Nurgül Yeşilçay, born on March 26, 1976 in Afyonkarahisar, Turkey, is a renowned Turkish actress who has become a prominent figure in the world of television and cinema, particularly since the 2000s. Her passion for acting, emotional depth, and versatile performances in numerous roles have made her a household name in Turkish entertainment.
Born and raised in Afyonkarahisar, she completed her middle and high school education in Izmir. Nurgül graduated from the Theatre Department of Anadolu University in 2001. Her journey into acting started early, while she was still in university. Her breakthrough role was 'Gülsüm' in the TV series 'Ikinci Bahar,' which brought her into the spotlight.
In 2002, she furthered her fame with her role as 'Bahar Karadağ' in the hit TV series 'Asmalı Konak,' directed by Çağan Irmak. That same year, she played alongside popular singer Teoman in the film 'Mumya Firarda.' In 2003, she continued her journey with the role of 'Bahar Karadağ' in the sequel film 'Asmalı Konak: Hayat,' sharing the lead role with Özcan Deniz.
In 2005, she won the Best Actress Award at the 12th Adana Golden Boll Film Festival for her role as 'Kostak Emine' in the movie 'Eğreti Gelin,' directed by Atıf Yılmaz. Also in 2005, she starred in the TV series 'Melekler Adası' with Hande Ataizi.
Nurgül Yeşilçay's roles have varied widely, from her role as a Turkish lesbian girl 'Ayten Öztürk' in Fatih Akın's film 'Yaşamın Kıyısında,' which competed for the Golden Palm and won the 'Best Screenplay' award at the 60th Cannes Film Festival in 2007, to playing 'Ezo Gelin' in the TV series of the same name.
She took on the lead role with Murat Yıldırım in the TV series 'Aşk ve Ceza,' which began airing on ATV on January 5, 2010. After her divorce from Cem Özer in February 2011, she starred in the TV series 'Sensiz Olmaz,' broadcast on Show TV. She then appeared in the series 'Sultan,' which aired on Kanal D in 2012.
In 2013, Yeşilçay played a variety of roles on the big and small screen. Besides starring in the movie 'Aşk Kırmızı,' she also made guest appearances on popular TV series like 'Galip Derviş' and 'İşler Güçler.' Her role in the sitcom 'Bebek İşi' as the character Candan was also well received by audiences.
2014 was a fruitful year for Yeşilçay. Not only did she star in the movie 'Gece,' but she also took on a lead role in the crime drama series 'Cinayet.' Her success continued into the following year when she played the character Gülseren in the smash hit drama 'Paramparça.' This role was so memorable that even though her character died in 2016 due to script changes, her performance was not easily forgotten by the audience.
From 2016 to 2017, Yeşilçay brought to life the iconic character of Kösem Sultan in the historical drama series 'Muhteşem Yüzyıl Kösem.' Then, in 2018, she starred as the main character in the drama 'Gülperi.'
In 2020 and 2021, she played the leading role in the drama series 'Kefaret,' which aired on FOX. She was cast alongside actor Mert Fırat.
Yeşilçay's latest role was as the character Alanur Yıldız in the series 'Veda Mektubu,' which began airing in 2023.
With a career spanning more than two decades, Nurgül Yeşilçay continues to be one of the most sought-after actresses in Turkish cinema and television. Her ability to adapt to different genres and bring authenticity to a variety of roles has cemented her reputation as one of the most versatile and talented actresses in the industry.