Brave Monologues w/ Aytaç Şaşmaz

If a child carries the dream of becoming an actor and the passion of being Superman at the same time, what happens? Tilt your head a little, you’ll see his picture. Aytaç says of fear, “I’ve built a room for it in my mind,” As long as his energy is balanced, fear has no way out. And he knows exactly how to lift that energy. In Aytaç’s universe, creativity begins when rules surrender to intuition — where it’s not about universal rights or wrongs, but about finding his own way. His words, “I’m not sure if I’ve completely stopped apologizing to myself, but I’ve learned to love myself,” are the key to that approach because that’s when you truly start drawing your own path.

DUYGU In your own creative journey, what does it mean to be brave?

AYTAÇ To be brave means drawing your own path instead of doing what everyone else does. It’s being able to move forward even when fear is present.

DUYGU Can you share a moment when you created something with no rules, no apologies. One that stuck with you?

AYTAÇ During the pre-production of Hatıran Yeter, I was taking sign language lessons six to eight hours a day. Since my character was a hearing-impaired individual, I wanted to first learn the language, and only then get to know Baha. That’s how the process unfolded. One day, after coming home from class, while searching for the character in my mind, I looked in the mirror and saw someone completely unfamiliar staring back at me. I leaned into that feeling and that’s how Baha was born. That moment has never left me.

DUYGU How has fear—or the absence of it— shaped the way you express yourself?

AYTAÇ I think fear always exists somewhere inside us. When you go through something you can’t easily get out of, fear hides in a corner until you find your way from darkness to light. I’ve built a room for it in my mind, as long as my energy is balanced and I’m prepared, I live with the certainty that it will stay there.

DUYGU What’s one risky decision you made for your art that ended up defining your creative voice?

AYTAÇ Portraying a hearing-impaired character was the riskiest one. There are nearly five million hearing-impaired people living in Türkiye, and I wanted to represent them in the best, most truthful way: to be their voice in a sense. I believe I achieved that.

DUYGU If your creative work could deliver one brave monologue to the world, what would it say?

AYTAÇ It would tell that crowds are often artificial, while quiet corners are far more sincere. That there’s always a reason to live and that making others feel while you live is part of the duty. It would say the only real battle is the one within yourself; that curiosity for other worlds can make life lose its flavor, while the adventure of discovering your own is truly priceless.

DUYGU When you’re standing at the edge of the unknown, what pushes you forward?

AYTAÇ My goals, my dreams, and the person I want to become.

DUYGU Do you consider yourself brave when it comes to life?

AYTAÇ As someone who’s always loved pushing his limits, I’d say yes, I am brave.

DUYGU What does creativity mean to you?

AYTAÇ For me, creativity means freedom. A space where rules fade and intuition takes the lead.

“Kendime yüklen“Blaming myself and fighting with who I am had always been a part of me. I’m not sure if I’ve completely stopped apologizing to myself, but I’ve learned to love myself.“

-Aytaç Şaşmaz

DUYGU How does pushing boundaries manifest in your reality?

AYTAÇ In my reality, pushing boundaries begins with the courage to step outside what’s familiar. I care less about doing something the “right” way, and more about doing it my way. Because sometimes, to truly create, you have to cross those lines. For me, those moments are both the riskiest and the ones where I grow the most.

DUYGU We all go through times when we are a bit hard on ourselves. When and how did you stop apologizing for yourself and your choices?

AYTAÇ During the phase of getting to know myself, I realized that blaming myself and fighting with who I am had always been a part of me. I’m not sure if I’ve completely stopped apologizing to myself, but I’ve learned to love myself.

FROM BASED ISTANBUL N45 10TH ANNIVERSARY ISSUE: BRAVE MONOLOGUES

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Cover Guest Aytaç Şaşmaz
Creative Direction & Words by Duygu Bengi
Photography by Abdullah Yazıc
Styled by Emre Köklüçınar
Head of Talent Hair and Makeup Önder Tiryaki
Creative Group Head Yağız Yeşilkaya
Producer Tunga Yankı Tan
Creative Production by BI Creative
Special Thanks to Cansu Sıtacı
Creative Team Duru Ustaoğlu, Kerem Acar
Hair Team Batuhan Sancar, Enes Sakızcı, Mustafa Akgül
Make-Up Team Doğukan Tuncer, Esra Poyraz, Hazar Baştürk
Gaffer Onur Karaca
Photography Assistants Hakan Diner, Hamza Kazım Esen
Styling Assistants Elif Akpunar, Şimal Özyiğit
Editorial Brews by Starbucks Türkiye
Bites by Focamia