If you love Turkish drama, make sure you tune into the Yunus Emre Institute UK’s YouTube TV channel on Wednesday, 10 June, where actor Engin Altan Düzyatan, famed for his role as Ertuğrul Gazi, the father of the Ottomans, will be this week’s guest.
Izmir-born Düzyatan, 40, made his screen debut in television series Ruhsar back in 2001. He has since appeared in multiple television dramas and films, including Bir Bulut Olsam (2009), Son (2012) and hit romcom movie Romantik Komedi 2 (2013).
It was his portrayal of Ertuğrul Gazi in Diriliş Ertuğrul, however, that propelled Düzyatan to international superstardom. First broadcast in December 2014, the period drama ran for five seasons, charting the history of the Kayı tribe of Turks as they moved from the rule of the Selcuks to the start of the Ottoman Empire. The show, which regularly broke ratings records, concluded in May 2019 with its 150th episode.
Known as Resurrection Ertuğrul to overseas viewers, Diriliş Ertuğrul took Britain and other parts of the world by storm. The fictional drama was translated into 25 languages, and the series exported to 71 countries in Africa, Europe, the Middle East, North and Latin America, making it one of Turkey’s biggest ever overseas hits.
Significantly, the drama was one of the first international adventure blockbusters to feature a Muslim character in a positive and powerful role. It earned Düzyatan fans across the Muslim world, and earlier this year he was named as was one of The 500 Most Influential Muslims.
Hear Düzyatan talk about his experience in the hit series, and his career to date when he appears live on Yunus Emre Institute UK TV yeelondra channel.
The interview starts at 7pm (UK time) on Wednesday, and will be broadcast simultaneously in English and Turkish.
Access is free – watch via Youtube or the live stream on the Yunus Emre Institute UK’s Facebook page.
