BARIŞ BAKTAŞ: THE MAN BETWEEN SILENCE & FIRE

In an era where fame grows louder by the day, Barış Baktaş chooses something far more powerful: quiet presence, emotional honesty, and a masculinity that never needs to announce itself.

The light entered the room softly as Barış Baktaş sat with the kind of stillness that feels almost cinematic. Calm eyes, restrained gestures, and the quiet confidence of someone who no longer needs to prove his presence.

Far from the conventional image of the modern television star, Baktaş feels more like a man living between two worlds; one shaped by fame and visibility, the other deeply personal, introspective, and untouched by noise.

Perhaps that is exactly why audiences connect with him so intensely. There is something undeniably real about him. Nothing feels overly rehearsed, polished, or manufactured for the camera.

Today, Barış describes himself as being in one of the most peaceful periods of his life.
“I’m thankful,” he says. “My work life, my private life, my social life… everything is going very well. I’m in a peaceful period.”

That sense of calm naturally reflects in his portrayal of “Civan” in the hit series Sevdigim Sensin — a character shaped by contradictions. Strong yet fragile, charismatic yet emotionally wounded.

When asked what hurt Civan the most, Baktaş answers with only one word:
“Despair.”

Short, simple, devastating.

It is perhaps this emotional restraint that makes his performances feel believable. He does not over-explain emotions; he allows them to exist quietly beneath the surface.

Growing up in a large family, Baktaş describes his childhood as playful, chaotic, and full of mischief. He laughs when admitting he was probably the naughtiest among his cousins, though never aggressive.

If he could speak to his younger self today, he says:
“Everything you’ve done has shaped you. Keep doing it. Do the things you were afraid to do. But never hurt others in the process.”

Interestingly, acting was never part of the original plan. Despite studying Accounting and Auditing at Istanbul Commerce University, he never imagined himself pursuing performance professionally. Yet looking back, the signs were always there: impersonations, jokes, costumes, and an instinctive love for storytelling.

There is no dramatic tale of overnight discovery in his journey. Instead, Baktaş speaks honestly about building himself quietly, drawing strength from his own beliefs while navigating the industry largely on his own.

Beyond acting, music remains one of his most personal passions. Writing lyrics and composing, he says, feels “good for the soul.” Though he does not currently envision a professional music career, the emotional connection remains deeply important to him.

Then comes fatherhood — the one subject that softens his entire tone.
Trying to explain the feeling, he pauses before simply saying:
“It’s no different from love.”

Throughout the conversation, what stands out most is Baktaş’s refusal to romanticize himself. He speaks openly about ambition, vulnerability, and uncertainty without turning them into performance.

One of his biggest dreams now is to direct and star in a film he wrote himself — a project already in progress.

His personal philosophy feels almost poetic in its honesty:
“If you lack courage, you’re destined to lose. The darkest hour of the night is the moment closest to sunrise.”

And when asked what he would say to himself years from now upon reading this interview, he smiles softly and leaves behind one final sentence:

“I hope everything went well for you”

Editor-in-Chief: Sultan Abu Tair,

Creative Director: Zişan Seçkin

Interviewer: Dilay Seçkin

Editor: Mohammed Alaaeldin

Photographer: Ali Kalyoncu, Styling: İrem İnançu

Hair & Make-Up: Neşe Kaya, Videography: Ünal Avcı

Photography Assistant: Arda Çiçek

Styling Assistant: Elif Hoşgör

Management: Management Unique

Press Advising: Ebru Esen Turgud

Location: Orientbank Hotel