"The Magnificent Century" 7 Years Later: What They Do and What the Stars of the Series Look Like Today

2024 Author: Richard Flannagan | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-15 23:55

In 2011, the series The Magnificent Century was released, which was successfully shown in 50 countries and brought Turkish cinema to a new level. The actors who played the main roles became known all over the world, which, it would seem, should have become a powerful impetus in their further film careers. However, for some of them, this series became the pinnacle of their creative path, and they no longer succeeded in repeating or surpassing their success …

"Magnificent Century" became the first Turkish project in the filmography of the German actress Meryem Uzerli. At that time, she managed to graduate from the theater school in Hamburg, performed on the theater stage for 6 years and played several episodic roles in the cinema. The actress found out about the casting for the new Turkish series when there was a lull in her film career, and she went to Turkey without a moment's hesitation. Her mother was German, and her father was Turkish, but Meryem did not know Turkish. Which, however, did not prevent her from passing the tests - since her heroine Roksolana was a concubine brought from the Crimea, ignorance of the language and a strong accent did not become a hindrance. After the release of the very first episodes, all of Turkey fell in love with Meriem Uzerli.

In the series "The Magnificent Century" Meryem Uzerli starred for 2 years. And in May 2013, she unexpectedly announced to the producers about her decision to leave the project and go to Germany. She had to be replaced by another actress. Then Meryem explained her decision by the accumulated fatigue and nervous exhaustion from the too tight filming schedule. And later it became known that she left the set after learning about her pregnancy. The actress was going to marry Turkish businessman Jan Atesh, but in August 2013 the couple broke up. Now he takes part in the life of his daughter, but they do not live together. In the film career of Uzerli, there was also a lull. Under the terms of the contract, she could not appear in other films until the end of the broadcast of The Magnificent Century. The actress appeared on the screens only in 2015, having played in several TV series, but she has not yet managed to repeat the success of Alexandra Anastasia Lisowska. Some projects with her participation even had to be closed due to low ratings.

The role of Sultan Suleiman was played by Turkish actor Halit Ergench. He did not come to the acting profession right away - in his youth he graduated from the conservatory, worked as a marketer, cameraman and dancer, made his debut in a musical and starred in several commercials, films and TV series. The image of Suleiman the Magnificent, created by this actor, was recognized by critics, historians and viewers as the best embodiment of the Sultan's power in cinema. Today Halit Ergench continues to act in films. There have been many changes in his personal life. Even before the "Magnificent Century" on the set of the series "A Thousand and One Nights", he met the actress Berguzar Korel, and left his first wife. In a new marriage, he had a son. In 2016, the actor starred with his wife in the military melodrama "My Motherland is You".

The role of Suleiman's mother Valide Sultan was played by the famous Turkish actress Nebahat Chekhre. She began her career in show business at the age of 14 as a model, becoming the winner of the Miss Turkey beauty pageant. After that, she began acting in films, but soon there was a long hiatus in her film career, and world fame came to her only at the age of 66, after filming in The Magnificent Century. She is still in demand, continues to act and leads an active social life.

Nur Fettahoglu played the role of Mahidevran Sultan in the series. Initially, she did not plan to become an actress. She studied to be a fashion designer, then worked for a bank and television news anchor. In 2008 she got married and took her husband's surname Aisan. The husband was associated with the world of the film industry, and she got her first role in the series thanks to him. "The Magnificent Century" brought the actress worldwide popularity. When she started acting in it, her first marriage broke up, and after 2 years the actress remarried and gave birth to a daughter. Today she continues to actively act in films.

The role of Ibrahim Pasha was played by the popular Turkish actor Okan Yalabyk. Even before filming this series, he managed to earn the love of the audience and the title of a sex symbol. And for his work in the "Magnificent Century" the actor twice received the national television award "Antalya". Today, in terms of popularity, he left behind even the star of the series Khalit Ergench, in his filmography there are already more than 30 works. In addition, he is engaged in dubbing cartoons and foreign films. Okana is named among the 10 most attractive actors in Turkey.

Suleiman's sister was played by actress Selma Ergech. Her parents - doctors - dreamed that her daughter would continue their dynasty, and Selma also received a medical education. But when she first had the opportunity to star in the series, she decided to change her profession, and before filming in The Magnificent Century, she had already played several notable roles. Now, in addition to filming a movie, the actress works as a model, became the face of a fashion brand and was even nominated for the title of "Best Model in Turkey". In 2015, she married the owner of the publishing house and gave birth to a daughter a year later.

Although the series was incredibly popular with viewers, it also caused a wave of criticism from historians. Sultan Suleiman in life and on the screen: what the ruler really was.