Melisa Sözen

Melisa Sözen, born on July 6, 1985, is a distinguished Turkish actress renowned for her versatile performances across television and film. She began her artistic journey at the tender age of 15, honing her craft at the Pera Fine Arts High School's theatre department. Sözen quickly established herself in the Turkish entertainment industry, featuring in popular television series like "Çemberimde Gül Oya," "Bıçak Sırtı," "Bir Bulut Olsam," "The Magnificent Century," "Kırmızı Oda," and "Şubat," where she showcased her range by portraying two distinct characters.

Her cinematic career includes collaborations with some of Turkey's leading directors, starring in films such as "Av Mevsimi," "Bir Varmış Bir Yokmuş," and "Cenneti Beklerken." Sözen garnered international acclaim for her remarkable role in Nuri Bilge Ceylan's "Winter Sleep," which won the prestigious Palme d'Or in 2014. In 2017, she expanded her horizons by participating in the acclaimed French series "Le bureau des légendes," subsequently relocating to Paris to refine her French language skills. Her first significant lead in a French film came in 2019 with "Damien veut changer le monde."

Sözen's extraordinary talent has earned her critical acclaim in Turkey, exemplified by her dual wins in 2015 from both the Theater Critics Association and Film Critics Association for her impactful performances in "The Knot of the Heart" and "Winter Sleep." Additionally, her expertise and reputation have led to invitations to serve on juries at numerous international film festivals, including the Guanajuato International Film Festival (Mexico, 2015), the International Istanbul Film Festival (Turkey, 2016), the Sarajevo Film Festival (Bosnia and Herzegovina, 2017), and Cannes Series (France, 2018).