Melisa Sözen (b. 1985) has established a strong and consistent work across television, cinema, digital platforms, and theatre since the early stages of her career. With the psychological depth she brings to multilayered characters and her controlled, nuanced acting style, she has become one of the most internationally visible figures in contemporary Turkish cinema.
She gained international recognition through her performance in Winter Sleep, directed by Nuri Bilge Ceylan, which won the Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival in 2014. Premiering at Cannes, the film was widely regarded by international critics as one of the year’s most significant works of art cinema. Sözen’s performance positioned her as a powerful dramatic actress within European arthouse circles.
In 2015, she further solidified her achievements in both theatre and film by receiving the “Best Actress” award from the Theatre Critics Association for Kalp Düğümü, as well as the same honor from the Turkish Film Critics Association (SİYAD) for Winter Sleep, winning both awards in the same year.
She entered the European television industry with her performance in Éric Rochant’s internationally acclaimed series ‘Le Bureau des Légendes / The Bureau’. She subsequently strengthened her presence in European cinema by taking on the leading role in the French production ‘Damien veut changer le monde / Adopt a Daddy’. Her international visibility on digital platforms expanded further with Netflix’s globally successful series Who Were We Running From?.
Sözen has also appeared in numerous television productions, including The Magnificent Century, Şubat, and The Red Room. In particular, her powerful dramatic performance as “Alya” in The Red Room left a lasting impression on audiences and further demonstrated her ability to bring emotional depth and intensity to complex characters. Most recently, she once again drew attention with her leading role in Fer, a digital series released on Turkey’s streaming platform Gain.
Having served as a jury member at prestigious events such as Canneseries, the Sarajevo Film Festival, and the Guanajuato International Film Festival, Sözen continues her work between Europe and Turkey. With her multilingual performance ability and disciplined approach, she remains active in international projects, while also expanding her global presence through carefully selected brand collaborations alongside her artistic work.
The most recent step in this trajectory is Roya, directed by Iranian filmmaker Mahnaz Mohammadi. Sözen stars in the leading role and also serves as co-producer. Roya had its world premiere at the 76th Berlin International Film Festival, marking a significant milestone that further reinforces her position not only as an actress but also as a key figure in international co-production.