Acting Across Borders: Televisual Mobility of Turkish Actors

The worldwide popularity of Turkish TV series has enabled Turkish actors to gain global celebrity status. The launch of Turkish original productions on global streaming platforms such as Netflix has further increased the visibility of these actors, who have since begun to be cast in global productions, performing a wider range of roles. This article is primarily concerned with this televisual mobility of Turkish actors. By adopting a multidimensional approach which acknowledges that performance is shaped by multiple determinants, it focuses on the analysis of Öykü Karayel’s performance in the Irish crime drama, Kin (2021-2023) and Haluk Bilginer’s performance in the American, British, Turkish coproduction The Turkish Detective (2023). Through these case studies, the article examines how national identity continues to shape actors’ performances and character construction in transnational production contexts.