Tilbe Saran

Tilbe Saran was born on 21 May 1961 in Istanbul, to anthropologist Nephan Saran and lawyer İsmail Hakkı Saran. She graduated from Saint Benoit French High School, then earned a degree in Art History from Istanbul University, and also graduated from the theatre department of the Istanbul Municipal Conservatory in 1989. She began her professional theatre career in 1986 at the Dormen Theatre, having already made her debut in the play "A Streetcar Named Desire" while still studying at Kenter Theatre. From 1989 to 1995 she performed with the Istanbul City Theatre company, earning acclaim for her roles in "King Lear," "Uncle Vanya," and "Tartuffe." In 1995, together with Cüneyt Türel and Işıl Kasapoğlu, she founded the Aksanat Production Theatre, where she played lead roles in seven productions until 2005. She also worked with the theatre companies Aysa Production Theatre, Semaver Kumpanya, Tiyatro Pera, and Pürtelaş Theatre Company, appearing in more than 30 productions in total, including "Tek Kişilik Şehir," "The Creditors," "Mother Courage," and "Abélard and Héloïse." For her role in "Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike" she won three awards in 2017: Best Actress of the Year at the Sadri Alışık Theatre Awards, Actress of the Year from the Theatre Critics Union, and Actress of the Year at the Üstün Akmen Theatre Awards. She made her film debut in 1985 in "Kırlangıç Fırtınası," and her television debut in 1983 in the series "Kuruntu Ailesi." Her film credits include "Zenne" (2011, as Sevgi), for which she won Best Supporting Actress at the 48th Antalya Golden Orange (Altın Portakal) International Film Festival, "Çekmeceler," "Yol Ayrımı," "Bergen," and "Bihter." On television she appeared in the series "Çalıkuşu," "Kuruntu Ailesi," "İntikam" (as Hale, the mother of the character Yağmur, played by Beren Saat), "Şeref Meselesi," "Cesur ve Güzel," "İstanbullu Gelin," and "Çöp Adam." Her more recent projects include the series "Yaban Çiçekleri" (2024) and "Yalı Çapkını" (since 2022), as well as the play "Afife." Besides acting, she works in voice acting, teaching, and radio hosting, and takes part in poetry readings. From September 2014 she served for three years as Secretary General of the Actors' Union. She has taught at Akademi İstanbul and Maltepe University, and continues to teach at Kadir Has University. In 1985 she married Rüstem Batum; the couple divorced in 1992. She later had a relationship with director Cüneyt Türel.