Meryem Sarah Uzerli (; born 12 August 1982) is a German Turkish actress best known for her starring role as Hürrem Sultan in Muhteşem Yüzyıl (2011–2013), Kovan (2018) and RU (2024). She is the recipient of two Golden Butterfly Awards.
Early life Uzerli was born on 12 August 1982, to Hüseyin, from Turkey and Ursula from Germany. Her mother was head of a university examination office. Her father was a lecturer in social pedagogy. Meryem grew up in Kassel and attended a Waldorf school. She has two older brothers and an older sister, Canan, who is a jazz musician. Her maternal great-grandmother was a Croat. Due to her father's nationality, she has both Turkish-German citizenship.
Career
2011–13: Muhteşem Yüzyıl She made her acting debut with minor parts in German productions. She later made minor appearances in the television series Notruf Hafenkante (2010) and Ein Fall für zwei (2010). Uzerli is also known for her roles in German films like Journey of No Return (2010) and Jetzt aber Ballett (2010). At the end of 2010, she was chosen by Meral Okay for her first leading role in the Turkish TV series Muhteşem Yüzyıl (2011–2013).
Uzerli's most known breakout role is as Hürrem Sultan in the historical television drama series Muhteşem Yüzyıl, directed by the Taylan Brothers. In 2010, after an eight-month search to find the best actress for this role, she was chosen by Meral Okay, the series' screenwriter, and Timur Savcı, the series' producer. About her selection, she said: "Until one day the phone rang, I was invited for a casting in Turkey, and then immediately I started living in Istanbul almost full time." She lived in a hotel for two years during the shooting of Muhteşem Yüzyıl. She shared the leading role with Halit Ergenç, Okan Yalabık and Nebahat Çehre. She won the Golden Butterfly Award for Best Actress for this part in 2012. In 2013, she left the series due to health concerns, reportedly a burnout. From episode 103 and onwards, Vahide Perçin was cast in to play an older version of Hürrem.
2014–present: Gecenin Kraliçesi and Annemin Yarası At the end of 2014, Uzerli signed a contract with O3, the Turkish production company of MBC Group. As of December 2014, she was still living in Berlin, but planning to move to Istanbul. In December 2014, Star TV released a video and a photo of Uzerli introducing her as one of its stars in 2015. In October 2015, she was again introduced among the TV's stars for 2016. About her future, she says: "I am trying to build on my international success within any industry where actors are respected as artists, and where I can find great scripts that allow me to delve into a story that leaves the here and now behind." In March 2015, it was finalized that Uzerli would share the leading role with Murat Yıldırım in her new TV series. The series' name was later announced as Gecenin Kraliçesi. It is directed by Muhteşem Yüzyıl directors, the Taylan Brothers. Some of the scenes for this series were filmed in Cannes, France. The shooting later continued in Rize, Turkey. It premiered on Star TV in January 2016.
In addition to her career in television, Uzerli also appeared in a cinema movie in 2016, titled Annemin Yarası. The film was released in March 2016. Her co-stars include Ozan Güven, Okan Yalabık, and Belçim Bilgin. Between 2016 and 2017, she appeared in a guest role on Eşkiya Dünyaya Hükümdar Olmaz. In 2017, she continued her movie career by appearing in Cingöz Recai opposite Kenan İmirzalıoğlu, although the film was not a box office success. Later in the same year, she shared the leading role with Özcan Deniz and Aslı Enver in the movie Öteki Taraf. In 2019, Uzerli auditioned for a role in the third season of the Netflix original series Dark. She also appeared as the lead role in the movie Kovan, the proceeds of which were donated to Haluk Levent's Ahbap foundation. In 2024 she starred in the show RU playing the character of Reyan. The series was broadcast on the Turkish digital platform GAİN. In October 2024 the series was renewed for a second season. In 2025, she was a guest star in the first season of a Turkish network show Sakir Pasa Ailesi: Mucizeler ve Skandallar.
As a model, she is the face of Blue Diamond, Maison Novague and Morlin Bron eyewear. She was also the face of Russian brand Faberlic and Trendyol Arabia. In 2025, she starred in a limited series called Antalya Gambit which premiered on YouTube and was used as a promotional material for Türkiye's global tourism brand Go Türkiye.
Personal life On 10 February 2014, she gave birth to a girl, Lara Jemima. A second daughter, Lily, was born on 8 January 2021.
Filmography Film Year Title Role Notes2008 Menage A Trois Madeline Short film Jetzt vorbei2009 Das total verrückte Wochenende Prostitute Wiedergeburt Short film The Line Anna Schulterblick Lauf um deine Liebe LUME Sterne über dem Eis Student2010 Journey of No Return Stewardess Das ist ja das Leben selbst The Dark Chest of Wonders Short film Urbane Dater Lover's Guide Mara2016 Annemin Yarası Marija Main role2017 Cingöz Recai Göze Öteki Taraf Sarah2018 Kovan Ayşe2024 Güzel Bir Rüya Meryem Television Year Title Role Notes2008 Ein total verrücktes Wochenende Inga Lindström: Hannas Fest Britta Protagonist2009 Hayat Trailer2010 Der Staatsanwalt Episode: "Mordswut" Notruf Hafenkante Episode: "Alles Lüge" Ein Fall für zwei Ankel Episode: "Verlust" Jetzt aber Ballett Sasha Kitano TV movie WALF: We All Love Football Lena TV series2011–2013 Muhteşem Yüzyıl Hürrem Sultan Main role2016 Gecenin Kraliçesi Selin2016–2017 Eşkiya Dünyaya Hükümdar Olmaz Suzi Supporting role2024RUReyanMain role2024–2025 Sakir Pasa Ailesi: Mucizeler ve Skandallar Rozali Supporting role
Awards and nominations Year Award Category Nominee Result 2010 47th International Antalya Golden Orange Film Festival Special Jury Prize Journey of No Return 2011 24th Tüketici Academy Award Best Female LeadMuhteşem Yüzyıl 2011 Silver Horse Award Best Actress 2011 TV Stars Award 2011 38th Golden Butterfly Award Special Prize 2011 Marmara University Best Actress 2011 TV Oscars 2011 2nd AyakliGazete.com Awards 2011 Turkish Antalya Television Award Best Drama Actress 2012 Turkey GQ Awards Woman of the Year 2012 39th Golden Butterfly Award Best ActressMuhteşem Yüzyıl 2012 Galatasaray University Best Film and Serial Actress 2012 Istanbul Kültür University Best Drama Series Actress 2012 Golden MDG Award Best Drama Lead Turkey 2012 Magazinci.com Honorary Awards Best Actress 2012 Magazine Journalists Association: Golden Objective Awards Best Actress of the Year 2012 Yıldız Technical University Most Popular Series Actress 2012 3rd AyakliGazete.com Awards Best Actress 2012 Turkish Antalya Television Award Best Drama Actress 2012 Aydın University Istanbul Most Popular Series Actress 2012 Radikal Awards Best Actress 2012 Andy-Ar Awards Best Actress of the Year 2012 Esenler 2012 Most Successful People Names Best Actress of the Year 2013 11th Stars Award Ceremony Most admired TV series Actress of 2012 2013 20th İtü Emös Achievement Awards Best Actress 2013 Turkish Antalya Television Award Best Drama Actress 2013 Yıldız Technical University Most Popular Series Actress 2013 4th AyakliGazete.com Awards Best Actress 2013 Crystal Mouse Awards 2016 7th Beirut International Awards Festival Best International Actress Eşkıya Dünyaya Hükümdar Olmaz 2020 Cana Dorada Film Festival Best International Actress Kovan 2020 Chelsea Film Festival Best Actress 2024 Harper's Bazaar Women Empowerment Award
References
External links
Meryem Uzerli: The Magnificent Hürrem Sultan