EastEnders legend looks unrecognisable after making dramatic TV return
Early fans of BBC soap EastEnders may not have recognised an actor who returned decades later to star in a BBC2 series, with his social media also showing him in a different light
EastEnders star Clair Norris has been told her contract will not be renewed, prompting the exit of her character Bernie Taylor after eight years. While viewers will say goodbye to Bernie, Oscar Branning is returning to Albert Square after an eight year absence, with actor Pierre Moullier taking over the role.
Viewers who watched the soap from the start will remember a character brought to the fledgling soap by writers Tony Holland and Julia Smith to represent London's growing Turkish Cypriot community. Mehmet Osman was played by Haluk Bilginer, who spent three unforgettable years in Albert Square.
Mehmet once duetted with his brother Ali Osman, played by Nejdet Salih, at The Queen Vic pub, where they performed the lively Turkish song Oy Oy Emine. In another scene at the Vic, he was struck by Mary the Punk after he attempted to kiss her. Sadly, both stars were abruptly written out of the goings-on in Albert Square when the writers exited the show.
While Nejdet's acting career seemed to plateau after leaving EastEnders, Haluk's didn't. He continued acting and looked completely unrecognisable from his Walford days when he returned to TV in the starring role of The Turkish Detective. Stepping into the shoes of Detective Cetin Ikmen in the BBC2 series last July, he sported a bushy, grey beard and starred alongside Yasemin Allen, who played Cetin's female counterpart, Detective Ayse Farsakoglu.
Haluk's Instagram account also shows him in a completely different light to the young Mehmet from EastEnders. In one image, taken back in 2021, he has long, wild hair and the same grey beard, with a photo that he captioned: "IS BALLET A SPORT???" Another picture, taken just before Christmas last year, reveals him to be in New York, as he smilingly poses for a selfie on the streets with a group of people on the street.
The Turkish Detective was created for TV by American film company Miramax, and inspired by English author Barbara Nadel's The Cetin Ikmen Crime Novels. While Nadel's version stretches across 24 novels, the tale was condensed into eight episodes for viewers. Ethan Kai, recognised for his portrayal of Kasim in Emmerdale from 2016 to 2017 and his stint in BBC's spy thriller Killing Eve, also joined the cast.
Haluk's acting credentials after EastEnders are impressive. In 1992, he and his then-wife Zuhal Olcay secured roles in the Young Indiana Jones Chronicles. After moving back to his native Turkey and starring in a host of films there, they even set up their own theatre. Despite taking a break from English-language films for some time, Haluk made a comeback in 2009 with the American thriller The International, where he took on the role of high-tech missile guidance system dealer, Ahmet Sunay.
He also featured as Dr Ranbir Sartain, the new psychiatrist of Michael Myers, in the 2018 horror sequel Halloween. In 2014, he clinched the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival for his role in Winter Sleep, and in 2018, he bagged an Emmy for Best Performance by an Actor for his portrayal of Agah Beyoglu in the Turkish crime drama Sahsiyet (Persona).
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