Cevdet wants to leave behind his days of being a “tough guy,” but the arrival of his sibling forces him to confront his past once again. While portraying Cevdet’s internal struggle, how do you balance his desire to escape his past with his efforts to act as a protector for the neighborhood?
Reha Özcan: In good dramas, we don’t see characters in simple black and white. It’s the same in real life. If you asked ten different people what someone is like, you’d get ten different answers. For those you hurt during a rough time years ago, you’re still that coarse, abrasive person. Yet to your kids, you’re a caring father figure, or vice versa. But one constant, I believe, is that people are capable of transformation. Cevdet’s greatest dilemma, even his tragedy, is being judged by his past. As he tries to cling to the new identity he’s built in the neighborhood, he’s suddenly forced to confront everything he’s tried to run away from. When I play Cevdet today, I try to conceal traces of his past in my body, my voice, basically my entire being, for the audience to discover. Likewise, if they see hints of his present self in his past, then I am happy…
Reha Özcan: ”Cevdet has built his new life around the identity of the neighborhood protector, resembling the warm-hearted yet firm figures of old-school tough guys.“
Cevdet is a respected, wise figure in the neighborhood. As a former tough guy, how does he balance his effort to avoid violence with this role? How do his reputation and internal conflicts add depth to his character?
Reha Özcan: Cevdet has built his new life around the identity of the neighborhood protector, resembling the warm-hearted yet firm figures of old-school tough guys. This is, in a way, a tradition passed down from the Ottoman-era “külhanbeyi” figures. Their role wasn’t just to put out fires. They were the ones people in trouble would turn to, who would size up newcomers, and give the first warning to anyone who might cause harm. In those days, people looked out for one another so well that violence was rarely necessary. Often, just a look or a slight change in tone from those tough figures was enough to make someone straighten up. Cevdet is a character trying to achieve this balance. His ability to keep calm despite provocations, his acceptance of his inner struggles, and his quiet efforts to keep the neighborhood in harmony are perhaps his greatest strengths.
Cevdet’s complex relationship with his brother Haşmet makes his struggle with the past even harder. As you portray the tension in this relationship, which aspects of your character did you focus on?
Reha Özcan: As an actor, I feel that Cevdet currently approaches Haşmet more as a father than a brother. He has a remarkable ability to overlook Haşmet’s faults, his roughness, and all the traits he disapproves of. Even though he can’t set foot in their home, he feels he must look out for the whole family from afar because he knows Haşmet isn’t capable of doing it himself. Despite all the provocations from his brother, Cevdet has chosen not to engage in conflict with him. He doesn’t have that luxury. Sometimes, to fulfill our duties and protect others, we have to put aside our personal problems. As the older brother, even as the family’s hidden father figure, he’s trying to do just that.
This story emphasizes the strength of family bonds and the importance of supporting one another. From your character’s perspective, what do you think about the significance of family ties? How does this loyalty motivate your character?
Reha Özcan: Family is the core value of my life. It always has been. I grew up in a relatively large family, and we were the kind of kids who would always run to each other in tough times. Of course, we didn’t face major traumas as in 6 of Us, but whose life is perfect anyway? I believe that children who grow up in families where siblings support each other start life a step ahead. Siblings become those playmates who turn childhood struggles into fairytales through the power of imagination. They’re the ones you can turn to, sharing everything from worries to celebrations, even before your parents. Large families that offer this kind of connection are truly precious to me. That’s why, as both a person and an actor, I place special importance on being part of projects that emphasize family bonds.
This exclusive interview with Reha Özcan was featured in Episode Magazine’s DICM 2024 issue.
