A PROFILE ON ACTOR CEMRE PAKSOY

BY LUKE MUYSKENS

This is a profile of Cemre Paksoy (she/her), an Istanbul-based actor with deep ties to Chicago. The interview was conducted by Los Angeles-based writer Luke Muyskens.

I caught Cemre between auditions, one for the role of a forensic scientist in a Turkish soap opera and one for a Magnum ice cream commercial. She was taking a breather, drinking a cold coffee in her Istanbul apartment, a little hideaway from the occasionally chaotic megacity. The day felt exciting, productive — a comfortable zone for Cemre. You can see that energy in her performances. Whether it’s narrative or commercial, dramatic or comedic, she’s bringing a signature vitality and verve.

I asked: How’d you get started acting?

Cemre thought back to her formative days in Chicago. “I was lucky enough to learn from some incredible Chicago filmmakers. Joe Swanberg and Kris Rey are two who invested in me at an early stage and helped me find my voice as both an actor and filmmaker.” Cemre worked for Joe while he was filming “Easy” for Netflix and became an indispensable part of the team, both contributing to production and acting in the role of Alex.

Courtesy of Snugglr

Living in Chicago, Cemre met Georgia Bernstein, a fellow filmmaker who became a close collaborator. They teamed up on “Snugglr,” a comedy web series about a cuddling app they shot in Chicago in 2018. The series, with Cemre as its lead, premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival as part of their N.O.W. Showcase and was later acquired by Condé Nast, pushing Cemre’s career to the next level.

Cemre found a lot of inspiration from Chicago itself, the city where she found her footing as an actor. “There’s a real spirit of collaboration in Chicago, especially compared to industry hubs like New York or Los Angeles. People want to help each other out. Doesn’t matter if it’s a play, a short film, a showcase — someone’s always willing to hold a boom or bring an extra tripod or grab coffee and work out some kinks in the script. It’s a rare kind of community.”

Going back to Turkey exposed Cemre to an entirely different filmmaking world. As the next highest exporter of television after the United States, the level of exposure can be intense. Cemre landed roles in immensely popular shows like “The Affair” and “As the Crow Flies,” which have viewers around the world. “It was intimidating at first. I could feel all the eyes on me. Delivering a quality performance without stressing about the huge audience was definitely a new skill.”

Working in Turkey has opened unexpected doors for Cemre. This spring, she starred in a high-profile commercial for Beko, Europe’s second-largest appliance company. The role was her first venture into commercial acting, and especially on such a large stage, presented its own challenges. “With commercial acting, you’re operating within very specific restraints. You have to come across as a real, genuine person without the backstory and character you find in narrative roles. It’s a muscle I think I’ll bring to non-commercial work.”

Courtesy of Easy

I asked: What’s next?

“I’m starring in Georgia Bernstein’s feature film debut, Night Nurse, alongside the iconic Mimi Rogers. If anyone is yearning for something provocative and daring, you’ll want to look out for it.” The reunion between the two filmmakers, which shoots in Chicago this fall, is an erotic thriller about an innocent nurse who gets sucked into a scam that stiffs lonely old men looking for love. “It’s rare to work on something you can’t wait to see in a movie theater before you’re even on set. And the opportunity to shoot something in Chicago again is really exciting. It’ll be a homecoming of sorts.”

Not many actors are required to stretch themselves so far. Working in multiple languages, in a variety of mediums and industries, across literal continents, has demanded a lot of Cemre. But the result is an incredible versatility that strengthens every role she touches. When we talk about actors, we talk about range, but her breadth of experience has fostered something more — a true gift of transformation.

“Straddling both the Turkish and American entertainment industries has been tricky sometimes,” Cemre said. “But I love the job, I love the challenge, and this untraditional path left me with a set of skills I didn’t expect. I’m grateful for that.”