Hande Erçel breaks down on #ABtalks: “I’m More Than Just a Pretty Face”

Hande Erçel opens up about grief, fame, identity, and healing.

The popular Turkish actress Hande Erçel, who stars in Disney+’s Aşkı Hatırla, had a deep, one-on-one chat with Anas Bukhash on #ABtalks that fans rarely get to see.

When someone asks, “How are you really?” Hande stopped and thought about what was going on in her mind. She talked a lot about how she was feeling, calling it a mix of “quiet storms” and “gentle hope.” Then Bukhash asked, “Who are you?” This made her think about how her fame has often made her inner voice less clear.

Erçel began by saying that her childhood was “vibrant, curious, and fragile.” She then went on to talk about one of her favorite memories: running barefoot with her mother in the summer rain. There was pain mixed with the happiness. “Did anyone ever make you feel like you didn’t matter?” When Bukhash asked her about it, she answered honestly, telling him about times when she felt invisible in crowded places even though everyone loved her.

The chat got more personal when she talked about losing her mother, which changed her whole outlook on life. “What changed about the way you see life after your mom died?” “Life became incredibly fragile—but also profoundly precious,” Erçel told Bukhash in response to his question.

Bukhash wasn’t afraid to look into how fame affected people. He asked, “Are people thinking that your good looks are what you’re good at?” Hande said that she had been judged on how she looked instead of how good she was at her job. She argued that beauty wasn’t just about looks; it was also about confidence, kindness, and being yourself.

“I want to be remembered for my true heart, not just a role,” she said when asked about her hopes and dreams. She said, “Maybe one day,” which was a thoughtful answer that put time over pressure. Her soft answer to Bukhash’s question, “If your heart could talk, what would it say?” was, “Slow down.” Feel very much. “You’re enough.”

Then there was a quick round: biggest fear? “Getting lost in my own life.” Last time she saw her mom? “That soft smile before bed.” She said that she finds peace in forgiving and letting go, but she will never forget.

At the end of the talk, it was clear that Hande Erçel is worth a lot more than just her looks and fame. Through her openness, strength, and depth, she showed that she had rebuilt herself after losing someone, and she was always looking for sincerity, making her soul shine brighter than any spotlight.