For our NEM Dubrovnik 2026 issue, we spoke with Baran Bölükbaşı who plays Engin on the new Turkish drama Ugly.
Engin is a character who grew up within a powerful family but struggles to carve out a place for himself within that power. When you first encountered Engin, how did you define him?
Power is something Engin is accustomed to, so he ignores it. He has vulnerabilities. He has a pure heart. Perhaps he doesn’t know how to use power. Maybe during the times he was most motivated in life, he wasn’t shown the attention he needed…
One of the most defining aspects of Engin’s life seems to be the shadow of his father… How do you think this pressure shapes the character?
That pressure creates panic. In such situations, people might fail to achieve success. It panics and frightens Engin, stripping away the success he already has; otherwise, he is a boy full of love inside. However, the mistakes made because of this panic can sometimes make him look like a bad person.
Engin can appear troubled and uncontrolled from the outside, but there is also a serious vulnerability within him. How did you balance these two states while playing Engin?
Engin is actually a character that exists within all of us; we all have vulnerabilities in life. I connected with him by starting from my own experiences. The actors I shared scenes with and my director helped me find this balance.
What do you think Engin really wants… to be truly powerful, or just to feel valued?
Engin wants both to be powerful and to feel valued, but along with these, Engin wants to be successful in his father’s eyes. He wants to be the son his father desires. When this happens, he essentially becomes powerful and successful anyway. But while it is possible that Engin could be successful in a field we know nothing about, the fatherly pressure and the rote system make him a failure.
As the story progresses, we see Meryem gaining a different meaning in Engin’s world. How would you interpret this relationship in terms of Engin’s inner world?
Perhaps because Engin has always hung around in wealthy circles until now, the people who came around him might have been those living a bit detached from reality, seeking to use his power or benefit from his existence. Meryem, on the other hand, possesses a zest for life and a desire to live even when she has nothing. Her innocence allows Engin to discover another world within his own inner world, and over time, this world makes Engin feel better, and the same goes for Meryem.
Meryem is labeled as “ugly” throughout the story, yet we see that Engin does not look at her through that lens. Do you think Engin truly sees Meryem, or is he looking for himself in her?
No one can fully know someone at a single glance. Engin also saw at first glance that Meryem wasn’t just ugly. However, over time, Meryem’s innocence, and as I answered in the previous question, her side that helps Engin discover another world within his own, allows Engin to truly see Meryem. I wouldn’t say he is trying to find himself in her, but I can say that he finds a lot in her, losing the Engin that was, and starting to gain a better Engin.
If you were to give Engin a piece of advice, what would it be?
To let go of his father, to stop trying to be worthy of other people, and to control his vulnerabilities a little bit.
Ugly is one of the successful series of this season. Which emotion do you think resonated most with the audience, and why was it loved?
First of all, Ugly has a very beautiful story; our writers touch upon very beautiful points and progress the story in the best possible way. It is a transformation story. The audience is always curious about where this transformation story will lead, just like all of us. Aside from this, there is a script, there is a production, there are two directors, and there is a huge crew. As a team, we united with great affection, and we did everything with love from the first day to the last. I believe in the power and sincerity of love.
Being in front of the audience with a very right cast, especially the character of Meryem, and I say it again, a good production, a good director, and a massive, great crew along with a love-filled set made us love the project and made the audience love our series Ugly. We love our audience very much too, bless them. We are looking forward to meeting them again on Sundays in the new season.
Ugly’s global journey is also beginning. How does it feel to know that the series will meet audiences in different countries?
This feeling is indescribable. We are doing a piece of work here, and having it watched, or knowing it will be watched all over the world, makes us incredibly happy, of course. For example, during a trip abroad, when non-Turkish people recognize us, appreciate us, and take photos, it feels good. These are tangible examples of the success our country’s television industry has achieved. We are extremely happy in the face of this situation.
