Ece Uslu Talks About Her Role as Sumru and ‘Valley of Hearts’ – Exclusive Interview

When you first read Valley of Hearts, what did it make you feel, and what aspects of the project impressed you the most?

Ece Uslu: First of all, knowing that our screenwriter Yıldız Tunç wrote the script gave me comfort when it first came to me. I had been following her work for a long time and wanted to be part of one of her projects. Of course, the production company also played a big role in my decision. I hadn’t accepted any projects for a while, and as an actor, I had very valid reasons for that, but I embarked on this journey after receiving assurances that I wouldn’t face any issues. When I said yes to the script, the cast hadn’t been fully assembled yet. As far as I remember, only Işıl Yücesoy, who portrays my mother Nihayet, had been confirmed. What really impacted me when I read the script was the world of the project and Sumru’s journey.

Ece Uslu: “What really impacted me when I read the script was the world of the project and Sumru’s journey.”

Sumru abandons Nuh and Melek right after giving birth to them and builds an entirely new life for herself. However, years later, her twins come back into her life. She has a healthy relationship with her other two children, Esat and Harika. What key questions and concepts did you pursue while creating the character of Sumru?

Ece Uslu: Actually, it would be unfair to say that Sumru immediately built a new life for herself after leaving Nuh and Melek. Walking away from her children right after giving birth and carrying on as if nothing had happened is not an easy thing to do for a mother. What’s really important here is to understand why she left and the emotional burden she had to carry in order to build such a life afterwards. From the outside, Sumru appears to be a woman living la dolce vita, remarried with more children, wealthy, and part of a happy family. However, being able to do all this after what she went through is quite commendable. And having to hide her past and pretend as if none of it ever happened is something very difficult for her to cope with. I think caring for her husband’s first child as her own might have been a way for her to find peace of mind by mothering another child who lost his mother, something she couldn’t do for her own children.

Sumru is a very strong woman but her strength begins to crack when she faces her twins. As the episodes progress, I believe we will begin to understand the reasons behind Sumru’s actions in the past, and her character will gain more dimension. But so far, what kind of reactions have you received from the audience?

Ece Uslu: Yes, Sumru is a very strong woman. In fact, it’s not an easy decision to reject what has happened to her and choose her own life and herself despite everything. Her ability to keep moving forward without giving in is something to appreciate. The biggest challenge here is that she left two innocent babies behind. However, Sumru isn’t solely responsible for what happened to those babies. Since we currently do not see him in the story, no one questions the father. But what did this man do for things to get up to this point? As the events slowly unfold, I believe the audience will not be unfair to Sumru. So, I say let’s wait and see.

We see three different representations of motherhood in Valley of Hearts through the characters Sumru, Nihayet, and Hikmet. What do you think they will make the audience reflect on regarding the concept of motherhood, which is always controversial from different perspectives?

Ece Uslu: Yes, these three mothers are actually very different from one another. The one thing they have in common is their struggle to stay strong as women in a man’s world. They’re all trying to find a way to stand tall. Yet I believe the most innocent of them is Sumru, because she is truly in love with her husband. And she has done everything she can for both her own children and her husband’s. The deepest wound in her life is Nuh and Melek, and she has already paid the price for that, both with the guilt she carried during those 30 years she was separated from them, and now, with the confrontation she’ll have to face when they stand before her.

You are in Cappadocia for Valley of Hearts, a truly exceptional place. How is it living and working in Cappadocia?

Ece Uslu: Cappadocia is indeed a mesmerizing place. However, we haven’t really had the chance to enjoy it yet. Since July, my entire focus, along with my fellow actors, has been on the work.

We have very little free time. So during those rare moments, we try to rest both physically and mentally. We have an incredibly harmonious team, and being surrounded by such talented actors really motivates me. Hopefully, when our schedule eases up, I will finally get to enjoy Cappadocia’s enchanting atmosphere.

Since 1990, you’ve taken on significant roles in TV series. In your opinion, what has changed in Turkish TV series? As one of the prominent actors in the industry, how does the global journey of Turkish series make you feel?

Ece Uslu: In fact, producing for mainstream television has become more challenging, especially with the extended runtime of episodes.  Trying to finish an episode every week, the number of pages in the script, and having to film it all in just five days can be exhausting. As actors, we’ve been unhappy with these episode durations for quite some time, but it is not something that can be changed easily. While these conditions may sometimes affect our performances, we are also aware that working in mainstream television is now about being part of a highly competitive race. Of course, seeing our work gain visibility abroad makes me very happy. It’s incredibly motivating to know that we’re able to convey our stories not just to Turkish audiences but to people from all around the world.

Valley of Hearts will be introduced at MIPCOM, one of the world’s most important content markets. What would you like to say to your audience in Türkiye and around the world?

Ece Uslu: We are all very excited that the series will be introduced at MIPCOM. As a team, we would have loved to be there, but unfortunately, due to our work schedule we are not able to attend to the fair. All I can say is, “Keep watching us.”

This interview with Ece Uslu was featured in Episode Magazine’s MIPCOM 2024 issue.