Özge Gürel and Serkan Çayoğlu discuss the global success of Turkish dizi, which in recent years have become a true international phenomenon, including in Italy. A beloved couple both on and off screen, they have won audiences over with cult titles such as Cherry Season, Dolunay and Mr. Wrong, contributing significantly to the worldwide popularity of Turkish television drama. This conversation will focus on the evolution of Turkish productions, the relationship with international fans, and the unique ability of dizi to connect cultures and generations through serialized storytelling.
Biography – Özge Gürel
Özge Gürel began taking acting lessons while studying at Beykent University’s Department of International Trade. After starring in the television series “Kızım Nerede,” Gürel went on to appear in “Ebb and Tide” and “Huzur Sokağı.” With the TV series “Mr. Wrong,” in which she starred, the actress, who rose to international fame with “Cherry Season” one of the best-selling productions abroad, made another international appearance. In addition to earning recognition in the film industry for her roles in ‘Kar Kırmızı’ and ‘Savrulan Zaman’, Özge Gürel was praised for her performance in the television series ‘Siyah Bere’. Married to fellow actor Serkan Çayoğlu, Gürel meets with fans and represents Turkey at numerous international events.
Biography – Serkan Çayoğlu
Serkan Çayoğlu (born 1987 in Germany) is a global Turkish actor known for his work in television and lm. He completed his university education in Economics in Germany and pursued professional acting training driven by a long-standing interest in the craft. His rst leading role came with his portrayal of Ayaz Dinçer in Cherry Season, a performance that brought him international recognition and established him as a widely followed actor beyond Turkey. The series achieved signicant popularity internationally, particularly in Italy, as well as across the LATAM and MENA regions. He continued to expand his television career with notable performances in acclaimed series such as Love of My Life, Wolf, and New Life. Following his leading role in Once Upon a Time in Cyprus, he starred in the feature lms Oregon and Aaahh Belinda, released on Netix. He further demonstrated his international range by performing in German in Netix Germany’s production She Said Maybe. For the past three seasons, he has been starring in the historical series Mehmed: Sultan of Conquest, delivering a compelling portrayal of Sultan Mehmed the Conqueror. In 2025, Çayoğlu was honored with the “Outstanding Achievement of the Year” award at GQ Türkiye Men of the Year.
