Exclusive Interview | Sıla Türkoğlu

Fresh off the heels of MIPTV 2024, where One Love was a major player on the international stage, we spoke with Sıla Türkoğlu, the actress who portrays Doğa in the phenomenal Turkish series. The show has consistently ranked among the top 3 most viewed dramas in Türkiye for the past two seasons, and during our conversation, Sıla Türkoğlu discussed her character’s journey, the impact of One Love on her career, and the unique experience of being part of such a successful ensemble cast.

One Love has consistently ranked among the top 3 most viewed and discussed TV series in Türkiye for the past two seasons. How do you perceive the character Doğa and the series One Love within the context of your career, and what significance does it hold for you?

First of all, it became a very important awareness for me to learn that people can be together within the framework of respect without discriminating based on their opinions and ways of life. Inevitably, our prejudices can come into play at some points. During this time, being a part of One Love helped me to overcome my prejudices. I can say that it was a very good “starting point” in my career.

Sıla Türkoğlu: “Being a part of One Love helped me to overcome my prejudices.“

Doğa fell in love, got married into a family from a culture she did not know, and had to live in the same house with them. She became a mother, took a break from school, and was cheated on. How do you think all of these experiences affect Doğa? How would you describe the changes in Doğa over two seasons?

Our meeting with Doğa actually started right at the point where she stepped out of her comfort zone. We are all confused when we go out of what we are used to. However, it is during these moments of confusion that we undergo change and transformation, for better or for worse. I think Doğa has always changed and transformed in this process. Mother Doğa replaced Doğa in love. There were points where she discovered her inner strength, but there were also points where she failed to learn from all the things she went through. Until she learns a lesson, she will be stuck in a cycle. I am also curious about the next changes.

One Love isn’t like those works where two characters take center stage and side characters simply develop the plot. It shows us the characters’ journeys, their dilemmas, and their decisions. This focus on a well-rounded cast makes the series so strong. What kind of experience is it for you to be part of such a talented group in a multi-character story?

Watching different character stories is something that does not suffocate the audience and allows everyone to find a piece of themselves. In addition, I think it is a situation that reduces the stress and lightens the responsibility behind the work to some extent.

The series’ international sales are also thriving. There’s an important event coming up at MIPTV. How are you feeling about MIPTV? Also, what were the most interesting comments you’ve received about One Love from international audiences?

It is tremendous that your work is making so much noise and feeling fulfilled by it. I am proud and excited to be a part of it.

In its first season, One Love tackled the contrasting worldviews of two families, exploring their interactions and the characters’ reactions to unfolding events. It was the first time we saw the issues in Turkish society so openly in a TV series. Do you think the first season was challenging for audiences abroad in this respect?

Even though I live in Türkiye, from time to time I have been surprised and learned about the differences. It can be an interesting adventure for the audience abroad to watch the lives of different cultures.

This exclusive interview with Sıla Türkoğlu was published in Episode’s MIPTV 2024 issue.