EastEnders’ early fans may not have known the actor who appeared in a BBC2 series decades later, but his social media profiles also show him in a different light.
Clair Norris, the star of EastEnders, was informed that her contract would not be renewed, leading to her character’s eight-year transition from Bernie Taylor. Oscar Branning will leave Albert Square after eight years of a sabbatical, with Pierre Moullier taking the part.
A character that writers Tony Holland and Julia Smith brought to the young soap by the audience who has already watched it will stick with them forever. Haluk Bilginer, who spent three unforgettable years in Albert Square, played Mehmet Osman.
At The Queen Vic pub, Mehmet and Ali Osman duoed and performed the lively Turkish song Oy Oy Emine. After attempting to kiss her, he was struck by Mary the Punk in another scene at the Vic. Unfortunately, when the writers left the show, both stars were abruptly cut out of the happenings in Albert Square.
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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.
After EastEnders, Haluk has some impressive acting skills. He and his then-wife Zuhal Olcay were cast in the Young Indiana Jones Chronicles in 1992. They even built their own theater after returning to Turkey and staring in numerous movies there. Haluk made a comeback in 2009 with the American thriller The International, in which he reprised the role of dealer of high-tech missile guidance system dealer Ahmet Sunay.
Source: Mirror
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