Birce Akalay
Akalay posing for an interview with Cumhuriyet during the promotion of Keşanlı Ali Destanı in 2020 (photo by Vedat Arık)
Born (1984-06-19) 19 June 1984
Istanbul, Turkey
EducationHaliç University Conservatory
OccupationActress
Years active2006–present
Spouses
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(m. 2011; div. 2012)​
    ​
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    (m. 2014; div. 2017)​

    Birce Akalay (born 19 June 1984) is a Turkish actress.

    Akalay, who had her breakthrough with a role in the TV series Yer Gök Aşk as Havva, has appeared in various TV series and movies to this date. In 2017, she was cast in the famous play 7 Kocalı Hürmüz, directed by Müjdat Gezen.[1] In 2020, she had a leading role in the famous play Keşanlı Ali Destanı and portrayed the character of "Zilha". At the same time, she continued her career on television with a leading role in Star TV's series Babil, which premiered in January 2020.[1]

    Life and career

    Akalay was born on 19 June 1984 in Istanbul. She started ballet at the age of four and was injured at the age of sixteen.[2] She graduated from theatre department of Pera Fine Arts High School in 2003.[3] She then enrolled in Istanbul University with a major in theatre analysis but left the school at third grade to pursue her dream of becoming a theatre actress.[3] Since she had reached the age of twenty, she lost the chance to win a place in state conservatory but instead won a seat in Haliç University Conservatory for theatre studies and finished her education there.[3] As of 2020, she is a lecturer at Haliç University's theatre department, teaching acting courses.[4] In 2004, she competed in Miss Turkey and finished in the 3rd place. Subsequently, she represented her country in Miss Europe.

    In 2007, she made her television debut with a supporting role in the hit series Asi.[3] She had her first cinematic role in the same year with a part in the movie Son Ders: Aşk ve Üniversite.[3] She got her first leading role in television with the series Kader, playing the character of Lamia, and was then cast in the series Senin Uğruna in the same year.[3]

    After playing supporting roles in Alayına İsyan and Kış Masalı in 2009, her breakthrough came with her role as Havva in 2010 series Yer Gök Aşk, which was well received by critics and fans.[3]

    In 2013, she portrayed Ayhan Aydan in historical series Ben Onu Çok Sevdim based on the life of Prime Minister of Turkey Adnan Menderes.[3]

    She continued her TV career with roles in child series Küçük Ağa (2014–2015), rom-com Evli ve Öfkeli (2015–2016), youth series Hayat Bazen Tatlıdır (2016–2017) and Siyah Beyaz Aşk (2017–2018).[3] After playing a leading role in the TV series Ağlama Anne in late 2018, she didn't appear in any productions for 1 year.[5][6]

    In the meantime, she started teaching as a lecturer at Haliç University Theater Department and took part in the music program Benimle Söyle as the chief judge.[3] In January 2020, she began portraying İlay in Star TV's series Babil.[1] Akalay has also continued her career on stage and in 2020 appeared as "Zilha" in the play Keşanlı Ali Destanı.[1] Her cousin, Barış Murat Yağcı, is also an actor.[7]

    In 2022, Birce Akalay starred in two Netflix shows, she played as Lale Kıran in Kuş Uçuşu and as Önem Özülkü in Mezarlık.These two series were the first major projects of her and with the help of Netflix's global audience Birce Akalay's fame was rapidly increased and 2nd and 3rd seasons of the series are contracted.[8]

    Filmography

    Film

    Film
    Year Title Role Notes
    2008 Son Ders: Aşk ve Üniversite Sevim Supporting role
    2009 Sizi Seviyorum Eda
    Nefes: Vatan Sağolsun Zeynep
    2013 Re-Era Scientist 1 Short film
    2016 Deliormanlı Hülya Leading role
    2024 Zaferin Rengi Halide Edib Adıvar

    Web series

    Web Series
    Year Title Role Notes
    2021 Dijital Sahne: Hırçın Kız Kate Leading role of Episode
    2022–present Kuş Uçuşu Lale Kıran Leading role
    Mezarlık Önem Özülkü

    TV series

    TV Series
    Year Title Role Notes
    2007 Asi Zeynep Supporting role
    2007 Kader Lamia Leading role
    2007 Senin Uğruna Özlem
    2009 Alayına İsyan Sevtap
    2009 Kış Masalı Zişan Supporting role
    2010–2012 Yer Gök Aşk Havva Karagül Leading role
    2013 Böyle Bitmesin Aylin Guest
    2013 Ben Onu Çok Sevdim Ayhan Aydan Leading role
    2014–2015 Küçük Ağa Sinem Acar
    2015–2016 Evli ve Öfkeli Esra
    2016–2017 Hayat Bazen Tatlıdır Hayat Sarıyaz
    2017–2018 Siyah Beyaz Aşk Aslı Çınar Aslan
    2018 Ağlama Anne Alev Fırıncıoğlu
    2020 Babil İlay Yücedağ
    2021 Son Yaz Sare Akay
    2023 Bir Derdim Var Dr. Nilüfer Toska

    TV programs

    Programs
    Year Title Notes
    2004–2006 Spor Gecesi Presenter
    2005 Şampiyonlar Ligi Finali Presenter (Turkish version)
    Şampiyonlar Ligi Özel Presenter
    2006 8. Etap Presenter
    2009 Sinema Dünyası Presenter
    2019 Benimle Söyle Judge

    Commercial

    Commercial
    year Company/Product Notes
    2014 Johnson & Johnson
    Orkid
    Algida Summer campaign
    2021 Şölen Boombastic Fantastik Bar As a voiceover
    2022 Lancôme Advertising face
    Neutrogena Brand face
    Dagi
    2023 Versace Advertising face
    Jack Daniel's Brand face

    Theatre

    Year Title Role Writer Director Notes
    2017–2019 Yedi Kocalı Hürmüz[9] Hürmüz Sadık Şendil Müjdat Gezen
    2020 Keşanlı Ali Destanı[10] Zilha Haldun Taner Yücel Erten
    2021 The Taming of the Shrew[11] Katherina (Kate) Minola William Shakespeare İbrahim Çiçek

    Awards and nominations

    Year Award Category Work Result Ref.
    2017 Barrier-Free Life Foundation 8th Bests of the Year Awards Best Theatre Actress Yedi Kocalı Hürmüz Won [12]
    2018 9th Karadeniz Technical University (KTÜ) Media Awards Best Actress Siyah Beyaz Aşk Won
    Istanbul University 1453 Awards Best Actress of the Year Won
    2nd Bosphorus Awards Most Successful Actress Won
    45th Golden Butterfly Awards Best Actress Nominated [13]
    2019 Okan University Bests of the Year Awards Best TV Actress Ağlama Anne Won [14][15]
    2nd Best of Rumeli Awards Best Actress Won [16]
    2020 3rd International İzmir Artemis Film Festival Best Actress (TV series) Babil Nominated
    2021 We Asked the Students Project Awards Best Actress Won
    2022 6th Distinctive International Arab Festivals Awards International Actress of the Year Kuş Uçuşu
    Mezarlık    		 Won [17]

    References

    1. 1 2 3 4 "Birce Akalay ile pazar sohbeti". Cumhuriyet. 24 February 2020. Retrieved 2 March 2020.
    2. ↑ "Bir deneyim başarısızlıkla sonuçlandı diye neden evrenin mucizelerine kendimi kapatayım? Aşk dünyanın en güzel şeyi..." Hürriyet. 19 March 2017. Retrieved 18 September 2021.
    3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 "Birce Akalay kimdir? Güzel oyuncu kaç yaşında, nerede doğdu? İşte Birce Akalay'ın az bilinenleri". Sözcü. 23 March 2018. Retrieved 2 March 2020.
    4. ↑ "Tiyatro Bölümü Öğretim Görevlimiz Birce Akalay'ın Rektörümüz Sayın Melih Bulu'yu Ziyareti". Haliç University. 11 May 2020. Archived from the original on 31 August 2021. Retrieved 18 September 2021.
    5. ↑ "Güzelliğini ondan almış! İşte Ağlama Anne dizisinde oynayan Birce Akalay'ın annesi". Olay.com.tr. 19 December 2018. Retrieved 2 March 2020.
    6. ↑ "Ayhan Aydan'ı oynamak zormuş | STAR". 19 November 2013.
    7. ↑ "Birce Akalay, Kuzeni Barış Murat Yağcı'nın Sitemini Duyunca Suratı Asıldı". Haberler.com. 21 August 2018. Retrieved 7 July 2020.
    8. ↑ "Birce Akalay: A Nobel Personality and a Fascinating Beauty | Celebrities". DoYouKnowTurkey. 11 June 2022. Retrieved 3 May 2023.
    9. ↑ "7 Kocalı Hürmüz | tiyatrolar.com.tr". tiyatrolar.com.tr. Archived from the original on 17 October 2017. Retrieved 3 March 2021.
    10. ↑ "Keşanlı Ali Destanı | tiyatrolar.com.tr". tiyatrolar.com.tr. Archived from the original on 23 September 2020. Retrieved 3 March 2021.
    11. ↑ "Dijital Sahne #7 : Hırçın Kız". Zorlu Performing Arts Center. 18 February 2021. Archived from the original on 18 February 2021. Retrieved 19 February 2021.
    12. ↑ "Engelsiz Yaşam Vakfı 'Yılın En İyileri'ni seçti". Habertürk. 16 May 2018. Archived from the original on 16 May 2018. Retrieved 7 November 2022.
    13. ↑ "45. Pantene Altın Kelebek'te Final Turu Başladı!". turkiyehaberajansi.com. 30 November 2018. Archived from the original on 12 December 2018. Retrieved 3 September 2021.
    14. ↑ "Yılın En'leri Ödüllerimiz sahiplerini buldu - İstanbul Okan Üniversitesi". okan.edu.tr. 14 March 2019. Archived from the original on 22 April 2021. Retrieved 30 April 2021.
    15. ↑ "OKAN'DA YILIN ENLERİ 2018". okanedu. 13 March 2019. Archived from the original on 19 April 2021. Retrieved 30 April 2021.
    16. ↑ "Best Of Rumeli" Ödülleri Sahiplerini Buldu". haberler.com. 22 April 2019. Archived from the original on 7 November 2022. Retrieved 7 November 2022.
    17. ↑ "Birce Akalay Dubai'de ödül aldı". Hürriyet. 6 November 2022. Archived from the original on 7 November 2022. Retrieved 7 November 2022.
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