“I always try to stay in the ‘moment’”
Praised for his talent and impressive acting, Aytaç Şaşmaz may have big dreams but his feet are on the ground. He sees acting as an endless accumulation of knowledge and believes that our scars make us stronger.
Sweater with polo neck: Marni , Pants: Marni, Sneaker: Rick Owens
You’re a young and successful actor, and we’d love to hear what you think about perfection? What do you do to achieve a “perfect” performance while portraying different characters and preparing for these roles?
First and foremost, I imagine and focus. I put my job at the centre of my life and just merge with it. I try to stay in the moment in order to assume the existence of another character in another world. I become one with it and believe in it. If you want to make others believe in something, you have to believe it first!
T-shirt with print: Rhude, Beymen Jacket: Marni, Pants: Obey, Beymen Rings: Epicene
How did you decide to become an actor? What do you think are the most challenging and satisfying things about acting?
I decided to become an actor when I learned about theatre, stepped on the stage for the first time, and realised that I wanted to stay there forever. Acting is an endless accumulation of knowledge. It’s a profession where you can never say you’ve gotten there. The hardest thing is the conditions of life which we call “popularity.” This is a consequence of this profession. The most satisfying part is to be an example once in a while, to open a door for someone in a dire time with that moment which you experienced and made others experience. Guiding people. That’s why I love my job.
Are there any actors who you find highly close to perfection? Actors you see as role models perhaps?
I cannot say that anybody is perfect, including myself. But I love and admire the way Haluk Bilginer acts.
Which part in the human body (yours or someone else’s) do you find perfect?
The eyes. Eyes tell everything. Everything that happened or will happen, you can tell it from the eyes of the person no matter who they are. At least that’s the case for me.
Shirt: Tom Ford, Beymen, Velvet blazer jacket: Tom Ford, Beymen Pants: Les Benjamins
Leather loafers: Alexander McQueen, Beymen
Paulo Coelho once wrote, “Scars speak more loudly than the sword that caused them.” Have you ever had a scar so big you cannot forget? Do you believe people are made stronger by their scars?
Definitely. I’d interpret it as a spiritual scar. Each
scar and each suffering turns into experience on our persistent path. That’s why each of our scars become our building blocks.
“I dream of playing a superhero on the silver screen,” you once said. What kind of a superhero would you like to be?
My dream is to play Superman. It’s been my first goal since I took up acting. He’s the superhero I’ve looked up to because his ultimate principle is to save lives without questions. Flying is one of my biggest dreams as well.
Ribbed undershirt: Tom Ford
During the pandemic, we all had the opportunity to listen to ourselves and think. How were you affected by this? Did your perspective on life change?
Early in the pandemic, we all took a break from our jobs and social life. However, I never let myself fall into emptiness or lose energy. I made hoping and having a positive outlook a part of my life. It was a time when I had new dreams and went into battle with myself.
Ribbed undershirt: Tom Ford, Biker jacket: Vintage, Pants: Levi's
Do you have any exciting plans/projects in your career?
Yes, I’ll soon begin working on a new film so I’m preparing for that. I’m building my character. We’ll soon start filming, and I’m very excited. I spend my entire time and energy thinking about that. It’s titled Göktürk and directed by Alper Çağlar. It’s going to portray and teach people about the oldest times in Turkish history. I cannot wait to start working.
“EACH SCAR AND EACH SUFFERING TURNS INTO EXPERIENCE ON OUR PERSISTENT PATH.”
Ribbed undershirt: Epicene Denim jacket: Levi's Pants: Obey, Beymen Ring: Epicene
VIDEOGRAPHY: UZAY KABULİ
PHOTOGRAPHY: MEMET EROL
PHOTOGRAPHY ASSISTANT: MELİS ALBAYRAK, YUSUF EROL, FURKAN KUMAŞ STYLING: SEDA DESOVALI MAKEUP: SEZEN CAN HAIR: MERT PEKGÜZEL
PRODUCTION: MÜGE SARIOĞLU PRODÜKSİYON ASİSTANI / PRODUCTION ASSISTANT: YASEMİN YILDIRIMGEÇ, BİLUN ATİKKAN
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