# Birce Akalay

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 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.
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 | Notes |
| 2008 | Son Ders: Aşk ve Üniversite | Sevim | Guest |
| 2009 | Sizi Seviyorum | Eda | Leading role |
| 2009 | Nefes: Vatan Sağolsun | Zeynep | Guest |
| 2013 | Re-Era | Scientist 1 | Short film |
| 2016 | Deliormanlı | Hülya | Leading role |
| 2024 | Zaferin Rengi | Halide Edib Adıvar | Guest |
| 2024 | Bir Cumhuriyet Şarkısı | Nimet Vahid | |

### Web series

Web Series :
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 2021 | Dijital Sahne: Hırçın Kız | Kate | Leading role of Episode |
| 2022–2024 | Kuş Uçuşu | Lale Kıran | Leading role |
| 2022–present | Mezarlık | Önem Özülkü | Leading role |

### TV series

TV Series :
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 2007 | Asi | Zeynep | Guest |
| 2007 | Kader | Lamia | Leading role |
| 2007 | Senin Uğruna | Özlem | Leading role |
| 2009 | Alayına İsyan | Sevtap | Leading role |
| 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 | Leading role |
| 2015–2016 | Evli ve Öfkeli | Esra | Leading role |
| 2016–2017 | Hayat Bazen Tatlıdır | Hayat Sarıyaz | Leading role |
| 2017–2018 | Siyah Beyaz Aşk | Aslı Çınar Aslan | Leading role |
| 2018 | Ağlama Anne | Alev Fırıncıoğlu | Leading role |
| 2020 | Babil | İlay Yücedağ | Leading role |
| 2021 | Son Yaz | Sare Akay | Leading role |
| 2023 | Bir Derdim Var | Dr. Nilüfer Toska | Leading role |

### TV programs

Programs :
| Year | Title | Notes |
| 2004–2006 | Spor Gecesi | Presenter |
| 2005 | Şampiyonlar Ligi Finali | Presenter (Turkish version) |
| 2005 | 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 | Advertising face |
| 2014 | Orkid | Advertising face |
| 2014 | Algida | Summer campaign |
| 2021 | Şölen Boombastic Fantastik Bar | As a voiceover |
| 2022 | Lancôme | Brand face |
| 2022 | Neutrogena | Brand face |
| 2022 | Dagi | Brand face |
| 2023 | Versace | Advertising face |
| 2023 | Jack Daniel's | Brand face |
| 2024 | Nespresso | Brand face |
| 2024 | BMW | Brand face |
| 2024 | QNB | Brand face |

## Theatre

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

## Awards and nominations

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