Birce Akalay Explained

Birce Akalay
Birth Date:19 June 1984
Birth Place:Istanbul, Turkey
Education:Haliç University Conservatory
Occupation:Actress
Years Active:2006–present
Spouse:

    Birce Akalay (born 19 June 1984) is one of the most beautiful and famous women in the Turkish acting industry, who has made a name for herself internationally. She has appeared in over 20 films and TV series, gaining popularity for her beauty and excellent performances. She has also presented sports on national television in Turkey and anchored many programs, making her name associated with sports and TV anchoring for about five years. She is also multi-talented: she draws, paints, writes, and used to do ballet but had to quit due to a knee injury. Projects such as the series 'Yer Gök Aşk' and the renowned play '7 Kocalı Hürmüz,' directed by Müjdat Gezen, are among her notable works. However, it was in 2017, playing the doctor Asli Çinar alongside actor Ibrahim Çelikkol, that she achieved her most successful series, 'Siyah Beyaz Aşk,' which became famous not only in Europe but also in several countries in the Americas. In 2020, she had 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 leading role in Star TV's series Babil, which premiered in January 2020. In 2022, she starred alongside actor İbrahim Çelikkol again in the Netflix series Kuş Uçuşu (As The Crow Flies),which is currently in its third season.

    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.[1] She graduated from theatre department of Pera Fine Arts High School in 2003.[2] 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.[2] 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.[2] As of 2020, she is a lecturer at Haliç University's theatre department, teaching acting courses.[3] 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.[2] She had her first cinematic role in the same year with a part in the movie .[2] 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.[2]

    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.[2]

    In 2013, she portrayed Ayhan Aydan in historical series Ben Onu Çok Sevdim based on the life of Prime Minister of Turkey Adnan Menderes.[2]

    She continued her TV career with roles in child series Küçük Ağa (2014–2015), where she acted alongside Sarp Levendoğlu, who later became her husband. Also starred rom-com Evli ve Öfkeli (2015–2016) and youth series Hayat Bazen Tatlıdır (2016–2017). In 2017, she starred as Asli Çinar alongside actor Ibrahim Çelikkol in Siyah Beyaz Aşk,[2] which was a huge success, leading the pair to garner a legion of fans not only from Turkey but also from other countries.

    After playing a leading role in the TV series Ağlama Anne in late 2018, she didn't appear in any productions for 1 year.[4] [5]

    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. In January 2020, she began portraying İlay in Star TV's series Babil.[6] Akalay has also continued her career on stage and in 2020 appeared as "Zilha" in the play Keşanlı Ali Destanı. Her cousin, Barış Murat Yağcı, is also an actor.[7]

    In 2022, Birce Akalay starred in two Netflix series: 'Mezarlik' as Önem and 'Kuş Uçuşu' (As The Crow Flies) as Lale Kiran. In the latter, she reunited with her former co-star Ibrahim Çelilkkol. These two series marked her first major projects, and with the help of Netflix's global audience, Birce Akalay's fame quickly rose. 'Kuş Uçuşu' has already aired its 2nd and 3rd seasons.[8]

    Filmography

    Film

    Film
    YearTitleRoleNotes
    2008SevimGuest
    2009Sizi SeviyorumEdaLeading role
    ZeynepGuest
    2013Re-EraScientist 1Short film
    2016DeliormanlıHülyaLeading role
    2024Zaferin RengiHalide Edib AdıvarGuest

    Web series

    Web Series
    YearTitleRoleNotes
    2021KateLeading role of Episode
    2022–presentKuş UçuşuLale KıranLeading role
    MezarlıkÖnem Özülkü

    TV series

    TV Series
    YearTitleRoleNotes
    2007AsiZeynepGuest
    2007KaderLamiaLeading role
    2007Senin UğrunaÖzlem
    2009Alayına İsyanSevtap
    2009Kış MasalıZişanSupporting role
    2010–2012Yer Gök AşkHavva Karagül Leading role
    2013Böyle BitmesinAylinGuest
    2013Ben Onu Çok SevdimAyhan AydanLeading role
    2014–2015Küçük AğaSinem Acar
    2015–2016Evli ve ÖfkeliEsra
    2016–2017Hayat Bazen TatlıdırHayat Sarıyaz
    2017–2018Siyah Beyaz AşkAslı Çınar Aslan
    2018Ağlama AnneAlev Fırıncıoğlu
    2020Babilİlay Yücedağ
    2021Son YazSare Akay
    2023Bir Derdim VarDr. Nilüfer Toska

    TV programs

    Programs
    YearTitleNotes
    2004–2006Spor GecesiPresenter
    2005Şampiyonlar Ligi FinaliPresenter (Turkish version)
    Şampiyonlar Ligi ÖzelPresenter
    20068. EtapPresenter
    2009Sinema DünyasıPresenter
    2019Benimle SöyleJudge

    Commercial

    Commercial
    yearCompany/ProductNotes
    2014Johnson & JohnsonAdvertising face
    Orkid
    AlgidaSummer campaign
    2021Şölen Boombastic Fantastik BarAs a voiceover
    2022LancômeBrand face
    Neutrogena
    Dagi
    2023Versace Advertising face
    Jack Daniel's Brand face
    2024NespressoBrand face
    BMW

    Theatre

    YearTitleRoleWriterDirectorNotes
    2017–2019Yedi Kocalı Hürmüz[9] HürmüzSadık ŞendilMüjdat Gezen
    2020Keşanlı Ali Destanı[10] ZilhaHaldun TanerYücel Erten
    2021The Taming of the Shrew[11] Katherina (Kate) MinolaWilliam Shakespeareİbrahim Çiçek

    Awards and nominations

    YearAwardCategoryWorkResult
    2017Barrier-Free Life Foundation 8th Bests of the Year AwardsBest Theatre ActressYedi Kocalı Hürmüz[12]
    20189th Karadeniz Technical University (KTÜ) Media AwardsBest ActressSiyah Beyaz Aşk
    Istanbul University 1453 AwardsBest Actress of the Year
    2nd Bosphorus AwardsMost Successful Actress
    45th Golden Butterfly AwardsBest Actress[13]
    2019Okan University Bests of the Year AwardsBest TV ActressAğlama Anne[14] [15]
    2nd Best of Rumeli AwardsBest Actress[16]
    20203rd International İzmir Artemis Film FestivalBest Actress (TV series)Babil
    2021We Asked the Students Project AwardsBest Actress
    20226th Distinctive International Arab Festivals AwardsInternational Actress of the YearKuş Uçuşu
    Mezarlık
    [17]

    References

    18. https://www.kanald.com.tr/siyah-beyaz-ask Birce and Ibrahim in Syiah Beyaz Ask

    Notes and References

    1. Web site: Bir deneyim başarısızlıkla sonuçlandı diye neden evrenin mucizelerine kendimi kapatayım? Aşk dünyanın en güzel şeyi.... Hürriyet. 19 March 2017. 18 September 2021.
    2. News: Birce Akalay kimdir? Güzel oyuncu kaç yaşında, nerede doğdu? İşte Birce Akalay'ın az bilinenleri.. . 23 March 2018 . 2 March 2020.
    3. Web site: Tiyatro Bölümü Öğretim Görevlimiz Birce Akalay'ın Rektörümüz Sayın Melih Bulu'yu Ziyareti. Haliç University. 11 May 2020. 18 September 2021. 31 August 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210831060912/https://www.halic.edu.tr/tr/haberler/tiyatro-bolumu-ogretim-gorevlimiz-birce-akalayin-rektorumuz-sayin-melih-buluyu-ziyareti. dead.
    4. News: Güzelliğini ondan almış! İşte Ağlama Anne dizisinde oynayan Birce Akalay'ın annesi . Olay.com.tr . 19 December 2018 . 2 March 2020.
    5. Web site: Ayhan Aydan'ı oynamak zormuş | STAR . 19 November 2013 .
    6. News: Birce Akalay ile pazar sohbeti . . 24 February 2020 . 2 March 2020.
    7. Web site: Birce Akalay, Kuzeni Barış Murat Yağcı'nın Sitemini Duyunca Suratı Asıldı. Haberler.com. 21 August 2018. 7 July 2020.
    8. Web site: 2022-06-11 . Birce Akalay: A Nobel Personality and a Fascinating Beauty Celebrities . 2023-05-03 . DoYouKnowTurkey . en-US.
    9. Web site: 7 Kocalı Hürmüz tiyatrolar.com.tr. 3 March 2021. 17 October 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20171017135733/https://tiyatrolar.com.tr/tiyatro/7-kocali-hurmuz. tiyatrolar.com.tr.
    10. Web site: Keşanlı Ali Destanı tiyatrolar.com.tr. 3 March 2021. 23 September 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200923032336/https://tiyatrolar.com.tr/tiyatro/kesanli-ali-destani-4. tiyatrolar.com.tr.
    11. Web site: Dijital Sahne #7 : Hırçın Kız. 19 February 2021. 18 February 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210218164632/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JAz_napmAhM&t=2s. 18 February 2021. Zorlu Performing Arts Center.
    12. News: Engelsiz Yaşam Vakfı 'Yılın En İyileri'ni seçti. 7 November 2022. 16 May 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180516095731/https://www.haberturk.com/engelsiz-yasam-vakfi-yilin-en-iyilerini-secti-magazin-haberleri-1968213-magazin. 16 May 2018. live. Habertürk.
    13. News: 45. Pantene Altın Kelebek'te Final Turu Başladı!. 3 September 2021. 12 December 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20181212140605/https://www.turkiyehaberajansi.com/45-pantene-altin-kelebek-te-final-turu-basladi/114696/. 30 November 2018. turkiyehaberajansi.com.
    14. News: Yılın En'leri Ödüllerimiz sahiplerini buldu - İstanbul Okan Üniversitesi. 30 April 2021. 22 April 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210422125943/https://www.okan.edu.tr/haber/2962/yilin-enleri-odullerimiz-sahiplerini-buldu/. 14 March 2019. live. okan.edu.tr.
    15. Web site: OKAN'DA YILIN ENLERİ 2018. 30 April 2021. 19 April 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210419233157/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XxGPyXND3ZE. 13 March 2019. live. okanedu.
    16. News: Best Of Rumeli" Ödülleri Sahiplerini Buldu. 7 November 2022. 7 November 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20221107134307/https://www.haberler.com/guncel/best-of-rumeli-odulleri-sahiplerini-buldu-11973449-haberi/. 22 April 2019. live. haberler.com.
    17. News: Birce Akalay Dubai'de ödül aldı. 7 November 2022. 7 November 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20221107130357/https://www.hurriyet.com.tr/kelebek/televizyon/birce-akalay-dubaide-odul-aldi-42166049. 6 November 2022. live. Hürriyet.