Turkey Drops Julianne Moore as Face of Tourism Because of Her ‘Poor Acting’

Turkish officials have rejected a bid to make American actress Julianne Moore the face of the country’s tourism, citing her “poor acting.”

Moore took home the Best Actress Oscar last month for her performance in Still Alice, but reportedly failed to stun Turkish audiences.

She recently participated in a promotional film for tourism in the country, but according to Hürriyet Daily News, the Culture and Tourism Ministry disapproved of her performance in the spot and demanded a reshoot.

Moore reportedly declined the ministry’s request, which led to the cancellation of the project, altogether. Sources told the Hürriyet the ministry ultimately rejected the film because of Moore’s “poor acting.”

The film, titled Home Of, was shot in Los Angeles last year and featured Moore traveling around Turkey where she revisited her childhood journeys. It was scheduled to air in Turkey in February 2014.

Prominent figures, including advertisers and politicians, originally criticized the ministry’s choice to cast Moore, saying she had a “depressive persona.”

Furthermore, ministry sources claim there was nothing unique about the project and that more than 30 similar films with other actors had already been made.

Emre Yücel, owner of the agency partnership Iconisis & I Mean It, told the Hürriyet last year he believed Moore to be the right fit, as she would appeal to both American and British people, as well as women, middle-aged people and wealthy tourists, all of which are Turkey’s target demographic.

“I can’t understand why she is not like to here,” he said. According to Yücel, the cancellation of the film cost $1.5 million of the project’s $4 million budget