Hazal Kaya

Biography

Hazal Kaya is one of Turkey’s highest-paid actresses, famous for Nihal in Aşk-ı Memnu, the title role in Adını Feriha Koydum and Filiz Elibol in Bizim Hikaye. She was born on 1 October 1990 in Konya.

Early life

Kaya’s parents are both lawyers. As a child she studied ballet and violin for seven years. She graduated from the Liceo Italiano di Istanbul in 2009, went on to Istanbul Bilgi University, and speaks Italian and English fluently.

Career

She started acting in 2006 in the series Genco, followed by guest roles in Acemi Cadı (the Turkish Sabrina the Teenage Witch), Sıla and Taşların Sırrı. In 2008 she won wide popularity as Nihal Ziyagil in Aşk-ı Memnu, a modern adaptation of Halit Ziya Uşaklıgil’s novel.

As Feriha in Adını Feriha Koydum (2011–2012), opposite Çağatay Ulusoy, she won Best Actress at the 2nd Crystal Mouse Media Awards; the series had some of the highest ratings in Turkey and was exported widely. She later starred in Maral: En Güzel Hikayem with Aras Bulut İynemli.

From 2017 to 2019 she played Filiz, the eldest sister who holds her family together, in Bizim Hikaye, inspired by Shameless, opposite Burak Deniz. In 2022 she led the Netflix time-travel drama Midnight at the Pera Palace as Esra. She was also the only Turkish winner at the Lebanon Awards in 2015.

Personal life

Kaya married actor and director Ali Atay in 2019; they have two children.

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