{{Short description|Turkish actress (born 1983)}} {{use dmy dates|date=September 2024}} {{Infobox person | name = Saadet Aksoy | image = Saadet Aksoy TIFF.jpg | caption = Aksoy at the 2012 Toronto International Film Festival | birth_name = Saadet Işıl Aksoy | birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=y|1983|8|29}} | birth_place = Istanbul, Turkey | education = Boğaziçi University | occupation = Actress | years_active = 2003–present | known_for = ''Twice Born'' | spouse = {{marriage|Pamir Kıraner|2014}}<ref>{{Cite news |date=2018-03-06 |title=Saadet Aksoy'un eşi Pamir Kıraner kimdir? Saadet Işıl Aksoy kimdir, kaç yaşında |url=https://www.aksam.com.tr/magazin/saadet-isil-aksoy-kimdir-kac-yasinda--saadet-aksoyun-esi-pamir-kiraner-kimdir/haber-712893 |work=Akşam |lang=tr |access-date=22 October 2019 |archive-date=24 September 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240924004222/https://www.aksam.com.tr/magazin/saadet-isil-aksoy-kimdir-kac-yasinda--saadet-aksoyun-esi-pamir-kiraner-kimdir/haber-712893 |url-status=live }}</ref> | children = 1<ref>{{Cite news |date=27 February 2020 |title=Saadet Işıl Aksoy anne oldu |url=https://www.hurriyet.com.tr/kelebek/magazin/saadet-isil-aksoy-anne-oldu-41457064 |access-date=27 February 2020 |work=Hürriyet |archive-date=28 February 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200228012430/https://www.hurriyet.com.tr/kelebek/magazin/saadet-isil-aksoy-anne-oldu-41457064 |url-status=live }}</ref> | website = {{url|http://saadetaksoy.com/}} }}
'''Saadet Işıl Aksoy''' ({{IPA|tr|saaːˈdet akˈsoj|lang}}; born 29 August 1983) is a Turkish actress, who received critical acclaim with her portrayal of Aska, a red-haired punk trumpet player in Italian actor-director Sergio Castellitto's film ''Twice Born'', in which she co-starred with Penélope Cruz and Emile Hirsch. Christy Lemire described her as "the striking Saadet Aksoy" in her ''Twice Born'' review,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Lemire |first=Christy |date=2013-12-06 |title=Twice Born |url=http://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/twice-born-2013 |website=Roger Ebert |access-date=29 January 2014 |archive-date=24 September 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240924004250/http://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/twice-born-2013 |url-status=live }}</ref> and film critic David Rooney stated, "Saadet Aksoy brings a subdued fieriness to her scenes as a Bosnian woman" in ''The Hollywood Reporter''.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Rooney |first=David |date=2012-09-18 |title=Twice Born: Toronto Review |url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/review/twice-born-movie-review-penelope-cruz-emile-hirsch-371340 |website=Hollywood Reporter |location=Toronto |access-date=29 January 2014 |archive-date=16 March 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140316101138/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/review/twice-born-movie-review-penelope-cruz-emile-hirsch-371340 |url-status=live }}</ref> In his article on ''Variety'', Boyd Van Hoeij wrote, "Turkish thesp Saadet Aksoy impresses in a supporting role as a spunky Yugoslav local" about her performance in ''Twice Born''.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Van Hoeij |first=Boyd |date=2012-09-23 |title=Review: 'Twice Born' |url=https://variety.com/2012/film/reviews/twice-born-1117948406/ |website=Variety |access-date=8 December 2017 |archive-date=1 December 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171201081422/http://variety.com/2012/film/reviews/twice-born-1117948406/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
Sergio Castellitto explained his first encounter with Aksoy in an article on ''Vogue Turkey'' with these words: "Saadet, the first time I met you it was through the internet. I had accidentally 'fallen' on a movie trailer. I actually don’t remember anything of that trailer, of that movie. Yet I remember that I saw a woman turning her head abruptly to the camera, her blue eyes burning everything in that framing, blasting the reverse shot."<ref>{{Cite news |title=Sergio Castellitto-Saadet Işıl Aksoy |url=http://kelebekgaleri.hurriyet.com.tr/galeridetay/75021/2368/1/sergio-castellitto-saadet-isil-aksoy-2-kasim-2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131105004533/http://kelebekgaleri.hurriyet.com.tr/galeridetay/75021/2368/1/sergio-castellitto-saadet-isil-aksoy-2-kasim-2013 |archive-date=2013-11-05 |work=Hurriyet |lang=tr}}</ref>
Her recent performance as Remziye in the 2018 movie ''Saf'' was described on Filmuforia as "SAF is carried forward by the sheer brilliance of Saadet Isil Aksoy whose Remziye acts in an enlightened and humanitarian way when the chips are down."<ref>{{Cite web |last=Taylor |first=Meredith |date=2018-09-10 |title=SAF (2018) |url=http://www.filmuforia.co.uk/saf-2018-toronto-film-festival-2018/ |website=Filmuforia |access-date=18 January 2019 |archive-date=24 September 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240924004254/https://filmuforia.com/saf-2018-toronto-film-festival-2018/ |url-status=live }}</ref> In his article about ''Saf'' on The Film Stage, Jared Mobarak wrote: "Aksoy carries the rest of the film through an authentic progression from indignation to shame and ultimately to clarity.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Mobarak |first=Jared |date=2018-09-19 |title=SAF Tiff 2018 Review |url=https://thefilmstage.com/reviews/tiff-review-saf-is-an-illuminating-look-at-how-the-refugee-crisis-has-changed-turkey/ |website=The Film Stage |access-date=18 January 2019 |archive-date=19 January 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190119174322/https://thefilmstage.com/reviews/tiff-review-saf-is-an-illuminating-look-at-how-the-refugee-crisis-has-changed-turkey/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
Saadet Aksoy has been in the juries of such film festivals as Cairo International Film Festival,<ref>{{Cite news |last=<!--staff byline; no author given--> |date=2010-11-26 |title=Star-studded Cairo Film Festival Opens Today |url=http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/5/32/614/Arts--Culture/Film/Starstudded-Cairo-film-festival-opens-today.aspx |work=Ahram Online |access-date=15 December 2012 |archive-date=19 August 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130819091605/http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/5/32/614/Arts--Culture/Film/Starstudded-Cairo-film-festival-opens-today.aspx |url-status=live }}</ref> Sarajevo Film Festival{{cn|date=September 2024}} and Istanbul Film Festival.<ref>{{Cite news |last=<!--no byline given--> |date=2013-04-15 |title=Istanbul Film Festival Closes With Award Ceremony |url=http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/istanbul-film-festival-closes-with-award-ceremony.aspx?pageID=238&nID=44946&NewsCatID=381 |work=Hurriyet Daily News |access-date=21 January 2014 |archive-date=1 February 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140201232753/http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/istanbul-film-festival-closes-with-award-ceremony.aspx?pageID=238&nID=44946&NewsCatID=381 |url-status=live }}</ref> She became the spokesperson for L'Oreal Paris in Turkey in the year 2013.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Saadet Isil Aksoy |url=http://www.lorealparis.com.tr/guzellik-elcileri/Saadet-Aksoy/biyografi.aspx |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150206152209/http://www.lorealparis.com.tr/guzellik-elcileri/Saadet-Aksoy/biyografi.aspx |archive-date=2015-02-06 |access-date=2014-01-21 |website=L'Oreal Paris Turkey |language=tr}}</ref>
==Early life== Aksoy was born in Istanbul to İnci Aksoy, a retired chief police inspector,<ref>{{cite news |lang=tr |work=Gazete Vatan|title=Polis kızı olmak zor! |first=Leyla |last=Umar |date=2011-01-04 |url=http://haber.gazetevatan.com/polis-kizi-olmak-zor/350863/8/magazin|access-date=2014-01-29|archive-date=2014-02-01|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140201214805/http://haber.gazetevatan.com/polis-kizi-olmak-zor/350863/8/magazin|url-status=dead}}</ref> and Anıl Aksoy, a retired police chief.<ref name="Arman-2012">{{cite news |lang=tr |department=Ekonomi |first=Serkan |last=Arman |date=2012-08-03 |work=Milliyet |title=Turizmde Saadet Var |url=http://ekonomi.milliyet.com.tr/turizmde-saadet-var/ekonomi/ekonomiyazardetay/03.08.2012/1575660/default.htm |access-date=29 January 2014 |archive-date=3 February 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140203043625/http://ekonomi.milliyet.com.tr/turizmde-saadet-var/ekonomi/ekonomiyazardetay/03.08.2012/1575660/default.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref> She talks about the strong female figures in her family in an interview saying: "My mom and grandma have been my two role models. Both have stood out in life not only with their physical beauty but they have also been successful in their careers and been respected in life thanks to their identities and personalities."<ref>{{cite web |first=Güzide |last=Yülek |date=April 2013 |lang=tr |work=Seninle|title=Bulunduğum Yeri İki Kadının Mirasına Borçluyum|url=http://www.seninle.com.tr/seninle-de-bu-ay/roportaj/1939-bulundugum-yeri-iki-kadinin-mirasina-borcluyum.html|access-date=2014-04-21|archive-date=2018-08-07|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180807125026/http://www.seninle.com.tr/seninle-de-bu-ay/roportaj/1939-bulundugum-yeri-iki-kadinin-mirasina-borcluyum.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> Her grandmother Münire Şahinbaş was one of the first female business magnates in Turkey.<ref>{{cite news |work=Hürriyet|title=Türkiye'nin İlk Kadın Sanay}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |title=Aşkta Herşey Zamanlama |magazine=Marie Claire |lang=tr |date=October 2015}}</ref>
Aksoy has two older brothers.<ref name="Arman-2012"/> In an interview she described her childhood and what cinema meant for her even at a young age: "There were always certain rules in the family. Even though my brothers and I were having so much fun together, I was also quite introverted. Movies were what took me away to completely different lands, and cinema has always amazed me since my childhood."<ref>{{cite news |work=Hürriyet |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140313060238/http://kelebekgaleri.hurriyet.com.tr:80/galeridetay/67618/2368/13/saadet-isil-aksoy-hakan-gence-2013 |archive-date=2014-03-13 |lang=tr |title=Saadet Işıl Aksoy (Hakan Gence 2013)|url=http://kelebekgaleri.hurriyet.com.tr/galeridetay/67618/2368/13/saadet-isil-aksoy-hakan-gence-2013}}</ref>
She takes her first name Saadet from her paternal grandmother who died before she was born.<ref>{{cite news |work=Milliyet |department=Magazin |first=Bi̇rsen |last=Altuntaş|date=2012-12-20 |title=Hayallerimin peşinde gitmek için risk aldım|url=http://magazin.milliyet.com.tr/hayallerimin-pesinde-gitmek-icin-risk-aldim/magazin/magazindetay/20.12.2012/1644198/default.htm|access-date=2014-01-29|archive-date=2014-02-03|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140203043625/http://magazin.milliyet.com.tr/hayallerimin-pesinde-gitmek-icin-risk-aldim/magazin/magazindetay/20.12.2012/1644198/default.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref> The word {{lang|tr|saadet}} means {{gloss|bliss}} in English.<ref>{{cite dictionary |dictionary=Cambridge Dictionary |title=bliss |url=https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english-turkish/bliss |access-date=2024-09-24 |archive-date=24 September 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240924004223/https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english-turkish/bliss |url-status=live }}</ref>
==Education and career== Saadet Aksoy studied English language and literature at Boğaziçi University in Istanbul.{{cn|date=September 2024}} She took part in such TV projects in Turkey as ''Güz Yangını'', ''Esir Kalpler'', ''Senden Başka'', ''Kalpsiz Adam'', ''Sınıf'', ''Balkan Düğünü'' and ''Muhteşem Yüzyıl''.<ref name="SinemaTürk">{{Cite web |title=Saadet Işıl Aksoy |url=http://www.sinematurk.com/kisi/12957-saadet-isil-aksoy/ |website=SinemaTürk |language=tr |access-date=29 January 2014 |archive-date=5 April 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140405070741/http://www.sinematurk.com/kisi/12957-saadet-isil-aksoy/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Her theatre appearances include the Turkish version of Steel Magnolias staged by the theatre director Mehmet Ergen<ref>{{Cite web |title=Çelik Manolyalar |url=http://www.biletix.com/etkinlik/MTK42/ANKARA/tr |website=Biletix |language=tr |access-date=29 January 2014 |archive-date=1 February 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140201231700/http://www.biletix.com/etkinlik/MTK42/ANKARA/tr |url-status=live }}</ref> and the Turkish version of ''Shoot/Get Treasure/Repeat'' originally written by British playwright Mark Ravenhill.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Tiyatro Dünyası |date=2008-09-08 |title=Dotbilsar'da Projesi |url=http://www.tiyatrodunyasi.com/haberdetay.asp?haberno=2093 |language=tr}}</ref>
She made her film debut with Semih Kaplanoğlu's Egg, which premiered at Directors' Fortnight at Cannes Film Festival in 2007<ref>{{Cite web |title=Yumurta |url=http://www.quinzaine-realisateurs.com/yumurta-f14100.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303231805/http://www.quinzaine-realisateurs.com/yumurta-f14100.html |archive-date=2016-03-03 |access-date=2014-01-21 |website=Quinzaine des réalisateurs |language=fr}}</ref> bringing her several awards at many film festivals such as Valdivia International Film Festival and Sarajevo Film Festival. In 2008, she took part in the following film by Semih Kaplanoğlu, ''Milk'', which was at Venice Film Festival Official Selection. She later worked with Argentinian director Alejandro Chomski in A Beautiful Life, and in 2009, she was in Bulgarian director Kamen Kalev's Eastern Plays, which premiered also at Directors' Fortnight at Cannes Film Festival.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Eastern Plays |url=http://www.quinzaine-realisateurs.com/eastern-plays-f14188.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160324091638/http://quinzaine-realisateurs.com/eastern-plays-f14188.html |archive-date=2016-03-24 |access-date=2014-01-21 |website=Quinzaine des réalisateurs |language=fr}}</ref> Film critic Jay Weissberg praised her performance in Eastern Plays in his article on Variety saying, "All performances are strong, but it’s Christov and Aksoy who linger in the memory."<ref>{{Cite web |last=Weissberg |first=Jay |date=2009-05-17 |title=Review: 'Eastern Plays' |url=https://variety.com/2009/film/reviews/eastern-plays-1200474831/ |website=Variety |access-date=8 December 2017 |archive-date=9 October 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181009013241/https://variety.com/2009/film/reviews/eastern-plays-1200474831/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
Her 2009 Turkish film Love in Another Language brought her other ''Best Actress'' awards at Ankara International Film Festival and ''Bursa Silk Road Film Festival''. Again in 2009, she took part in the Istanbul scene of The Rebound with Catherine Zeta Jones and Justin Bartha by the director Bart Freundlich. Her international breakthrough was after she co-starred with Penélope Cruz and Emile Hirsch in Sergio Castellitto's Twice Born adapted from the novel with the same title by Margaret Mazzantini. The movie premiered at Toronto International Film Festival in 2012. In 2013, Aksoy played a Greek girl Eleni in the Turkish movie ''Sürgün''<ref>{{Cite web |title=Oyuncular |url=http://surgunfilmi.com/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160422095542/http://www.surgunfilmi.com/ |archive-date=2016-04-22 |access-date=2014-01-21 |website=Surgun Filmi}}</ref> and in 2015, Rania in ''Ragion di Stato'' directed by Marco Pontecorvo for Italian TV network RAI.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Latina, si gira a Sabaudia una fiction Rai con Luca Argentero |url=http://www.ilmessaggero.it/latina/latina_si_gira_a_sabaudia_una_fiction_rai_con_luca_argentero/notizie/357767.shtml |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190106204316/https://www.ilmessaggero.it/latina/latina_si_gira_a_sabaudia_una_fiction_rai_con_luca_argentero/notizie/357767.shtml |archive-date=2019-01-06 |access-date=2014-01-21 |website=Il Messaggero |language=it}}</ref>
Aksoy's latest projects include ''Saf'' by Ali Vatansever, which premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival in 2018,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Craddock |first=Kerri |title=Saf |url=https://www.tiff.net/tiff/saf/ |website=TIFF |access-date=18 January 2019 |archive-date=24 September 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240924004223/https://www.tiff.net/events/saf |url-status=live }}</ref> ''Passed by Censor'' by Serhat Karaaslan, which was released in 2019, and ''Iguana Tokyo'' by Kaan Müjdeci, recently in post-production.
In mid-2025, Aksoy landed the female lead opposite actor Serkan Çayoğlu in the third season of the historical fiction series Mehmed: Fetihler Sultanı as the character of Gülbahar Hatun, replacing actress Esila Umut, who formerly portrayed the role in the previous two seasons.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.turkiyegazetesi.com.tr/magazin/mehmed-fetihler-sultanina-bomba-transfer-gulbahar-hatunu-artik-o-canlandiracak-1129509|title='Mehmed: Fetihler Sultanı'na bomba transfer! 'Gülbahar Hatun'u artık o canlandıracak|date=23 July 2025}}</ref>
==Filmography== ===Film=== {| class="wikitable sortable" |- ! Year ! Title ! Role ! class="unsortable" | Notes |- | 2007 | ''Egg'' | Ayla | Directors' Fortnight |- | 2008 | ''Milk'' | Semra | Venice Film Festival |- | 2008 | ''A Beautiful Life'' | Denise | |- | 2009 | ''Eastern Plays'' | Işıl | Directors' Fortnight |- | 2009 | ''Love in Another Language'' | Zeynep | |- | 2009 | ''The Rebound'' | Turkish girl in Istanbul | |- | 2012 | ''Twice Born'' | Aska | Toronto International Film Festival |- | 2013 | ''Sürgün'' | Eleni | |- | 2018 | ''Ailecek Şaşkınız'' | Elif | |- | 2018 | ''Saf'' | Remziye | Toronto International Film Festival |- | 2019 | ''Passed by Censor'' | Selma | |- | 2019 | ''Iguana Tokyo''<ref>{{cite web|last=Habertürk|title=Iguana Tokyo'nun Görkemli Yeni Yıl Partisi|url=https://www.haberturk.com/saadet-isil-aksoy-provalara-havaalanindan-geldim-magazin-haberleri-2275807-magazin/|access-date=18 January 2019|archive-date=24 September 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240924004226/https://www.haberturk.com/|url-status=live}}</ref> | | |- |2025 |''Confidante'' |Arzu/Sabiha | |}
===Television=== {| class="wikitable sortable" |- ! Year ! Title ! Role ! class="unsortable" | Notes |- | 2005 | ''Güz Yangını'' | Pınar | |- | 2006 | ''Esir Kalpler'' | İrem | |- | 2007 | ''Senden Başka'' | Elif | |- | 2008 | ''Kalpsiz Adam'' | Feraye | |- | 2008 | ''Sınıf'' | Duygu | |- | 2009 | ''Balkan Düğünü'' | Zehra | |- | 2011 | ''Muhteşem Yüzyıl'' | Victoria (Sadıka) | |- | 2014 | ''Ragion di Stato''<ref>{{cite web|last=Radio Luna|title=Luca Argentero a Sabaudia|date=13 November 2013|url=http://www.radioluna.it/news/2013/11/argentero-a-sabaudia-per-fiction-tra-le-dune-si-gira-ragion-di-stato/|access-date=29 January 2014|archive-date=3 February 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140203023253/http://www.radioluna.it/news/2013/11/argentero-a-sabaudia-per-fiction-tra-le-dune-si-gira-ragion-di-stato/|url-status=live}}</ref> | Rania | |- | 2016 | ''Kördüğüm''<ref>{{cite web|last=Milliyet|title=Saadet Işıl Aksoy Kördüğüm Kadrosunda|date=16 May 2016|url=http://m.milliyet.com.tr/saadet-isil-aksoy-kordugum--magazin-2246347//|access-date=16 November 2016|archive-date=17 November 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161117070431/http://m.milliyet.com.tr/saadet-isil-aksoy-kordugum--magazin-2246347//|url-status=live}}</ref> | Eylül | |- | 2017 | ''Vatanım Sensin'' | Lucy | |- | 2024 | ''Shahmaran'' | Lilith | |- | 2024 | ''Asaf'' | Rüya | |- |2024 |''Mehmed: Fetihler Sultanı''<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.turkiyegazetesi.com.tr/magazin/mehmed-fetihler-sultanina-bomba-transfer-gulbahar-hatunu-artik-o-canlandiracak-1129509|title='Mehmed: Fetihler Sultanı'na bomba transfer! 'Gülbahar Hatun'u artık o canlandıracak|date=23 July 2025}}</ref> |Gulbahar Hatun | |}
==Awards== {|class="wikitable sortable" |+<ref name="SinemaTürk"/> |- ! Year !! Organisation !! Award !! Work !! Result |- | 2007 | Sarajevo Film Festival | Best Actress | ''Egg'' |{{Won}} |- | 2007 | Antalya Golden Orange Film Festival | Best Newcomer | ''Egg'' |{{Won}} |- | 2007 | Valdivia International Film Festival | Best Actress | ''Egg'' |{{Won}} |- | 2008 | Siyad Awards | Best Actress in a Leading Role | ''Egg'' |{{Won}} |- | 2008 | Yeşilçam Film Awards | Young Talent | ''Egg'' |{{Won}} |- | 2008 | Ankara International Film Festival | Best Female Newcomer | ''Egg'' |{{Won}} |- | 2008 | İsmail Dümbüllü Awards | Best Film Actress | ''Egg'' |{{Won}} |- | 2009 | Ankara International Film Festival | Best Actress | ''Love in Another Language'' |{{Won}} |- | 2009 | Bursa Silk Road Film Festival | Best Actress | ''Love in Another Language'' |{{Won}} |- | 2019 | Ankara International Film Festival | Best Actress | ''Saf'' |{{Won}} |- |}
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== * {{Official website|https://hausduit.com}} * {{IMDb name|2278522|Saadet Aksoy}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT: Aksoy, Saadet}} Category:Turkish film actresses Category:Living people Category:Boğaziçi University alumni Category:1983 births Category:Actresses from Istanbul