Cinema and television star Meryem Sarah Uzerli, who has millions of fans around the world with her character HURREM SULTAN, gave an exclusive interview with our writer Sue Smart following the 75th Cannes Film Festival.
Walking the red carpet at the Palais des Festivals for the dazzling opening ceremony of the 75th Cannes Film Festival, Meryem Sarah Uzerli wore a stunning, almost ethereal turquoise gown. The instant she saw the dress, designed by Yanina Couture, she knew it was perfect for the prestigious black-tie occasion.
“It looked like a butterfly, which must go through a dramatic transition before emerging into a beautiful butterfly that can simply fly away and be free. As I am in a very transformational time in my life right now, I was immediately drawn to the symbolism of the gown,” says Meryem.
Attending the world premiere of Top Gun: Maverick, she wore an elegant, off-theshoulder brocade gown in black, designed by Fovari Couture. Meryem is attracted to the ethos of its founder, Yara Shoemaker, who she believes is inspired by strong, powerful women and the connection with their inner light and inner power. For both red-carpet events, Meryem wore jewellery by Chopard, the renowned jeweller and watchmaker, currently celebrating twenty-five years of partnership with the festival, whose dynamic team also styled her hair. Londonbased makeup artist, Levi-Jade Taylor, provided the finishing touches to Meryem’s look.
As for the latest Top Gun blockbuster, she enjoyed it immensely. “It is a very touching story, but also with a perfect sense of action. Tom Cruise has a unique spirit on the screen where you just want to watch whatever he’s doing … he has this light and aura around him.”
INTENSE AND ENERGISING
Throughout the years, Meryem has made countless friends and business connections in the international film industry, and the festival brings many of them together as it is an industryonly festival attended by directors, producers, actors, publicists, distributors, and journalists. Often, it’s while walking along Boulevard de la Croisette, considered by many to be the heart of Cannes, lined with luxury shops, restaurants, and cafes, that she meets them by chance. “It’s always a beautiful reunion so I’m full of happiness every second I’m walking up and down the Croisette.” Smiling radiantly, Meryem says: “It was such an amazing experience to be back in Cannes, walking the red carpet, watching remarkable movies meeting old friends, and networking. It is always a busy time, very intense and exhausting, but the energy I get back from everyone energises me.
To be part of that exceptional festival and to be surrounded by all those talented people is so inspiring.’’ With clear, bright blue skies, warm weather, its spectacular location beside the Mediterranean Sea in the southeast of France, extravagant parties, and the buzz of the festival, Meryem says she considers the Cannes Film Festival to be one of the most beautiful festivals in the world.
THE BIG BREAK
The multi-award-winning actor rose to international fame in 2011, playing Hürrem Sultan in The Magnificent Century. Meryem says the series was based on the history of the Ottoman Empire, from when Hürrem Sultan was taken to the palace of Sultan Suleiman, ‘the Magnificent,’ to be a slave in the harem. She and the sultan married and although he had a harem, theirs was a monogamous marriage right up until her death – a true love story. As his queen, she became the most powerful woman in the Ottoman Empire, advising her husband politically. Her evolution from slave to queen showed her great strength and determination, and for Meryem, it was an incredible, challenging, and intense role. “I was honoured to play a character who really existed in the past.
It was a new experience for me.” Meryem says she completely threw herself into the role, giving her body, soul, energy and emotions to serve the character, and in turn, she and Hürrem Sultan became role models, inspiring many young girls and women across numerous countries to continue to hope, and to believe they could overcome challenging times and come out stronger than ever before. “When I was standing in front of those women, hearing their stories, I cried many times, and there were some beautiful moments.” Filmed in Turkey, the first season of the show was immensely popular, with eventually more than 400 million people watching it each week, from more than 80 countries, says Meryem. It was no wonder the series continued to a fourth (and final) season.
LIFE-CHANGING SUCCESS
The remarkable success of the series and the massive popularity of Meryem, and the character she portrayed, sent her life and career path into a totally different stratosphere. “Beforehand, I was performing in theatre for ten years in Germany, which was an amazing experience, but after the success of The Magnificent Century, I was able to choose from an increasing number of projects and be more selective about what I wanted to do as an artist. It gave me a voice and took me to places I would never have gone otherwise.” “It is such a gift to travel, meeting so many people from a multitude of cultures. I just love to connect with them, talking about life,
God, existence, and about their fears, what makes them happy, what kind of life they have right now in this moment… There are so many questions! And if I don’t put people in boxes, they always surprise me. Everyone has a story.” Since leaving the series in 2013, Meryem has had roles in several television shows and movies, winning numerous international awards and nominations, but her greatest highlight has been becoming a mother of two children. “What a spiritual transformation that is. I feel it is the reason why I am I alive. It is the biggest, deepest love I’ve known and the biggest miracle.
When I’m with my kids is when I feel most alive and in the moment.” Meryem hopes her daughters will learn that life is about sharing love, helping each other, being respectful, finding themselves, and having the courage to be who they want to be. She wants them to believe they can achieve everything they really want to achieve, and that they will understand it is so important to be empathic and emotionally transparent. And finally, for them to see that life is a gift and nothing should be taken for granted.
JOURNEY IIN TO ACTING
Born and raised by a German mother and a Turkish father in Kassel in Germany, Meryem is the youngest of four siblings. From an early age she loved performing, so at seventeen, she moved to Hamburg to pursue her passion, studying at the drama school, SchauspielStudio Frese.
Following her graduation, Meryem spent the next ten years working on theatre projects in Hamburg, alongside appearing in several television shows and films, and also in short movies, one for which she received a special jury prize at the 47th International Antalya Golden Orange Film Festival in Turkey. Feeling at home in both Germany and Turkey, Meryem says her favourite aspects of each culture are represented in her mother and father, who she has always found to be very inspiring. “They are my heroes. My mum is a hardworking, disciplined woman with a pure, warm heart. She is very loving, giving and a dedicated mum. She had a huge career too. My dad is very emotional, passionate, melancholic and philosophical.”
FAVOURITE FASHION
Initially, Meryem was very practical about the clothes she wore, her choices depending more on the weather than style. “Much later, I became aware of the art of fashion, of the brilliant designers with their own visions, and now I enjoy fashion not only for a practical reason but also for how I am feeling or want to feel. Sometimes I want to be visible, to be part of something, or to disappear. I love all kinds of designers with a clear statement, history, and vision.”
When it comes to dressing up, Meryem prefers to wear dresses, great shoes, and fabulous jewelry. For relaxing, she prefers pajamas, jeans, and a hoodie.
MOST APPEALING ROLES
“In general, I like all kinds of characters as I believe everybody has something important to say, something important to feel. I like it if a character surprises me with something I didn’t expect, or if everything is not very clear at first sight and I must be a detective to figure out the character. I enjoy there being secrets around the character, and I love the character to have a strong internal battle. Characters which are inspirational in any kind of way also appeal to me, and finally, what I mostly love is that I’m not busy with my own inner world when being in somebody else’s world.’’
LATEST PROJECT
Currently, Meryem is in Istanbul, preparing for her latest project, which is for a streaming platform. She says it is a beautiful show, and she is happy to be the main character. Shooting will take place over three or four months, so she and her daughters are excited to be moving from Germany to Turkey for the duration of the filming. As for the future, Meryem remains passionate about sharing great stories which need to be told, whether it is through the roles she plays, or possibly trying her hand at producing and directing… And of course, she is already looking forward to next year’s fabulous Cannes Film Festival.
Interview by: Sue smart
