Merve Dizdar (born 25 June 1986) is a Turkish actress. She is best known for her roles in War of the Eltis (2020), The Innocents (2020–2022), The Life and Movies of Erşan Kuneri (2022–present), and Snow and the Bear (2022). In 2020, she won the Golden Butterfly Award for Best Actress for her role in The Innocents. Dizdar became the first Turkish actress to win the Cannes Film Festival Award for Best Actress for her performance in About Dry Grasses (2023).
Early life and career Dizdar was born on 25 June 1986 in İzmir. She is a graduate of Çanakkale Onsekiz Mart University School of Fine Arts with a degree in acting. She received her master's degree in acting from Kadir Has University.
She started her career on stage by joining Semaver Company and continued it at Craft Theatre. Dizdar made her cinematic debut with Bir Ses Böler Geceyi (2011) alongside Cem Davran and pursued a career in television with recurring roles in the series Kavak Yelleri, Geniş Aile, Bir Yastıkta, Doksanlar, Çılgın Dershane Üniversite, and was first noted with her role in Beş Kardeş. She also worked for TRT Children, presenting the programs Arkadaşım Bıdı and 23 Nisan Şenliğe Doğru.
Dizdar won the Afife Jale Theatre Best Actress Award for her role in the play Yutmak. She then joined the cast of hit series 7 Yüz, Vatanım Sensin, and Mucize Doktor respectively. In 2020, she had a leading role with Uraz Kaygılaroğlu in the Gupse Özay's comedy film Eltilerin Savaşı, which as of April 2021 is the 22nd most-watched movie of all time in Turkey according to Box Office Türkiye. She shared the leading role with Serenay Sarıkaya, Ezgi Mola, Enis Arıkan, Şükrü Özyıldız in a musical adaptation of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland.
In 2020, she began appearing in the series Masumlar Apartmanı and won the Golden Butterfly Awards Best Actress award. She played an actress and her many roles in the Netflix spinoff comedy series Erşan Kuneri. In 2023, she starred in Nuri Bilge Ceylan's Kuru Otlar Üstüne, becoming the first Turkish actress to win at the 76th Cannes Film Festival with the Best Actress award for her portrayal of a teacher.
During her acceptance speech, Dizdar dedicated her award to Turkish women. She stated "all my sisters" who actively engage in strengthening the women's rights movement, displaying resilience and unwavering hope despite the challenges they face''. Ibrahim Uslu, the deputy chairman of the Radio and Television Supreme Council, accused Dizdar of undermining Turkey. The incident sparked reactions and debates within the country.
Filmography Film YearTitle Original title Role Notes2011A Noise in the NightBir Ses Böler GeceyiGülizar / Demet2013Dairy PhilosopherMandıra FilozofuSecretary2016No Way 2Yok Artık 2Buket2017Organic Love StoriesOrganik Aşk HikayeleriNazlıThe GulfKörfezPınarPremiered at the 2017 Venice International Film Festival2018My Name Is Batlir, Not ButlerBatlırYudum2019One Love Two LivesBir Aşk İki HayatSema Yaşar2020War of the EltisEltilerin SavaşıGizem Altundağ2021Have You Ever Seen Fireflies?Sen Hiç Ateşböceği Gördün mü?İzzetNetflix film2022Snow and the BearKar ve AyıAslıPremiered at the 2022 Toronto International Film FestivalThe GarageTamirhaneAynur2023Alice the Musical Alice MüzikaliKediDisney+ filmAbout Dry GrassesKuru Otlar ÜstüneNurayPremiered at the 2023 Cannes Film Festival
Web YearTitle Original title Role Platform2017Seven Faces7YÜZNihalBluTV2022–2024The Life and Movies of Erşan KuneriErşan KuneriFeride OrhunNetflix2023–presentMagarsusMagarsusTansuBluTV
Television YearTitle Original title Role Network2010–2011DaydreamingKavak YelleriSalihaKanal D2012Kingdom of Peopleİnsanlar AlemiStar TV2013On a PillowBir YastıktaYeliz GelinTRT 12013–2014The NinetiesDoksanlarSelinATV2014Çilgin Dersane at the UniversityÇılgın Dersane ÜniversitedeÖzgeShow TV2015Orphan FlowersKırgın ÇiçeklerİremATVFive BrothersBeş KardeşFatmaKanal DNew LifeYeni HayatSekreter2015–2016The LizardKertenkeleİremATV2017Face to FaceYüz YüzeYeşimShow TV2017–2018Wounded LoveVatanım SensinEfsunKanal D2020A MiracleMucize DoktorDamlaFox2020–2022The Innocents Masumlar ApartmanıGülben Derenoğlu BilenTRT 12021The Red RoomKırmızı OdaGülben Derenoğlu Bilen(guest actress)TV82023–2024ÖmerÖmerNisaStar TV
Theatre YearTitle2010Çok Yaşa Dünya2010–2011Bir Tutam Hayat2011–2012Titus Andronicus2012Bir Kurşun Deliğine Kaç İnsan Sığar2013Bir İnfazın Portresi2013Pamuk Prenses ve Yedi Cüceler2014The Birds2017Yutmak2019Alice Müzikali (published in Disney Plus)2021Dijital Sahne: On İkinci Gece (published in YouTube)
Awards and nominations +Name of the award ceremony, year presented, category, nominee of the award, and the result of the nomination Award Year Category Nominated work Result Antalya Golden Orange Film Festival2022Best Actress – National CompetitionSnow and the BearAyakli Gazete TV Stars Awards2021Best Supporting Actress The InnocentsBest Theater ActressHerselfBosphorus Film Festival2022Best Actress – National CompetitionSnow and the BearCannes Film Festival2023Best ActressAbout Dry GrassesGolden Butterfly Awards2021Best Actress The Innocents2022Best Actress in a Comedy SeriesThe Life and Movies of Erşan KuneriIzmir International Festival2020Best Supporting Actress – FilmOne Love Two Lives2022Best Actress – TelevisionThe InnocentsPRODU Awards2021Best Actress in a Foreign SeriesThe InnocentsReelHeART International Film Festival2017Best Ensemble CastOrganic Love StoriesTurkish Film Critics Association Awards2020Best ActressWar of the Eltis2023About Dry Grasses - "Most Successful Actress of the Year" - Yutmak - Craft Theatre - 2017 (nom) - "Most Successful Actress of the Year" - Yutmak - Craft Theatre - 2017
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