When I first met Burcin I said “Yes she is the one”, and we got married. Being a perfectionist, trying to reach for the impossible, being with the person you most want to be acquainted with, you can think you are equating yourself however we all have our own persona. If you are ok with yourself than everything is ok.

~ Are you thinking about starting a family?

MY~ Absolutely!! When I am with my niece I think when; are we going to have a child of our own. I am hopeful that it will be very soon. When I return from the set regardless of how tired I may be I will spend time and listen to him/her.

~ So you are ready then?

MY~ Absolutely ready.

~ What type of father do you think you will be?

Scris de **Simi** Joi Noi 01, 2012 12:04 am

MY~ I will have a whole view of life. I am ready for this responsibility.

~ You were offered a variety of roles in addition to “Suskunlar”, specifically why did you accept this role?

MY~ Actually what is more important is that most people have more of what they desire over what they do not desire. I really had no desire to be in a serial this year. When the writer Pinar Bulut mentioned this series to me I got very excited. I was invited to a reading at the production company. I really do not know if this was a setup or not but I was caught in the trap (smile). When I read the storyline I was unable to control my nerves as well as unable to control the tears. For my own conscience I was looking for something that excited me which made me feel like I was really doing something with a storyline that was enthralling and would have a positive outcome. I feel extremely proud to be included in such a project.

~ You are portraying a character that has been traumatized. How does this affect you personally?

MY~ We are inspired by a true story. Today the “Pozanti” situation came to the surface, but these types of situations do not only happen in prison. Before starting on the project I did a lot of research, and I discovered that child abuse is much more active than most people realize. Most people do not want to believe this…..When I discuss the storyline of “Suskunlar” with close friends or associates they in turn start telling many different types of stories as well. If I had not started the conversation talking about the storyline none of these other stories would come to the surface. With this story being told on television, there will be others who will discuss their own stories.

~ You seem to be a calm person, however right now it seems that you are more the calm before the storm. Am I right?

MY~ Normally I am a calm person; maybe it’s because of my belief in fate….when I am confronted with a problem I try and solve that problem, if I cannot solve it I do not fret over it.

~ Do you ever raise your voice?

MY~ Of course I do. Most people set themselves up to be a certain way. When I am pushed into another direction of course I can raise my voice, then I think to myself “this is what you believe in, but there are others who believe in something different, relax”. After all I am human and have the right to get angry as well. I spent years studying this science. I believe that a baby is genetically born angry but what is more important is morality. Anger has to be controlled and more focused.

~ Are you at peace with yourself?

MY~ This is my biggest problem. I spend too much time arguing with myself. This is sometimes to the extent that I do not even realize the good that I do. When doing something negative realizes this, face it; also realize the good that you do as well….I am trying to do this.

~ It seems that you are ignoring the positive things that you do.

MY~ Even without realizing; I am sometimes unfair to myself; but I accept to myself both the good and the bad.

~ What is the biggest complaint you have about yourself?

MY~ I painfully criticize myself too much.

~ When is it that your are most happy and at peace with yourself?
MY~ When I am praying

~Do you do this much?

MY~ Every opportunity I get

~ You have an unbelievable fan base. Most find you both handsome charismatic. Do you find yourself to be a charismatic person?

MY~ Being charismatic has to do with performing and with the characterization. This changes of course with each portrayal. For example in “Suskunlar” I do not feel that I am good looking. In this role I am more of a guardian of children. Another example is in the series “Asi” the character was a conceited, self confident, and full of pride. Being handsome is not something that means much to me, how my hair looks, and my appearance is not something I pay much attention too. Sometimes being this way may be what someone else perceives as handsome. Yet to others being a realistic person can be perceived as being sexy. While at a conference at ODTU, I talked about my meeting with Adrien Broady. In the film Pianist I saw him as an extremely handsome, sexy person…because he was displaying something that he truly believed in. What does being handsome really mean? Someone who’s arms, legs, & eyes being straight? In my opinion this is not enough.

English translation of the interview in the April 2012 issue of Marie Claire Magazine is the property of S&TL and maynot be used with prior consent