Kazakhstani theatre and film actress Shugyla Yeshen has received the Beacon Award from the Golden Globes organisation, becoming the first Kazakhstani actress to receive this award.
The award was presented on October, 23–24, 2026 at the Golden Globes Silk Road Tribute Gala, a ceremonial event held in Tashkent, the capital of Uzbekistan. The actress said she had not expected the news. In an interview with Kapital.kz, she spoke about the special significance of receiving intl recognition.
“They contacted me themselves. It was unexpected news, but a very pleasant surprise. To be honest, the whole thing feels like a dream. I am happy and grateful to the organisers for taking an interest in our cinema,” Shugyla Yeshen said.
The Beacon Award aims to support emerging talent in film and television across Central Asia and the Caucasus. Armenian actor Samvel Tadevosyan received the award alongside Shugyla Yeshen. The award is not part of the main Golden Globes competition; it is presented as part of the regional Silk Road Tribute Gala programme.
“I Believe I Am Still at the Beginning of My Journey”
The 24-year-old actress has appeared in a number of popular Kazakhstani film productions in recent years. Nevertheless, she does not regard her current achievements as the peak of her creative career.
“Many people tell me that I am at the peak of my success right now. But I do not see it that way. I am only 24. I prefer to think that the demand for my work at present is just the beginning of my journey. There are still many things I want to try and many directors I would like to work with. I believe I am still at the beginning of my journey, and my most important roles and greatest challenges are yet to come,” the actress said.
According to Shugyla Yeshen, she has not yet appeared in a particularly large number of films. She noted that people often see her on social media and acknowledged that some audience members are critical of her work.
The actress said that many of the people who recognise her on the street are young children. Sometimes, when she meets girls aged four or five, they sing the film’s song.
Her Greatest Ambition: Playing an Antagonist
Looking ahead, the actress wants to portray characters who are markedly different from one another and expand her acting range. She said she was interested in historical and war films and would be willing to undergo a radical physical transformation for a role.
“I would like to try my hand at historical productions and war films. I am particularly drawn to characters with complex personalities. I want to play an antagonist. That is a role that really interests me,” Shugyla Yeshen said.
Between a Character on Screen and Real Life
Shugyla Yeshen also spoke about the boundary between her professional acting work and her personal life. She described herself as an introvert who prefers to maintain her personal space. On set, however, her professional responsibilities come first.
“Life on camera is one thing, and real life is another. In my personal life, I prefer to maintain a certain distance between myself and other people. But when it comes to work, I strive to approach it professionally,” the actress said.
The actress noted that she does not carry the emotions associated with a role into her personal life. Rather, she draws on her own experiences when they can help her develop and portray a character.
Another Dream: Seeing the Northern Lights
The actress’s interests extend beyond cinema. She said she had been fascinated by space and astronomy since childhood and that, had she not become an actress, she might have pursued a career as an athlete or an astronomer. She still plays volleyball and is also interested in boxing.
Another major dream of Shugyla Yeshen’s is to see the northern lights with her own eyes. She said photographs of this natural phenomenon are displayed on both her phone and her computer.
“I have wanted to see the northern lights since childhood. I have a photograph of them on both my phone and my computer. It was only when I grew older that I learned that my name, ‘Shugyla’, means ‘northern lights’,” she said.
The actress does not hide her feeling that this dream will come true in the near future. For now, her goals include buying a home and a car.
