📰 Alper Çankaya — Şahin from Uzak Şehir
Actor Alper Çankaya, who has won audiences over with his portrayal of Şahin in the TV series Uzak Şehir, recently gave one of his most open and sincere interviews to date.
In the conversation, Çankaya spoke candidly about burnout, emotional vulnerability, his approach to acting, and the moment his work was recognized with a prestigious award.
Below are selected highlights from the interview.
🔥 “Yes, I’ve experienced burnout”
Have you ever experienced burnout?
“I have. And from time to time, I still do — because I’m an emotional person. Sometimes the worlds of the characters I play affect me deeply. In those moments, I try to distance myself from work as much as possible and isolate myself. That helps me reset.”
Çankaya’s words reveal the emotional cost of deeply immersive acting and the importance of stepping back to regain balance.
🎭 “Crying is a difficult emotion for me”
Is there an emotion that is difficult for you to portray?
“Crying isn’t easy for me, honestly. In my personal life, I’m not someone who openly shows that kind of emotion. That’s why it’s a challenging feeling for me to portray.”
His honesty highlights the contrast between personal emotional habits and the demands of acting.
💪 Turning failure into motivation
How do you stay motivated when you make mistakes or fall short of your own expectations?
“Those moments actually motivate me. When I make a mistake — or when I feel I’ve fallen short knowing I could do better — it creates a strong desire in me to prove myself. I work harder and try to surpass what I’ve done before. That’s why those moments become a source of motivation for me.”
🏆 Award-winning performance
For his role in the film Cam Perde, Alper Çankaya won Best Actor at the Istanbul Film Festival (42nd edition).
What did you feel when you received the award?
“Of course, being appreciated is a wonderful feeling. Acting requires confidence, and we need that a lot. Awards like this give you a sense of recognition and validation. The first emotion I felt was surprise, but later that confidence continued to nourish me — and I believe it truly helped me.”
🌟 A voice of his generation
Sincerity, self-criticism, and emotional depth have made Alper Çankaya one of the most compelling actors of his generation. His ability to speak openly about vulnerability, discipline, and growth is exactly what audiences recognize — and deeply appreciate.
