Farah Zeynep Abdullah (born 17 August 1989) is a Turkish actress and singer. She garnered critical acclaim and nationwide recognition for her movies and television series. She is the recipient of two Siyad awards, the most prestigious film awards in Turkey.
Early life Farah Zeynep Abdullah was born on 17 August 1989, in Beşiktaş, Istanbul. Abdullah has two brothers. Her secondary education was spent at the Lycée Français Saint-Michel in Istanbul until her family moved to London due to her father's job. She completed her degree in French and Drama and Media Studies from the University of Kent in 2013.
Career TV series
In 2010, during her studies at the University of Kent, Abdullah was offered a role in the melodrama Öyle Bir Geçer Zaman ki, for which she completed 2 seasons and 79 episodes. The series also won her a Best Supporting Actress award at the Antalya Television Awards in 2011.
She then worked for the second time alongside Kıvanç Tatlıtuğ in the period drama Kurt Seyit ve Şura.
In late July 2016, rumours of Abdullah joining the hit series Muhteşem Yüzyıl: Kösem ("Magnificent Century: Kösem") surfaced on social media. A few days later, it was confirmed that she had joined the series in the role of Hungarian princess Farya Bethlen.
Abdullah then starred as a singer in the series Gülizar. She shared the lead role with Berk Cankat, who previously acted in Muhteşem Yüzyıl: Kösem but never met as they portrayed their characters in two completely different seasons.
Between 2020 and 2021, she worked alongside Birkan Sokullu in Masumlar Apartmanı ("Apartment of the Innocents"), which is adapted from a novel by Gülseren Budayıcıoğlu.
Films
In 2013, she appeared in Yılmaz Erdoğan's film Kelebeğin Rüyası ("The Butterfly's Dream"). It was selected by the Minister of Culture and Tourism as Turkey's candidate for the 2014's Academy Awards. For the role, Abdullah won the trophy for Best Supporting Actress at the 18th Sadri Alışık Cinema and Theatre Awards and Cinema Writers Association Awards.
In 2014, she appeared in the film Bi Küçük Eylül Meselesi ("A Small September Affair"). Abdullah later starred in director Çağan Irmak's musical romance film Unutursam Fisilda ("Whisper If I Forget"). The role brought her multiple awards as she stunned audiences with her acting and singing skills. It became the 5th most watched film in Turkey in 2014. The song 'Gel ya da git' performed by Farah for the soundtrack of the film 'Whisper If I Forget' topped the national charts for numeral consecutive weeks.
In 2015, she voiced Princess Courtney in the Turkish version of Barbie in Rock 'N Royals. Later that year Abdullah completed Ekşi Elmalar ("Sour Apples"), her second project with director Yılmaz Erdoğan. The film was released on 28 October 2016 in Turkey and in early November in Europe. Her acting was very well received and praised by critics and viewers alike.
In 2018, she played famous singer Ajda Pekkan in the fantasy comedy film Arif V 216, where she sang Pekkan's songs "Milyonzade" and "Boşvermişim Dünyaya". It was the second most watched film in Turkey in 2018. Abdullah then starred in the film Bizim İçin: Şampiyon ("For Us: Champion"), which tells the life story of jockey Halis Karataş. Her role and the movie were widely appreciated by critics.
In 2022, Abdullah starred in the biographical film Bergen which became the 8th highest-grossing film of all time in Turkey gaining over 160 million tl. It was the most watched and highest grossing film in 2022 in Turkey.
In 2023, Abdullah starred in the film Bihter, an adaption of the 1900s Ottoman-era novel Aşk-ı Memnu.
Personal life In December 2022, when one of her followers asked her if she had any chronic illnesses, she responded with, "I have a herniated cervical disc, my thyroid isn't working, I have Hashimoto's disease. There's a lesion in my brain. And my knee is in very bad shape too."
Filmography Film YearTitleRoleDirectorNotes2013Kelebeğin RüyasıMedihaYılmaz ErdoğanSupporting role2014Bi Küçük Eylül MeselesiEylülKerem DerenLeading roleUnutursam FısıldaHatice / AyperiÇağan IrmakLeading role2015Barbie in Rock'n RoyalsPrincess CourtneyTurkish dubbing2016Ekşi ElmalarMuazzezYılmaz ErdoğanLeading role2018Arif V 216Ajda PekkanKıvanç BaruönüSupporting roleBizim İçin: ŞampiyonBegüm Atman / KarataşAhmet KatıksızLeading role2022BergenBergenCaner Alper & Mehmet BinayLeading role / Co-producer2023BihterBihter Yöreoğlu2026SoyBasak Maxime AlexandreLeading role
Television YearTitleRoleChannelNotesEpisodes2010–2012Öyle Bir Geçer Zaman KiAylin Akarsu / TalaşoğluKanal DSupporting role792014Kurt Seyit ve ŞuraAlexandra "Șura" VerjenskayaStar TVLeading role212016–2017Muhteşem Yüzyıl: KösemPrincess Farya BethlenFox222018GülizarGülizarKanal D102020–2021Masumlar Apartmanıİnci Özdemir / DerenoğluTRT 1372023Kızılcık ŞerbetiDilruba Show TVGuest star2
Discography YearTitleProject2014Unutursam Fısılda 2017Rockuba2018Arif V 216 Gülizar Bu Hangi Masaldı?Single2019Sen Unutulacak Kadın Mısın?Altın Düetler 22020Eller EllerBepanthol commercial2022Bergen
Awards and nominations YearAwardCategoryProjectResult20112nd Antalya Television AwardsBest Supporting ActressÖyle Bir Geçer Zaman Ki20123rd Antalya Television AwardsBest Supporting Actress201318th Sadri Alışık Theatre and Cinema Actors AwardsBest Actress in a Supporting RoleKelebeğin Rüyası rowspan="2" 201446th Cinema Writers Association AwardsBest Supporting ActressElle Style AwardsActress of the Year201513th YTÜ Stars of the Year AwardsBest Film ActressUnutursam Fısılda22nd ITU EMOS Success AwardsActress Of The YearTurkMSIC AwardsBest Actress rowspan="3" 4th Istanbul Arel University Media and Art AwardsMost Praised Actress9th GSÜ The Bests AwardsBest TV/Cinema Actress47th Cinema Writers Association AwardsBest Actress10th Uludağ University Marconi AwardsBest Film Actress20th Sadri Alışık Theatre and Cinema Actors AwardsBest Film Actress21st MGD Golden Objective AwardsBest Film Actress rowspan="2" KAL Fest Changemakers AwardsChangemaker Actress201724th ITU EMOS Success AwardsTV Actress Of The YearMuhteşem Yüzyıl: Kösem rowspan="2" 3rd Turkey's Youth AwardsBest Film ActressEkşi Elmalar22nd Sadri Alışık Theatre and Cinema Actors AwardsSpecial Jury Award201951st Cinema Writers Association AwardsBest ActressBizim İçin Şampiyon rowspan="4" 5th Turkey's Youth AwardsBest Film Actress2nd Izmir International Film FestivalBest Actress6th Turkey's Youth AwardsBest Film Actress20207th Golden Palm AwardsCinema Actress of the Year rowspan="2" 202233rd Ankara Film FestivalThe Fresh Breath in Cinema AwardHonorary Award 12th ITU Social Media Awards Best ActressBergen rowspan="1" 17th GSU The Bests AwardsBest TV/Cinema Actress202321st YTU Stars of The Year AwardsMost Liked Film Actress of The Year rowspan="2" 55th Cinema Writers Association AwardBest Actress 60th Antalya Golden Orange Film FestivalAchievement AwardHonorary Award5th Izmir Film FestivalBest Cinema/ Film ActressBergen
References
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