Interview with Cemre Paksoy, Crafting Complex Characters in High-Stakes Streaming Dramas

Jenny Poole
4 min readJul 19, 2024

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I sat down with Cemre Paksoy, a star in the world of streaming television. She shares insights into her compelling roles and the nuances of her acting journey. She is best known for her character Nihal in Netflix’s hit series As The Crow Flies and her poignant portrayal of Gökçe in BluTV’s The Affair, Cemre opens up about the challenges and rewards of embodying complex characters in high-stakes dramas. She also reflects on the impact of working on major streaming platforms like Netflix and BluTV, and how these experiences have shaped her career across diverse genres and international boundaries.

Cemre Paksoy

Can you describe your character in Netflix’s As The Crow Flies and what drew you to this role?
As The Crow Flies delves into the dark side of ambition and envy within the news industry as power shifts from one generation to the next. My character, Nihal, is the assistant to the head of a major network. She’s forced to balance a lot throughout the series as alliances shift and allegiances are tested. I was really drawn to the challenges that come from playing the mediator in such an intense environment.

How did it feel to be part of As The Crow Flies, which became Netflix’s top-watched television series in Turkey?
I was already a huge fan of the show, so when I was cast, I definitely felt the pressure — especially knowing Turkey is now the second-highest exporter of television after the United States. I knew all eyes would be on the third season, but I was still surprised how much it blew up. It feels surreal to have been a part of something so big.

How did you prepare for your role in As The Crow Flies?
One of the things that drew me to this show as a viewer and an actor was witnessing the inner workings of the news industry. I actually interviewed several friends and friends of friends to get a better sense of how this high-pressure, fast-paced world works. It was important to me to nail down the specifics of this industry — from the power dynamics to the newsroom etiquette — it was very helpful to speak to people who have actually been in those rooms.

What were some of the biggest challenges you faced while portraying your character in As The Crow Flies?
My character, Nihal, has to keep her calm throughout the show amidst really intense interpersonal drama. The characters around me are having affairs, betraying lifelong friends, sabotaging each other’s careers. I think a character like Nihal could easily be read as passive or cause an actor to shy away from making choices. So, I tried to internalize the role of the mediator without being indifferent or oblivious to the emotional warfare happening around me.

How did you approach your role in BluTV’s The Affair?
My character, Gökçe, is essentially a bystander to a close friend’s trauma. She has to witness the complete decay of a family she cares for deeply, and while I haven’t been in that exact position, the pain that comes from not being able to help a loved one is universal. By drawing from similar feelings of helplessness in my own life, I found her journey so relatable.

What factors do you consider when selecting roles in prestige streaming dramas?
I have worked across so many different genres. From an improvised comedy set in Chicago, to a suspenseful drama unfolding in the high rises of Istanbul, getting to work with other artists I admire is very important to me, but I always try to diversify my slate. I’m especially drawn to genres and themes I have yet to explore.

What was your experience like working on Netflix’s Easy?
I was a fan of Joe Swanberg well before we worked together on Easy. His mumblecore style was one of my main draws to the indie scene in Chicago. The whole process was so pleasant, but the most memorable thing was how much everyone loved being on set. I felt motivated from working with people who were excited to be there with each other, doing the work.

Cemre Paksoy in Netflix’s Easy

How did you develop your character in Easy, and what did you enjoy most about the role?
Easy wasn’t my first foray into improvised television. My online series, Snugglr, which I made with my collaborator Georgia Bernstein, premiered at Tribeca Film Festival and was completely improvised. But seeing how Joe [Swanberg] directs improv was super educational. You have an idea of the scene and your character, and then on set, you get to build off your director and fellow actors and really nail it. It’s true teamwork, which is extremely fun to me.

Cemre Paksoy in Snugglr

How has working on major streaming platforms like Netflix and BluTV influenced your career?
As someone who’s worked in the United States and in Turkey, streaming platforms have honestly been a gift. These are two huge, influential film industries, and thanks to streaming services, there’s more cultural osmosis than ever. The accessibility afforded by streaming platforms has made it easier to navigate and accelerate my career in both countries.

You can learn more about Cemre Paksoy via her IMDb.

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Jenny Poole
Jenny Poole

Written by Jenny Poole

Film, TV & Music Journalist, Writer & Teacher. Over 10 years covering the entertainment industries, working with major US and Global outlets.

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