Türkan Şoray Biography: Movies, Age, Children, Net Worth, Husband, Religion, Daughter, Height,

Biography

Türkan Şoray (born 28 June 1945, Istanbul) is a legendary Turkish actress, director, and screenwriter, widely regarded as one of the most iconic figures in the history of Turkish cinema.

Nicknamed “Sultan” by the press and her fans for her commanding screen presence and beauty, she rose to fame in the 1960s and dominated Yeşilçam (Turkey’s Golden Age film industry) for decades, starring in over 200 films.

Known especially for her melodramatic roles and expressive eyes, she became a cultural symbol of feminine strength, vulnerability, and moral integrity.

Among her best-known films are Selvi Boylum Al Yazmalım (1977), Dudaktan Kalbe, Mine, and Bodrum Hakimi. She won numerous awards, including multiple Golden Orange Best Actress awards, and in 2014 received an honorary award at the Antalya International Film Festival.

Şoray also directed six films between 1978 and 1994, making her one of the pioneering female directors in Turkey. She famously enforced the “Türkan Şoray Rules” on set—no kissing scenes or overly revealing costumes—reflecting both her personal values and her powerful position in the industry.

Even in her later years, she remains a beloved national treasure and an enduring symbol of Turkish popular culture.

Turkish actress
Türkan Şoray
Wiki Facts & About Data
Real Name:	Türkan Şoray
Stage Name:	Türkan Şoray, Sultan of Turkish Cinema
Born:	28 June 1945 (age 80 years old)
Place of Birth:	Istanbul, Türkiye
Nationality:	Turkish
Education:	Fatih Girls’ High School
Height:	1.64 m
Parents:	Meliha Sav, Halit Şoray
Siblings:	Nazan Şoray, Figen Şoray, Oktay Şoray
Spouse:	Cihan Ünal (m. 1983–1987)
Boyfriend • Partner:	Rüçhan Adlı (1963-1964), Türker İnanoğlu
Children:	Yağmur Ünal
Occupation:	Actress • Director
Net Worth:	$1 million-$5 million (USD)

Early Life & Education

Türkan Şoray was born on June 28, 1945, in Eyüp (now part of Eyüpsultan district), Istanbul, Turkey, as the eldest child in a family of civil servants.

Her father, Halit Şoray, was a government official and railway officer who passed away during her childhood, while her mother, Meliha Şoray (née Sav, 1927–1984), was a housewife who supported her entry into the film industry.

She grew up in the working-class Karagümrük neighborhood of Istanbul, where her family owned land. Şoray has two younger sisters: Nazan Şoray, who pursued a career as a singer and actress, and Figen Şoray, as well as a brother, Oktay Şoray.

In terms of ethnicity, Şoray is of mixed heritage: her paternal side traces back to Circassian-Kabardian roots from the North Caucasus, while her maternal grandfather was a Turkish immigrant from Thessaloniki (then part of the Ottoman Empire, now in Greece).

This blend reflects the diverse migrations common in mid-20th-century Turkey. She was raised in a Turkish Muslim cultural environment, like the vast majority of people from her generation and milieu in Istanbul.

For education, Şoray attended the middle school section of Fatih Girls’ High School (Fatih Kız Lisesi) in Istanbul but did not pursue higher studies, as her acting career began at age 15.

Her early life was marked by an accidental encounter with cinema; as a child, she came across a film set in her neighborhood and was approached by director Memduh Ün, though she fled in fear.

Later, while still in school, she visited another set with a neighbor (actress Emel Yıldız, known as “Panter Emel“) and was encouraged by producer Türker İnanoğlu to audition, leading to her debut in the 1960 film Köyde Bir Kız Sevdim.

Career

Türkan Şoray began her cinematic journey at the age of fifteen with her debut film Köyde Bir Kız Sevdim in 1960. Within just two years, she emerged as one of Yeşilçam’s brightest new stars, quickly becoming a leading figure in Turkey’s bustling film industry. Over a career spanning more than three decades, she appeared in over 220 films, a feat few actresses worldwide have matched.

Her rise to stardom was cemented with Acı Hayat (1962) opposite Ayhan Işık, establishing her as the actress audiences most eagerly followed.

Throughout the 1960s and 1970s, Şoray frequently appeared in ten to fifteen films per year, often portraying gentle, long-suffering, yet resilient women. Her expressive eyes and nuanced performances earned her the nickname “Queen of Tears,” long before the media formally crowned her “Sultan” of Turkish cinema.

Some of her most iconic works include Selvi Boylum Al Yazmalım (1977), widely regarded as one of the greatest Turkish films ever made, alongside Bodrum Hakimi, Mine, Azap, Mahkum, and numerous melodramas with Kadir İnanır, forming one of Turkish cinema’s most beloved on-screen pairings with over forty joint appearances. She also starred alongside celebrated actors such as Cüneyt Arkın, Tarık Akan, Kartal Tibet, Göksel Arsoy, and Ediz Hun.

By the early 1970s, Şoray’s influence was such that producers accepted her conditions without negotiation: no on-screen kissing, no bedroom scenes, modest costumes, and her approval of scripts and co-stars. These “Türkan Şoray Rules” became legendary, preserving her image as a symbol of dignity in an industry that often exploited its actresses.

In addition to acting, she directed six feature films between 1972 and 1994, including Dönüş (her directorial debut), Azap, Bodrum Hakimi, Baraj, and Mine, making her one of the very few female directors of commercial cinema in Turkey during that era.

Following the collapse of the Yeşilçam studio system in the late 1980s, Şoray transitioned seamlessly to television, captivating new audiences with series such as Tatlı Hayat, İkinci Bahar, Aşk ve Ceza, and, more recently, Camdaki Kız, as well as guest appearances in films like Suyun Öte Yanı and Kafes.

Throughout her career, she has received four Golden Orange Best Actress awards, multiple lifetime achievement honors, the title of State Artist from the Turkish Ministry of Culture, and a Guinness World Record for the highest number of lead roles by a female actor in a single national cinema.

Social Media

• Wikipedia: Türkan Şoray
• Facebook: Türkan Şoray
• IMDb: Türkan Şoray
• YouTube: Türkan Şoray
• Instagram: Türkan ŞORAY (@sorayturkan1)
• Twitter: Türkan Şoray (@Turkan__Soray) / X

Personal Life

Türkan Şoray was born on June 28, 1945, in Istanbul, Turkey, making her 80 years old.

Her only marriage was to fellow actor Cihan Ünal, whom she wed on December 2, 1983, after meeting him on the set of the film Mine the previous year.

The union lasted just over four years, ending in divorce on December 15, 1987, amid reports of professional and personal strains, though the couple remained on amicable terms for the sake of their daughter.

They had one child together, Yağmur Ünal, born on October 21, 1985, who later pursued her own career in acting and production, often collaborating with her mother on projects.

Şoray has no other children and has not remarried since. Standing at 164 cm (about 5 feet 4.5 inches) tall, Şoray‘s graceful presence on screen often belied her modest stature, contributing to her image as an approachable yet regal figure in Turkish cinema.

Her dating history is most notably defined by a passionate, 20-year relationship with businessman Rüçhan Adlı, which began around 1963-1964 when she was just 18 and he was 40, married, and a prominent figure in Istanbul’s elite circles.

They met on a film set in Tarabya, and despite the age gap, his marital status, and societal scrutiny, their bond endured for two decades, with Adlı reportedly bestowing upon her the enduring nickname “Sultan.”

The relationship was kept somewhat discreet but was an open secret in Turkish media, influencing her career choices and personal rules on set.

It ended around 1983-1984, shortly before her marriage to Ünal, when Adlı‘s refusal to divorce his wife reportedly led to their separation; Adlı passed away in 1995.

Şoray has rarely spoken publicly about this chapter, omitting it from her autobiography, though it remains a legendary aspect of her lore.

Beyond Adlı, Şoray‘s early career sparked brief rumors of romances with colleagues like producer Türker İnanoğlu, who discovered her, but these were never confirmed and appear more professional than personal.

In her later years, she has focused on family and work, with no known serious relationships post-divorce, embodying the dignified solitude often portrayed in her roles.

Net Worth

Türkan Şoray‘s net worth is estimated at around $1 million to $5 million, accumulated primarily through her prolific six-decade career in Turkish cinema, where she starred in over 220 films, directed several features, and appeared in high-profile TV series.

Her earnings stem from acting royalties, production royalties, and selective endorsements, rather than extravagant real estate or business empires.

As a cultural icon dubbed the “Sultan of Turkish Cinema,” her wealth is modest compared to that of global stars, underscoring her focus on artistic legacy rather than commercial excess.

Filmography

1960s (Debut and Rise: ~100 Films)

• Köyde Bir Kız Sevdim (1960) – Her debut.
• Otobüs Yolcuları (1961).
• Acı Hayat (1962) – Breakthrough role, won first Golden Orange Award.
• Otomobil Şoförleri (1964).
• Kelepçeli Melek (1966).
• Vesikalı Yarim (1968).
• Dertler Benim Olsun (1968).
• Sevgi Çemberi (1969).

1970s (Peak Popularity: ~80 Films, Including Directorial Debut)

• Mahkum (1972).
• Dönüş (1972)* – First film as director.
• Azap (1973)*.
• Barış Kızı (1970).
• Bodrum Hakimi (1976)*.
• Selvi Boylum Al Yazmalım (1977) – Masterpiece, Best Actress Golden Orange.
• Baraj (1977)* – Co-directed.

1980s (Transition to Quality Roles: ~30 Films)

• Mine (1982)* – Also directed.
• Dudaktan Kalbe (1986).
• Yılanı Öldürseler (1981).

1990s–2000s (TV Shift and Select Films)

• Tatlı Hayat (1990 TV series).
• İkinci Bahar (1998–2001 TV series).
• Dudaktan Kalbe (1988 TV adaptation, directed episodes).
• Suna (2007) – Last major film role.

2010s–2020s (Cameos and TV Return)

• Aşk ve Ceza (2010–2011 TV series).
• Suyun Öte Yanı (2012).
• Camdaki Kız (2021–2023 TV series, cameo).
• Kafes (2024).