For our NEM Dubrovnik 2026 issue, we spoke with Çağlar Ertuğrul who plays Kadir on the new Turkish drama Ugly.
Kadir is a character caught between his childhood love, Meryem, and his passion for power. How do you think this “love or power?” conflict within Kadir will resonate with audiences all over the world?
Actually, it wouldn’t be correct to call Meryem Kadir’s childhood love. After being corrupted by the ambition for power over the years, Kadir realizes the value of his neglected family and memories. Meryem is also a part of this trial of conscience. I am sure this is a story that will resonate in many parts of the world.
What is the core emotion that takes Kadir beyond just being “the boy from the neighborhood” and makes him a universal figure?
Kadir is a character who never loses his sense of responsibility. He has a disposition of wanting to generate quick solutions but inadvertently giving rise to new problems, and at his core, constantly searching for peace.
While watching Kadir confront family secrets from the past, will the audience find it difficult to decide whether he is good or bad?
They should find it difficult so that scenes and conflicts worth watching can emerge for the audience. Playing or watching pure good or pure evil can be boring.
How enjoyable is it for you to play the gray areas of the character?
Kadir is someone who thinks he acts with logic, but at the end of the day, always acts with his emotions. Catching and playing those subtle differences is enjoyable.
The different women entering Kadir’s life and his reckoning with his past keep the tension in the series constantly high. In this complex web of relationships, what challenges Kadir the most?
The authoritarian attitudes of his mother Cennet and his father Ökkeş tie Kadir’s hands.
While trying to express himself, he finds himself backed into a corner once again. Will we see whether Kadir is a “savior” or a “victim” in that dark world of the Karataş family?
Both go hand in hand in our story in a balanced way. In fact, there are situations where Kadir fails to please anyone even when he is being a hero.
For years in the industry, you have been known for your down-to-earth, genuine attitude, never compromising your standards. In such a glamorous and ambitious world, how do you manage to stay true to your essence?
I have people in my close circle whose sincerity I trust. I wouldn’t do any work without consulting them on what is right or wrong. When I started out in this business, my biggest dream was to be part of a film that could be considered a cult classic, earning a place in cinema history. My quest and struggle on the silver screen will always continue.
If Kadir’s world of power poisoning and Çağlar’s modest life were to confront each other, what would they say to one another?
I would never enter into a polemic with someone like Kadir. Getting into that spiral wouldn’t be good for my mental health 🙂
For the character of Kadir, when you looked in the mirror, what was the “ugliest” or “harshest” trait you saw in yourself?
His willingness to disregard people’s feelings to resolve any issue, his selfishness.
Do you have a special method for turning those smiling eyes of Çağlar into the ambitious gaze of Kadir?
I try to reflect the feeling of being backed into a corner as required by the story. Under the guidance of our screenwriters and directors, we try to adjust the intense emotional tempo of the scene.
Derya Pınar Ak is one of the recent rising young stars drawing attention with her talent. In Ugly, your story shapes around the character of Meryem, whom she portrays. What kind of a partner is Derya Pınar to you?
We already knew each other from the series The Prince. On set, she generally has a slightly reserved and shy demeanor. But once the camera rolls, she immediately transforms into Meryem.
What kind of dynamism does the discipline she displays despite her young age, combined with the global energy you both achieved through The Prince, bring to your scenes?
Sharing a scene with a perceptive, open-minded partner always makes the director’s job easier too. Thanks to the harmony between us, the screenwriters have the freedom to mold us like dough.
What kind of on-set harmony did you strike with Derya while filming that “conflicted love” between Kadir and Meryem in Ugly?
As of the first season, we watched more of a platonic love. No matter how much Meryem tried to express her feelings, Kadir always ran away from her. The harmony and friendship of the crew, both behind and in front of the camera, were reflected on the screen.
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?
I absolutely loved the filming. With its visual quality, production design, and music, every episode feels like a feature film. We are working with a crew that knows and loves one another. Everyone is highly successful at what they do. Thanks to the talent of our directors, a very successful project has emerged.
Ugly’s global journey is also beginning. How does it feel to know that the series will meet audiences in different countries?
Having the hard work and dedication appreciated beyond national borders is immensely proud. I would like to thank our viewers and supporters from every nation.
