Birce Akalay (born 19 June 1984) is a Turkish actress. She has appeared in over 20 films and TV series, gaining popularity for her 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. Projects such as the series Yer Gök Aşk and the play 7 Kocalı Hürmüz, directed by Müjdat Gezen, are among her notable works. However, it was in 2017, playing the doctor Aslı Çınar alongside actor İbrahim 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.
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. She graduated from theatre department of Pera Fine Arts High School in 2003. 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. 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. As of 2020, she is a lecturer at Haliç University's theatre department, teaching acting courses. In 2004, she competed in Miss Turkey and finished in the 3rd place. Subsequently, she represented her country in Miss Europe. Her cousin, Barış Murat Yağcı, is also an actor.
In 2007, she made her television debut with a supporting role in the hit series Asi. She had her first cinematic role in the same year with a part in the movie Son Ders: Aşk ve Üniversite. 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.
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.
In 2013, she portrayed Ayhan Aydan in historical series Ben Onu Çok Sevdim based on the life of Prime Minister of Turkey Adnan Menderes.
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, which was a hugely popular, leading the pair to garner a legion of fans not only from Turkey but also from other countries. But could not garner success in terms of television ratings. The show was cancelled at episode 32 due to low ratings and management change at Kanal D.
After playing a leading role in the TV series Ağlama Anne in late 2018, she didn't appear in any productions for 1 year.
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. Akalay has also continued her career on stage and in 2020 appeared as "Zilha" in the play Keşanlı Ali Destanı.
In 2022, Birce Akalay starred in two Netflix series: Mezarlik as Önem and Kuş Uçuşu 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.
Filmography Film Film Year Title Role Notes2008Son Ders: Aşk ve ÜniversiteSevimGuest2009Sizi SeviyorumEdaLeading roleNefes: Vatan SağolsunZeynepGuest2013Re-EraScientist 1Short film2016DeliormanlıHülyaLeading role2024Zaferin RengiHalide Edib AdıvarGuestBir Cumhuriyet ŞarkısıNimet Vahid
Web series Web Series Year Title Role Notes2021Dijital Sahne: Hırçın KızKateLeading role of Episode2022–2024Kuş UçuşuLale KıranLeading role2022–presentMezarlıkÖnem Özülkü
TV series TV Series Year Title Role Notes2007AsiZeynepGuest2007KaderLamiaLeading role2007Senin UğrunaÖzlem2009Alayına İsyanSevtap2009Kış MasalıZişanSupporting role2010–2012Yer Gök AşkHavva Karagül Leading role2013Böyle BitmesinAylinGuest2013Ben Onu Çok SevdimAyhan AydanLeading role2014–2015Küçük AğaSinem Acar2015–2016Evli ve ÖfkeliEsra2016–2017Hayat Bazen TatlıdırHayat Sarıyaz2017–2018Siyah Beyaz AşkAslı Çınar Aslan2018Ağlama AnneAlev Fırıncıoğlu2020Babilİlay Yücedağ2021Son YazSare Akay2023Bir Derdim VarDr. Nilüfer Toska
TV programs Programs Year Title Notes2004–2006Spor GecesiPresenter2005Şampiyonlar Ligi FinaliPresenter (Turkish version)Şampiyonlar Ligi ÖzelPresenter20068. EtapPresenter2009Sinema DünyasıPresenter2019Benimle SöyleJudge
Commercial Commercial yearCompany/ProductNotes2014Johnson & Johnson Advertising faceOrkidAlgidaSummer campaign2021Şölen Boombastic Fantastik BarAs a voiceover2022LancômeBrand faceNeutrogenaDagi2023Versace Advertising faceJack Daniel's Brand face2024NespressoBrand faceBMWQNB
Theatre YearTitleRoleWriterDirectorNotes2017–2019Yedi Kocalı HürmüzHürmüzSadık ŞendilMüjdat Gezen2020Keşanlı Ali DestanıZilhaHaldun TanerYücel Erten2021The Taming of the ShrewKatherina (Kate) MinolaWilliam Shakespeareİbrahim Çiçek
Awards and nominations YearAwardCategoryWorkResult2017Barrier-Free Life Foundation 8th Bests of the Year AwardsBest Theatre ActressYedi Kocalı Hürmüz20189th Karadeniz Technical University (KTÜ) Media AwardsBest ActressSiyah Beyaz AşkIstanbul University 1453 AwardsBest Actress of the Year2nd Bosphorus AwardsMost Successful Actress45th Golden Butterfly AwardsBest Actress2019Okan University Bests of the Year AwardsBest TV ActressAğlama Anne2nd Best of Rumeli AwardsBest Actress20203rd International İzmir Artemis Film FestivalBest Actress (TV series)Babil2021We Asked the Students Project AwardsBest Actress20226th Distinctive International Arab Festivals AwardsInternational Actress of the YearKuş UçuşuMezarlık
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