By MEHMET SEBATLI
COLOGNE, Germany - Mustafa Alin is something of a celebrity in Germany for his acting roles, but remains virtually unknown among the Kurdish public, though he is a Kurd himself.
Alin is famous for his role in Gute Zeiten, schlechte Zeiten (Good Times, Bad Times) a TV soap opera on RTL TV channel, where he plays the role of an aggressive Turkish character named Mesut Yildiz.
Yildiz, a violent and disrespectful character in the show, is particularly noted for his vulgar language and aggression toward women.
But in real life, Alin is polite and shy. He is tall and physically fit, and in 2004 won second place in boxing in Germany.
Regarding his acting role, Alin says, “Many producers see me fit for a violent and aggressive character, and I do not mind playing that role.
“When you act, it is not important what character you are given; it is important to play the character and show the character in the best possible way,” Alin told Rudaw.
Alin is well known among the German media and public, but little is known about him among the Kurdish public. He says he is also not very well informed about Kurdish cinema and does “not know Kurdish actors and producers.”
But he adds that he would like to get to know Kurdish cinema and “to establish connections with some of the Kurdish producers, if circumstances permit.”
Alin studied postal services in school, but never used his degree. After school he took up boxing.
Watching Kurdish director Yilmaz Guney’s movies encouraged Alin to get into acting. In 2006, he left boxing and enrolled in acting school where he graduated in 2009.
In 2011, Alin was asked to join the TV soap opera where he is currently acting.
But he has never had a chance to play in any cinematic movies.
“If I am offered a chance, I would like to play in the cinematic movies, especially if I find the script interesting,” he added. “It does not matter if the character given to me is a good or bad character; I want to play different characters like Johnny Depp.”
He says he would really like to particularly play a role in a Kurdish or Turkish movie about trafficking between Turkey and Germany.
Born in 1977 in Germany, Alin comes from a Kurdish Yezidi family south of Batman, Turkey. His family returned to Kurdistan and lived in Veransehir, Turkey, for 10 years, but then returned to Germany. After starting his acting career, Alin moved to Berlin and has lived there since 2010.
