Burak Dakak on ‘Loveberry’ and Bringing Bora to Life – Exclusive Interview

What about Loveberry that impressed you the most and made you want to take on the project?

Burak Dakak: What grabbed my attention when I first read Loveberry was the language and simplicity of the story. It’s a script that felt really smooth and engaging from the start, and it’s continued to be that way throughout. The main reason I decided to take on this role was my belief in the script and my desire to be a part of telling this story.

Of course, I also loved my character in the story. After reading it, I realized Bora is a character who’s placed in exactly the right spot within the plot and has a clear purpose. That motivated me even more to portray this character.

Burak Dakak: “Bora is someone who has managed to educate himself well despite the difficulties he faced at a young age and the hardships he and his mother endured. He’s surprisingly mature for his age.”

Bora is an educated, kind, and well-intentioned young man. We also understand that he is in love with Aslı but has not been able to confess to her. How would you describe him?

Burak Dakak: In addition to what you mentioned, Bora is someone who has managed to educate himself well despite the difficulties he faced at a young age and the hardships he and his mother endured. He’s surprisingly mature for his age. These hardships and a difficult childhood certainly contributed to his maturity, but it’s impressive how he has taken lessons from his experiences to become the person he is today. It’s definitely not been an easy ride for him.

Yes, he has been in love with Aslı for many years but hasn’t been able to express it. When we first meet Bora, Aslı is already on the path to marriage. Without giving away too much, we get to see Bora’s love for Aslı and their journey together.

Nihan gave birth to Bora at the age of 17 and raised him all by herself.  We could say that Bora was abandoned by his father. He also has a somewhat distant relationship with Tayfun. What can you say about Bora’s relationship with his parents?

Burak Dakak: Yes, Bora’s relationship with his father doesn’t actually go back very far. He was abandoned by his father at a very young age. He spent his childhood and teenage years alone with his mother, so I’d say he had quite a difficult upbringing in that sense. His relationship with Tayfun is also quite distant, and there are certain reasons for that, rooted in the past. In a way, Bora is like a parent to his mother. After his father left, Bora was the one who had to cope with his mother’s depression and her years-long obsession with the man. Nihan became a mother at a very young age, so now they’re more like two friends who understand each other and get through things together.

Aslı faces the compromises she made for marriage and experiences certain forms of bullying. Bora supports her throughout this whole process. What do you think Bora and Aslı learn from each other about relationships and life?

Burak Dakak: I’m sure Bora and Aslı learn a lot from each other. First and foremost, they definitely teach each other how to love genuinely, how to be there for one another, how to provide support, and no matter the circumstances, how not to abandon each other. Most importantly, they learn to trust one another.

Loveberry is a series that effectively portrays how even educated and working urban women can give up on living their own lives due to the dynamics within a household. It also features a strong family drama. Where do you think Loveberry resonates most with the audience?

Burak Dakak: Well, I can’t give a definitive answer because it’s a very subjective matter and varies from person to person. But if I were to share my own opinion, I would say it starts with challenging preconceived notions. I believe viewers realize that we can’t always predict what kind of lives other people are leading, people we might not expect can have very surprising stories. So, I think it’s about not being quick to judge and having a genuine curiosity to see and understand the lives of others. Loveberry offers that sense of connection. Also, I believe the language of the story and the way it’s told could really resonate with viewers.

Loveberry will be introduced to the world at one of the most important content markets, MIPCOM. What would you like to say to your viewers in Türkiye and around the world?

Burak Dakak: I believe Loveberry is a project that can convey its emotions and story to many viewers both in Türkiye and around the world. I hope the audience feels the same way when they watch it. I’d like to wish everyone a great viewing experience in advance.

This interview with Burak Dakak was featured in Episode Magazine’s MIPCOM 2024 issue.