Turkish actress Tûba Büyüküstün on fame, privacy and showcasing the stories that matter
The golden age of acting: a time when stars shone brightly on the big screen, dazzled on the red carpet, and were out of reach both figuratively – their talent! Their beauty!
Their life! – and literally, due to the way their personal lives were fiercely guarded by both themselves and the studios that nurtured them. Upon meeting Tûba Büyüküstün, I can’t help thinking: this is the era in which she would have truly thrived.
Cue present day, and Bazaar Saudi meets with the Turkish actress very appropriately in glamorous St Tropez – a tiny fishing village made famous in the 1950s thanks to the A-list personalities that sunbathed on its shores, and Brigitte Bardot’s film And God Created Woman which framed the French Riviera as the ultimate carefree summer holiday spot.
The mother-of-two is, again entirely appropriately, dripping in the just-revealed Cartier High Jewellery collection, the South of France sun framing her in an otherworldly light as the diamonds that adorn her glint. This setting feeds into the narrative – this is where she belongs.
But Tûba is in a contemplative mood, wanting to discuss the dichotomy of doing a very public job, but wanting to lead a very private life. She is very aware of this seismic shift when it comes to a more expanded role for actresses nowadays when she says, “It used to be that you did the work and it was over.” She adds, “Actors these days are required to be more extroverted and expose more about their personal lives – that is not me, I am introverted and private.”
It is a topic that she has obviously thought about a lot. She goes on, her thoughts gathering momentum as she says, “I never saw acting as different from any other occupation. Just as teachers, doctors, or lawyers don’t merge their professional lives completely with their personal ones, I feel the same about acting. My career is deeply important to me, but my personal life and the people I love have always existed separately from my work. I don’t believe being an actor necessarily means you have to share your entire presence publicly.”
When we last spoke to the 43-year-old actress about her life beyond the lens a year ago, the lead of 20 Dakika and seminal soap opera Asi explained how being a film star wasn’t the plan. She was never one that dreamed of being on television or pouring herself into an alter ego. It was an opportunity that she reluctantly took up, thanks to a chance encounter when she was spotted in a commercial while doing her degree, and realised her calling.
But when the cameras stop rolling, she considers her job done. “My time off from set is my own”, she says firmly. “I try to move through my daily life as authentically and naturally as possible. I think it would feel unfair to myself if I were constantly on guard. I think that deep down I expect people to respect that.”
No doubt the fact that she’s erected boundaries is in part because of her protective instincts. A deeply involved mum – she says home is “wherever my girls are” – the impact of her career choices on them is something she is particularly aware of. “I try to explain to my kids what being famous really means,” she says. “Especially in a time when fame is often associated with social media and being constantly in front of a camera. I tell them that fame is actually about doing your job well and being sought after because of your work.”
As the first Turkish actress to be nominated for an Emmy award, Tûba has a profile that spreads far beyond her native country’s borders. When reminiscing over her choices, the Istanbul and Paris based actress has no regrets. “I mostly decide based on the story,” she says, when asked what draws her in. “But of course other factors matter as well – like the director, my co-stars, and the overall team. Still, the most important aspect for me has always been the story itself.” She also doesn’t pick projects based on a trajectory she’s set for herself. “I’ve never really approached my career with a rigid long-term plan. I tend to move according to what my heart and intuition tell me is right.”
A pro when it comes to both big and small screen roles – her reach spans from the epic Rise of the Ottoman Empire to television shows like Ihlamurlar Altında and Kara Para Aşk – format definitely plays a part when she makes choices. “I try to stay mindful of the responsibility that comes with working in television,” she notes. “Because cinema and television are distinct in a way that with television projects we enter people’s homes, we become someone they are exposed to every single day. That is a different level of responsibility.” She trusts her instincts; “Whenever I ignored that inner voice and chose a project purely out of logic, I usually ended up regretting it later.”
Although she’s never had a real definition of the ‘right role’, Tuba’s had her own unique way of gauging if something resonates with her. “It always begins with the script and the character speaking to me. If, while reading, I start connecting with the character – almost as if we’re having a conversation or quietly confiding in each other in my mind – then I know I want to be part of that project.” Perhaps giving fans a clue of what’s to come next, she says that at the moment, “I’m very drawn to psychological dramas and stories that explore human contradictions. I love films that stay with you emotionally long after they end.”
Aside from the blurring of lines between the private and the public, an actress also has other factors to contend with. For someone who is so obviously, seemingly effortlessly, beautiful, and working in a profession that places a paramount importance on aesthetics, does she dwell on aging and how that will impact what is offered to her? “Of course, as an actor and simply as someone living in my body, I notice every small change very deeply,” she says, simply. “But I also see this as a fundamental part of being human – we grow through our experiences and emotions. Every feeling we go through, whether joy, pain, or sorrow, becomes another layer that shapes us and gives us something new to bring into our work. The parts that I get are changing, yes, but I think that is a wonderful thing because it allows me to explore new parts of myself helping me dive deeper in to my personal journey as well.”
Potentially the only upside of fame? Being able to put a spotlight on issues that matter. “One of the most meaningful aspects of being a public figure is knowing that what you say can reach people,” she acknowledges. “Using that visibility for something positive is part of my responsibility as an actress.” Her maternal nature comes to the fore again when she elaborates, “I have always been sensitive when it comes to children, because we are ultimately responsible to them. They are the ones most affected by the choices adults make, and I don’t believe we can remain indifferent to that. Supporting and working for children’s causes has therefore always been very important to me since I started out.”
In addition to spotlighting causes, her global presence has made her an unofficial ambassador for her homeland too. “It is something I carry with both pride and a deep sense of responsibility,” she tells us. “Türkiye stands at the intersection of many histories, cultures, and traditions, and I feel fortunate whenever my work allows people to engage with even a small part of that richness. Art and storytelling have a unique ability to transcend borders and reveal the humanity we share, and it is always meaningful to contribute to that dialogue through the stories I tell.”
An incident clearly illustrated her impact wasn’t confined to her own country, and reinforced just how small the world was. “Years ago, one of my fans sent me a book containing letters written to me by people from different countries and ethnicities,” she recalls. “What surprised me is that people from such different backgrounds had similar feelings and thoughts about me. I saw how insignificant cultural barriers are compared with emotions and shared feelings. As humans we always find a way to meet each other. What surprised me the most was not how different my image was; it was how similar it was across cultures.”
It has been over a decade since her International Emmy nomination, but it’s clear her talent resonates globally. Other actors have gone overseas to try to make their mark in other markets, but was that not something that tempted her? It turns out the issue wasn’t opportunity or even desire: “I would love to experience doing my work in Hollywood or in other countries,” but rather timing. “Building a life and career in a new environment requires a tremendous amount of dedication, perseverance, energy, and time. It’s not only about working in a different place, but also about understanding the rhythm, culture, and inner workings of another industry and finding your place within it. To do it properly, you have to be able to devote a significant part of your life to that experience. When I was nominated, my children were still young, and I had always built my life around prioritising them.” That said, she has never completely closed the door on international projects; “If the story is compelling and the circumstances are right, it is still something I would gladly consider.”
It has only been a year since Tuba last spoke with us yet an enormous amount has changed for her, both professionally and personally. She rattles off a list of accomplishments; “I filmed Sultana, where I played a dancer which was a very unique experience, international projects – The Prince and Soy – which gave me the opportunity to collaborate with an incredible array of directors and actors from different parts of the world.” Her tone shifts when she admits, most significantly, “I completed the final season of Another Self. It is a project that has been part of my life for six years and one that remains very close to my heart. Saying goodbye to it was not easy.” It is no wonder she surmises, “It has been a period of significant change.”
If there is one thing Tûba has proven, it is that she has never chased opportunity simply because it was there. Watching her framed by the Riviera light, speaking with quiet certainty about the life she has built, it is difficult not to imagine her conquering new horizons. Hollywood may still be waiting, but whatever destination comes next, Tûba Büyüküstün possesses the rare quality shared by the most enduring stars: the ability to captivate without ever revealing everything.
Lead Image Credit: Tokan Earrings In White Gold With Coral, Emeralds, Onyx And Diamonds; Tokan Necklace In White Gold With Coral, Emeralds, Onyx And Diamonds, POA, Both Le Choeur Des Pierres By Cartier High Jewellery Coat; Top, POA, Both Tom Ford
Creative Direction by Dané Stojanovic & Marne Schwartz: Styling by Carmelo Corvaia Photography by Vladimir Martí: Make-Up: Raffaele Romagnoli. Hair: Carla Cirujeda. Executive Producer: Steff Hawker. Talent Management: MAD Solutions. Photographer’s Assistant: Loïck Junay. Fashion Assistant: Giuliano Rotaro
From Harper’s Bazaar Saudi Summer 2026 issue