Türkan Şoray
Biography
Türkan Şoray is a Turkish actress, writer, and film director who was born on June 28, 1945, in Istanbul, Türkiye. Known as the Sultan of the Cinema of Turkey, she began her career in 1960. She won her first award as the most successful actress at the first Antalya Golden Orange Film Festival for the movie Acı Hayat, which translates to Bitter Life. Having appeared in a vast number of films, she has starred in the most feature films for a female actress worldwide. On March 12, 2010, she was chosen as a UNICEF goodwill ambassador in Turkey, expressing her belief that nothing cannot be done with love and that combining power with love can overcome many problems.
Career overview
Türkan Şoray is a Turkish actress, writer, and film director who was born on June 28, 1945, in İstanbul, Türkiye. Recognized as the Sultan of the Cinema of Turkey, she began her professional career in 1960. Throughout her extensive career in the film industry, she has starred in a vast number of feature films, establishing a prominent legacy as a female actress worldwide.
Among her early career milestones, Şoray won her first award as the most successful actress at the 1st Antalya Golden Orange Film Festival for her work in the movie Acı Hayat, also known as Bitter Life. In addition to her extensive cinematic achievements, she took on a significant public role when she was chosen as a UNICEF goodwill ambassador in Turkey on March 12, 2010. Regarding this appointment, she expressed her belief that nothing cannot be done with love, noting that combining power with love allows people to overcome many problems.
Ask the Vault
Ask anything about Türkan Şoray.
Frequent co-stars
Career timeline
Full Filmography
226 titles- Her First (2019) as Self
- Remake, Remix, Rip-Off: About Copy Culture & Turkish Pop Cinema (2019) as Self
- 100 Muhteşem Yıl (2017) as Self
- Innocence of Memories (2016) as Actress
- Don't Look Too Far (2015) Director
- We Hit The Road (2014) as Self
- Bir Zamanlar Osmanlı: Kıyam (2012) as Hatice Sultan
- Sinemada İstanbul (2011)
- Golden Girls (2009) as İnci
- Vurgun (2008)
- İzzet Günay Belgeseli (2008) as Self
- Aşk Yeniden (2007) as Lale
- Suna (2007) as Suna
- Hicran Sokağı (2007) as Sabahat
- Aşk Beklemez (2006) as Suna Serteri
- Hayatımın Kadınısın (2006) as Asuman Karaca
- Ayın Yıldızı (2006) as Karagümrüklü Karakız
- Cemile (2006)
- Mürüvvetsiz Mürüvvet (2004) as Mürüvvet
- Gönderilmemiş Mektuplar (2003)
- Sweet Life (2001) as Sevinç Yıldırım
- Second Spring (1998) as Hanım Meriç
- Nihavend Mucize (1997) as Suzan
- Gözlerinde Son Gece (1996)
- Loves with Gravity (1996)
- Aynalar (1996)
- Loves with Gravity: Turkish Sweets (1996) as Mehpare
- Kral Türkiye Müzik Ödülleri (1995) as Presenter
- Siyaset Meydanı (1994)
- Shahmaran (1994) as Şahmaran
- Bir Aşk Uğruna (1994) as Selma
- Tatlı Betüş (1993)
- Violet Bay (1991) as Neriman
- Berdel (1990) as Hanım
- It Was Cold and Raining (1990) as Leyla
- A Dead Sea (1989) as Yüksel
- Ada (1988) as Eser
- Ten Women (1987)
- Rumuz Goncagül (1987)
- Wife as Gramophone (1987) as Cemile
- My Dreams, My Love, and You (1987) as Derya Altınay
- Blind Man's Bluff (1985) as Meral
- One Woman One Life (1985) as Nuran
- Bir Sevgi İstiyorum (1984)
- I Love You (1983) as Selma / Aygül
- The Mistress (1983) as Feride
- Seni Kalbime Gömdüm (1982) as Eylül
- Mine (1982) as Mine
- To Crush The Serpent (1981) as Esme
- To Crush The Serpent (1981) Director
- To Crush The Serpent (1981) Screenplay
- Hazal (1979) as Hazal
- Resentful Flower (1979) as Zeynep
- Sweet Nigar (1978) as Tatli Nigar
- Sultan (1978) as Sultan
- My Love, My Sorrow (1978) as Mehmene Banu
- Cevriyem (1978) as Cevriye
- Baraj (1977) as Aysel
- The Girl with the Red Scarf (1977) as Asya
- Madam Dilâ (1977) as Dila Hanım
- The Judge of Bodrum (1976) as Nevin
- The Judge of Bodrum (1976) Director
- Love of Giant (1976) as Türkan
- The Earthquake (1976)
- Hunger (1975) as Meryem
- İnce Memed Vuruldu (1975)
- Urgently Seeking Husband (1975) as Melike
- İşte Hayat (1974)
- Bal Kız: Şenlik Var (1974) as Zelis
- There Is a Wound in My Heart (1974) as Nurten
- Crazy People (1974) as Selma/Cavidan
- Asiye Nasıl Kurtulur? (1974) as Asiye
- Golden Butterfly Awards (1973) as Self - Winner
- Golden Butterfly Awards (1973) as Self - Presenter
- Namus Borcu (1973) as Gurbet
- Dert Bende (1973)
- Sultan Gelin (1973) as Sultan
- Güllü is Coming (1973) as Güllü
- Gazi Kadın (1973) as Zeynep
- Torment (1973) as Elif
- Torment (1973) Director
- The Prisoner (1973) as Ümmühan
- The Liar (1973) as Zeynep
- Çile (1972) as Elif
- Persecution (1972) as Ayla/Zaliha
- Cemo (1972) as Cemo
- The Return (1972) as Gülcan
- The Return (1972) Director
- Vukuat Var (1972)
- Sisli Hatıralar (1972) as Dürrin Akbel
- The Forgotten Woman (1971) as Zeynep / Hilda
- Fire Piece (1971) as Azize
- Angel or Devil? (1971) as Nesrin
- Blue Scarf (1971) as Leyla
- A Woman Vanished (1971) as Selma
- Güllü (1971) as Güllü
- Bir Genç Kızın Romanı (1971)
- Gülüm, Dalım, Çiçeğim (1971)
- Hürmüz with Seven Husbands (1971) as Hürmüz
- Sevmek ve Ölmek Zamanı (1971)
- Gelin Çiçeği (1971) as Zehra, Arzu
- Mağrur Kadın (1970)
- My Sweet Angel (1970) as Leyla
- Mazi Kalbimde Yaradır (1970)
- Kara Gözlüm (1970) as Azize
- Mercy (1970) as Zeynep
- Hayatım Sana Feda (1970) as Zeynep
- Arım Balım Peteğim (1970) as Zeynep
- Crossroads (1970) as Feyza
- Ağlayan Melek (1970) as Sabahat
- Bülbül Yuvası (1970) as Nerime
- Herkesin Sevgilisi (1970) as Zeynep
- Buğulu Gözler (1970)
- Altın Koza (1969) as Self - Winner
- Autumn Winds (1969) as Nalan
- Sana Dönmeyeceğim (1969) as Leyla Taner
- Hot Gypsy (1969) as Gelincik
- Aşk Mabudesi (1969) as Leyla
- Is It My Fault? (1969) as Müvin
- Fosforlu Cevriyem (1969) as Necla
- They Call Me Fosforlu (1969) as Fosforlu
- Buruk Acı (1969) as Ülker Demirel
- Buruk Acı (1969) Writer
- I Want to Die With You (1969) as Selma
- Kölen Olayım (1969) as Azize
- Kadın Severse (1968) as Leyla
- Artık Sevmeyeceğim (1968)
- The Jail Bride (1968) as Çengi Naciye
- Aşk Eski Bir Yalan (1968) as Handan
- My Prostitute Love (1968) as Sabiha
- Ağla Gözlerim (1968) as Leyla
- Kadın İntikamı (1968) as Handan
- Ayşem (1968) as Ayşe
- The Most Beautiful Woman in the World (1968)
- Abbase Sultan (1968) as Abbase
- The Beautiful Coffee Girl (1968) as Nermin
- Mother (1967) as Döndü
- Tapılacak Kadın (1967)
- The Immortal Woman (1967) as Serap
- Sinekli Bakkal (1967) as Rabia
- Kara Duvaklı Gelin (1967) as Perihan
- Her Zaman Kalbimdesin (1967) as Fatma
- A Mountain Tale (1967) as Lale
- Ayrılsak da Beraberiz (1967) as Fatma
- The Crying Woman (1967) as Şükran, Leyla
- Kelepçeli Melek (1967) as Nevin Erdem
- The Sinful Woman (1966) as Türkan
- Golden Earrings (1966) as Aylin
- The Wedding Night (1966) as Zeynep / Tülin
- The Evening Sun (1966) as Jülide
- The Wren (1966) as Feride
- The Woman Of My Life (1966)
- Anaların Günahı (1966) as Sevim
- Meyhanenin Gülü (1966) as Gül
- The Stranger's Daughter (1966) as Nazan
- The Revenge of the Angels (1966) as Türkan/Peri
- Black Rose (1966) as Gül
- The Washer Beauty (1966)
- Virago (1966) as Nermin
- Karanfilli Kadın (1966)
- Kenarın Dilberi (1966)
- Wild Bride (1965) as Ayşegül Arsev
- The Bread Seller Woman (1965) as Ayşe/Zehra/Leyla
- My Neighbor's Chicken (1965) as Türkan
- Bitch (1965) as Naciye/Türkan
- I’m Not Worthy of You (1965) as Türkan
- A Strange Wedding (1965) as Zeynep Gökalp
- Elveda Sevgilim (1965) as Türkan Kadiroğlu
- Seven Kadın Unutmaz (1965) as Türkan
- Black Eyes (1965) as Türkan
- Farewell Kiss (1965) as Türkan
- Wind of Youth (1964) as Fatma Nur Erden
- Bücür (1964)
- Some Like it Hot (1964) as Gülten
- Anasının Kuzusu (1964)
- Gözleri Ömre Bedel (1964) as Leyla Arseren
- After Years (1964) as Berna Ekmekçigil
- Dağlar Aslanı Ali Efe (1964)
- The Orphan Girl (1964)
- Adanalı Tayfur Kardeşler (1964) as Türkan
- Mualla (1964) as Mualla
- The Bomb Girl (1964) as Leyla
- The Adventure Woman (1964)
- Fate Knocks (1964) as Leyla
- The Angry Young Man (1964) as Avukat Sevil
- Badem Şekeri (1963) as Güner Pirinçeken
- Osman Killed Me (1963) as Türkan
- Young Girls (1963) as Eylül
- Dear Madam (1963) as Türkan Bayraktar
- Ayşecik Canımın İçi (1963)
- Bitter Love (1963)
- İki Kocalı Kadın (1963) as Sibel
- Küçük Beyin Kısmeti (1963) as Pervin
- Naughty Girl (1963) as Suna
- Bütün Suçumuz Sevmek (1963) as Türkan
- The Stolen Love (1963) as Aysel / Günsel
- The King of Mountains (1963) as Türkan Sultan
- The Man in Glass (1962)
- Dikmen Yıldızı (1962)
- What a Sweet Thing (1962) as Canan
- Acı Hayat (1962) as Nermin
- The Tough Groom (1962) as Gönül
- Biz de Arkadaş mıyız? (1962) as Nihal
- Ümitler Kırılınca (1962) as Oya
- Red Carnations (1962) as Türkan
- The Love Race (1962) as Zeynep
- Lekeli Kadın (1962) as Türkan Güneş
- Billur Köşk (1962)
- Allah Seviniz Dedi (1962)
- I Loved an Outlaw (1962)
- Siyah Melek (1961) as Nesrin
- Kardeş Uğruna (1961)
- Afacan (1961)
- The Charming Bandit (1961) as Emine
- Angels are My Witnesses (1961) as Zeynep
- Otobüs Yolcuları (1961) as Nevin
- Kaderin Önüne Geçilmez (1961)
- The Shameless Man (1961) as Sevim
- Dikenli Gül (1961) as Gül
- Remember, Darling (1961) as Türkan
- Heart to Heart (1961) as Nazan
- Love and Punch (1961) as Tülin
- The Wind of Love (1960) as Nil
- Köyde Bir Kız Sevdim (1960)
- Güzeller Resmi Geçidi (1960) as Ayşe Güner
- Atıf Hoca En Çok Kadınları Sevdi
Frequently Asked Questions
What movies or TV shows is Türkan Şoray best known for?
Türkan Şoray is widely recognized for notable roles and projects including Mürüvvetsiz Mürüvvet (2004), Sweet Life (2001), The Man Who Saved Christmas (2002), Inspector Späck (2010).
When and where was Türkan Şoray born?
Türkan Şoray was born on June 28, 1945 in İstanbul, Türkiye.
How many credits does Türkan Şoray have?
Türkan Şoray has accumulated over 226 film and television credits across a career spanning from 1960 to 2019.
What is Türkan Şoray's background in cinema and television?
Türkan Şoray is a Turkish actress, writer, and film director who was born on June 28, 1945, in Istanbul, Türkiye. Known as the Sultan of the Cinema of Turkey, she began her career in 1960. She won her first award as the most successful actress at the first Antalya Golden Orange Film Festival for the movie Acı Hayat, wh...
Türkan Şoray by the numbers
Age in their best-rated roles
- Second Spring (1998) as Hanım Meriç — aged about 53
- Sweet Life (2001) as Sevinç Yıldırım — aged about 56
- The Girl with the Red Scarf (1977) as Asya — aged about 32
- Sinekli Bakkal (1967) as Rabia — aged about 22
- Osman Killed Me (1963) as Türkan — aged about 18
- I’m Not Worthy of You (1965) as Türkan — aged about 20
What viewers say
No comments yet. Be the first to share your take on Türkan Şoray.