Özgü Namal

Theater, film, and television series actress. Born on December 28, 1978, in Üsküdar, Istanbul, Turkey. Her mother, Akile Namal, who is of Thessalonian descent, is a retired civil servant, and her father, Kubilay Namal, who is of Macedonian descent, is a retired merchant. She received early acting training at the Kadıköy Public Education Center (Kadıköy Halk Eğitim Merkezi) and the Müjdat Gezen Theater (Müjdat Gezen Tiyatrosu). She subsequently pursued formal higher education, graduating from the Theater Department of the Istanbul University State Conservatory (İstanbul Üniversitesi Devlet Konservatuvarı). She launched her professional stage career in 1997, performing in children's plays at the "Masal Gerçek Tiyatrosu". Özgü Namal captured widespread industry prominence and nationwide recognition for her iconic portrayal of Elif Eylül, the love interest of the main character Polat Alemdar, in the hit action drama series "Kurtlar Vadisi" (The Valley of the Wolves). Her television portfolio also includes work within alternative entertainment formats; during the 2014–2015 broadcasting season, she joined the popular prime-time talent reality show "Yetenek Sizsiniz Türkiye" (the Turkish franchise of Got Talent), serving as an official jury member. Interesting facts: She holds official professional accolades within the Turkish theatrical community; for her performance in the stage play "Kiralık Oyun" in 2005, she was honored at the prestigious Afife Theater Awards (Afife Tiyatro Ödülleri) as the "Most Successful Musical or Comedy Supporting Actress of the Year". While cinema and stage performance remain her primary artistic passions, she is also an avid amateur photographer. Marital Status: Widowed (she was in a long-term relationship with Ahmet Serdar Oral until his passing in 2020). She has two children, a son named Nefes and a daughter named Elem Su.