Cansu Dere

Cansu Dere is a Turkish actress, model and former Miss Turkey, best known for the title role in Sıla, Eyşan in Ezel and Asya in Sadakatsiz. She was born on 14 October 1980 in Ankara and grew up in İzmir.

Miss Turkey and modelling

Dere was crowned Miss Turkey Universe in 2000, but she was prevented from competing at Miss Universe in Cyprus because of political tensions between Turkey and the Republic of Cyprus. She left her archaeology studies at Istanbul University to model full time, representing Turkey for the Istanbul Textile and Apparel Exporters’ Association and walking in Paris fashion shows in 2002 and 2003.

Television career

From 2006 to 2008 she played Sıla opposite Mehmet Akif Alakurt in Sıla, a drama that was a big export success. She then played the mysterious Eyşan in the crime drama Ezel (2009–2011), one of the most acclaimed Turkish series. In Magnificent Century she portrayed the Safavid spy Firuze.

Her performance as Zeynep in Anne (2016–2017), the Turkish adaptation of Japan’s Mother, was widely praised. From 2020 to 2022 she starred as Asya, a doctor who discovers her husband’s affair, in Sadakatsiz with Caner Cindoruk; the series became a ratings phenomenon. She also appeared in the International Emmy-winning crime series Şahsiyet.

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