Meet FERYAL KILISLI

We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful FERYAL KILISLI. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with FERYAL below.

FERYAL , thank you so much for joining us today. Let’s jump right into something we’re really interested in hearing about from you – being the only one in the room. So many of us find ourselves as the only woman in the room, the only immigrant or the only artist in the room, etc. Can you talk to us about how you have learned to be effective and successful in situations where you are the only one in the room like you?

I’ve learned to see being the only one in the room who looks like me not as a burden, but as a kind of power. At first, it can feel isolating — like you’re carrying the weight of representation. But over time, I realized that being different is what makes me stand out, and more importantly, what allows me to bring something unique to the table.

I like to think of it like this: if a rainbow were just one color, it wouldn’t be nearly as beautiful. Our differences are the colors that complete the picture. My background, my experiences — even the challenges I’ve faced — have given me perspectives others in the room may not have. And that’s a gift.

By showing up fully as myself, I not only get to offer something real and textured, but I also help others see what’s possible. That’s how I’ve learned to thrive — not by trying to blend in, but by embracing the very things that set me apart.”**

Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?

I’m a New York-based Turkish-American actor, constantly juggling the beautiful chaos of artistic life and the survival game in one of the world’s most vibrant — and wild — city NyC…
My acting journey began back in Turkey, and in 2008, I moved to New York to learn English. At the time, I was a student in a completely foreign land — no language, no job, no safety net. It felt like starting not just from zero, but from below zero.

Once I found a bit of courage with the language, I auditioned for acting school — and to my absolute joy, I was accepted into the Stella Adler Studio of Acting. Since graduating in 2015, I’ve been running between the stage and the screen, booking gigs — some deeply artistic, others hilariously unrelated to acting — and doing everything it takes to keep the dream alive.

Yes, it gets overwhelming sometimes. But every time I step onto the stage, my heart still races with excitement. That feeling — that full, electric pulse — is what’s kept me going all these years.

Right now, I’m in rehearsals for Cymbeline by W. Shakespeare produced by NYC’s very own Shakespeare company, Hamlet Isn’t Dead. I’ll be portraying the King Cymbeline And We open May 22… I couldn’t be more excited.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

I’m a curious dreamer with strong survival instincts and a deep love for my independence. I think facing challenges early in life and learning to overcome them — often on my own — gave me a kind of strength that’s hard to teach.
It taught me how to make peace with difficult circumstances and keep moving forward, no matter what. Those life experiences also have become a part of my artistic work.
They help me connect with characters and understand their motivations on a deeper level — sometimes even when the script doesn’t spell it out.

As for advice to anyone just starting out: first, you need to really ask yourself how much you want this. That part is crucial. If it’s just a passing interest or something you’re chasing for the wrong reasons, it’s going to be tough to
stay the course — because this path will test you.

It sounds cliché, but truly: don’t give up. I’ve come dangerously close to burnout more than once. But every time I’ve asked myself whether to walk away, I’ve realized this work lives -way too deeply- in me to quit. And That passion becomes your engine.

And of course, always do your part. Do the work — prepare, stay curious, keep learning — and then learn to let go. That balance is everything.

Looking back over the past 12 months or so, what do you think has been your biggest area of improvement or growth?

One thing I wasn’t really taught growing up was, self-love… I’ve always had a big heart — full of love for others and for the things I’m passionate about — but when it came to myself, I could be incredibly hard and critical ,without even realizing it.

Over the past 12 months, I’ve been actively working on that. I’ve been exploring energy healing and learning what real self-care and self-love look like. A big part of that has been learning not to blame myself when things don’t go the way I hoped — whether it’s a mistake, a missed opportunity, or a tough outcome.

It might sound like a really big thing but ,actually It can start with something as simple as forgiving yourself for a misstep , and reminding yourself that you’re human.

As an artist and a -human being- we’re constantly moving through a wide range of emotions, and it can get overwhelming. When I feel that happening, I pause. I take a breath. I go for a walk — for me, walking in the wind while listening to my favorite music is one of the best forms of therapy. Whatever your version of that is, find it, hold onto it, and most importantly — remember to Reward yourself. Even the smallest wins deserve recognition.

Contact Info:

• Website: View Feryal Kilisli Actor Resume (PDF)
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/feribluee?igsh=ZDMxcWdoZTlvajZt&utm_source=qr
• Linkedin: http://linkedin.com/in/feryal-kilisli-b2a37062
• Other: imdb

  https://www.imdb.com/name/nm6625167/

  https://tarteusa.com/the-team.html

  https://www.hamletisntdead.com/rac