Damla Sönmez

Turkish actress (born 1987)

Damla Sönmez

Sönmez in 2019

Born|

Tilya Damla Sönmez

(1987-05-03) 3 May 1987 (age 38)

Istanbul, Turkey

Citizenship| Turkish
Education|

* St. Joseph High School
* Mimar Sinan University State Conservatory
* Paris Sorbonne University
* Yeditepe University
* London School of Dramatic Art

Occupation| Actress
Years active| 2004–present
Website| www.damlasonmez.com.tr

Tilya Damla Sönmez (born 3 May 1987) is a Turkish actress and voiceover artist.[1][2][3] She gained worldwide recognition for her movies Sibel and I Am You.[4][5] Her prominent TV roles include Ceylan in Bir Aşk Hikayesi, Gülru in Güllerin Savaşı, and Efsun in Çukur.

## Early life and education

[edit]

Damla Sönmez is an only child. Her maternal family is Abkhazian immigrants. Her paternal grandparent is of Circassian descent who immigrated to Diyarbakır from Syria.[6][7] Her father is an engineer and programmer, and her mother works as an architect. Her biggest passion as a child was theater and cinema. She began to study at theater studios early on. During school years, Damla constantly played on stage, and began to appear in commercials on television. In those years she was promised a great future already.[8][9]

After graduating from Saint Joseph French High School in Istanbul, she was accepted to Université de La Sorbonne Nouvelle Paris in the Theatre department. She studied for a year in Paris before being awarded a scholarship to the Yeditepe University Fine Arts Theatre Department in Istanbul.[10] Sönmez also studied semi-timed 2 years violin and 1 year piano in Mimar Sinan University State Conservatory.[11] She had later attended Jillian O’Dowd's Contemporary Acting Workshop at the London Dramatic School of Art and worked with Stuart Burney at the Black Nexxus Academy in New York.[citation needed]

## Career

[edit]

### Films

[edit]

In 2009, she starred in Bornova Bornova and won the "Best Supporting Actress" at the 46th Golden Orange Film Festival,[12] alongside other awards at the Sadri Alışık Awards and the Flying Broom International Women's Film Festival.[13][14] She became the Young President of the festival at the 18th Broom Broom Women Films Festival in 2015 and she won the 21st Golden Boll Film Festival and the Best Actress Award at the Milano International Film Festival (MIFF) for her role in the film "Sea Level (Deniz Seviyesi)".[15] She starred in film Sibel about Turkish bird language and released many international festivals. She won "Sadri Alışık Best Actress Award".[16][17] With Ali Atay, she played in the surreal art house film Sen Aydınlatırsın Geceyi which was released at the Toronto International Film Festival and period film Ayla which was selected as the Turkish entry for the Best Foreign Language Film at the 90th Academy Awards.[18][19]

### Television series

[edit]

In her television career, she played supporting roles in hit series Emret Komutanım, Gece Gündüz, and Türkan. A turning point in her television career was when she was cast as a bride who suffers from loss of memory in the series Şubat. Her first leading role was Bir Aşk Hikayesi, an adaptation of I'm Sorry, I Love You, where she played the role of Ceylan alongside actor Seçkin Özdemir. [20]

In 2014, she starred in the TV series Güllerin Savaşı as Gülru alongside Canan Ergüder.[21] In 2019, she joined season 3 of Çukur portraying Efsun Kent, a character that gained a lot of media attention.[22] Sönmez sang many classic Turkish arabesque songs as part of her role in Çukur including "Durdurun Dünyayı", "Su Ver Leyla", "Sen Affetsen Ben Affetmem", "Sorma", and "Son Mektup".[23][24] In 2021, it was announced that she will star in the TV series Aziz as Dilruba alongside actor Murat Yıldırım.[21]

### Web series

[edit]

In 2017, she played the main role in an episode of BluTV's anthology series 7 Yüz (7 Faces).[25] In 2020, she portrayed Ana in Netflix's historical docudrama Rise of Empires: Ottoman.[26] In 2021, she joined season 2 of BluTV's hit series Saygı (Respect) as Arya Şahin, a public prosecutor.[27]

## Filmography

[edit]

Cinema

Year  | Title  | Role
2009  | Kampüste Çıplak Ayaklar | Ebru
Bornova Bornova | Özlem
2010  | Çakal | Deniz
Mahpeyker: Kösem Sultan | Kösem Sultan
2012  | Kurtuluş Son Durak | Tülay
Uzun Hikâye | Ayla
2013  | Sen Aydınlatırsın Geceyi | Defne
2014  | Deniz Seviyesi | Damla
2017  | Taksim Hold'em | Defne
Ayla: The Daughter of War | Nuran
2018  | Sibel | Sibel
2019  | I Am You | Aisha
2024  | Tezgah |
Seni Bıraktığım Yerdeyim | Nihan
Web series
Year  | Title  | Role
2017  | 7 Yüz | Pınar
2019  | Rise of Empires: Ottoman | Ana
2021  | Saygı[28] | Arya Şahin
TBA  | Çırak | Hacker
Television
Year  | Title  | Role
2004  | Camdan Pabuçlar | Gülçin
Omuz Omuza | Pelin
2005  | Kapıları Açmak | Gülşen
2006  | Pertev Bey'in Üç Kızı | Nermin
Şarkılar Susmasın | Aycan
Sahte Prenses | Sedef
2006–2007  | Fırtınalı Aşk | Melda Talay
2008  | Emret Komutanım | Karamel
2008–2009  | Gece Gündüz | Pınar
2010–2011  | Türkan | Turhan
2012  | Şubat | Gelin
2013–2014  | Bir Aşk Hikâyesi (A Love Story) | Ceylan German
2014–2016  | Güllerin Savaşı | Gülru Çelik Sipahi
2017  | Aşk ve Gurur | Zeynep
2018  | Masum Değiliz | Selin
2019–2021  | Çukur | Efsun
2021–2022  | Aziz | Dilruba[21]
2023  | Maviye Sürgün | Defne Boz
2024  | Kötü Kan | Nazan Kaya
Short film
Year  | Title  | Role
2008  | The Irony Series 1: Hope | Damla
2011  | Alala | Kardeş (sister)
2011  | Korkuluk | Kadın (woman)
2019  | The Cut | Journalist
2020  | Don't Get Me Wrong But | Günseli
2020  | The Second Night | Leyla
Advertisement
Year  | Title  | Notes
2004  | Orkid |
2016  | LCW - Geri Sayım Başladı  | dubbing
2017  | Becel - Kalbini Sev | dubbing
2017  | Dogadan[29] | voiceover
2017  | Modacruz[30] | voiceover
2017  | Vestel[31] | voiceover
2019  | Bosch | voiceover
2020  | L'Oréal |
2021  | Biscolata | voiceover

## Theater

[edit]

Year[32] | Title  | Writer  | Director  | Role  | Notes

|
|
|
|
|

2008  | Sürmanşet  | Sinan Tuzcu | Arif Akkaya  |  | Director Assistant
2009  | Alışveriş ve S***ş / Shopping and F***ing  | Mark Ravenhill | Murat Daltaban  |  | Project Design / Dramaturg
2012  | Yalnız Batı[33] | Martin McDonagh | Serkan Üstüner  | Girleen  |
2014  | Savaş | Lars Noren | Serdar Biliş  | Benina  |
2016  | Parçacıklar  | Nick Payne | Tamer Can Erkan  | Marianne  |
2017  | Bi Parça Plastik  | Marius von Mayenburg | Sündüz Haşar  |  | Project Coordinator
2021  | Hamlet | William Shakespeare | İbrahim Çiçek  | Ophelia | Digital theater[34]

## Awards and nominations

[edit]

Year  | Awards  | Category  | Works  | Result

|
|
|
|

2009  | Antalya Golden Orange Film Festival  | Best Supporting Actress  | Bornova Bornova | Won[35]
2010  | Ankara Flying Broom International Women's Film Festival

Young Witch Award

| Best Actress[14] | Bornova Bornova | Won
2014  | Adana Film Festival

Golden Boll in National Feature Film

| Best Actress  | Deniz Seviyesi  | Won[36]
2018  | Adana Film Festival

Golden Boll in National Feature Film

| Best Actress  | Sibel  | Won[37]
2018  | Kayseri Film Festival  | Best Actress  | Taksim Hold'em  | Won[38]
2018  | London Film Week  | Best Acting  | Sibel  | Won[39]
2015  | Milano International Film Festival Awards (MIFF Awards)

Leonardo's Horse

| Best Actress  | Deniz Seviyesi  | Won[40]
2018  | Asia Pacific Screen Awards  | Best Performance by an Actress  | Sibel  | Nominated[41]
2020  | Florence Film Awards  | Best Actress  | I Am You  | Won[42]
2018  | Kayseri Film Festival

Golden Sycamore

| Best Actress  | Taksim Hold'em  | Won[43]
2010  | Sadri Alisik Theatre and Cinema Awards  | Promising Actor Award  | Bornova Bornova | Won[44]
2019  | Sadri Alisik Theatre and Cinema Awards  | Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - Drama  | Sibel  | Won[45]
2019  | Seattle International Film Festival

Golden Space Needle Award

| Best Actress  | Sibel  | Won[46]
2019  | Turkish Film Critics Association (SIYAD) Awards  | Best Actress  | Sibel  | Won[47]
2013  | Turkish Film Critics Association (SIYAD) Awards  | Best Supporting Actress  | Sen Aydinlatirsin Geceyi  | Nominated[48]
2009  | Turkish Film Critics Association (SIYAD) Awards  | Best Supporting Actress  | Bornova Bornova | Nominated
2009  | Yesilçam Award  | Best Young Talent  | Bornova Bornova | Nominated[49]
2010  | Yesilçam Award  | Best Young Talent  | Mahpeyker - Kösem Sultan  | Nominated[50]
2014  | Yeni Tiyatro Dergisi Emek ve Başarı Awards  | Most Successful Actress of the Year in a Supporting Role  | Savaş  | Won[51]
2018  | Ulusal Yarışma  | Best Actress  | Sibel  | Won[52]
2018  | 6th Muret Film Festival (France)  | Best Actress  | Sibel  | Won[53]
2018  | Eskisehir International Film Festival  | Best Performance of the Year  | Sibel  | Won[54]
2019  | Mef Schools - Changemakers Award  | Changemaker  |  | Won[55]
2019  | Frankfurt Turkish Film Festival  | Best Actress  | Sibel  | Won[56]
2018  | Afife Theater Awards  | Best Supporting Actress of the Year  | Bi Parça Plastik  | Nominated[57]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Damla Sönmez". beyazperde.
2. ^ "ALTIN PORTAKAL ÖDÜLLÜ OYUNCU DAMLA SÖNMEZ'DEN BUNALIM İTİRAFI! - Uçankuş". m.ucankus.com (in Turkish). 3 May 2020. Retrieved 15 August 2021.
3. ^ "İbrahim Selim ile Bu Gece: Damla Sönmez, Nişan Atmama Challenge, İnek Tinder'ı, Efsane Rap Battle". Turlimi (in Turkish). Retrieved 15 August 2021.
4. ^ Productions, Breadwinner. ""I AM YOU," a powerful movie about Afghan refugees, begins worldwide screenings". www.prnewswire.com (Press release). Retrieved 17 September 2021.
5. ^ Goi, Leonardo (22 August 2018). "Locarno Review: 'Sibel' is a Perceptive, Timely Allegorical Drama". The Film Stage. Retrieved 17 September 2021.
6. ^ "'Sandalye birleştirip uyutulan çocuklardanım'". 6 February 2013. Archived from the original on 6 July 2013.
7. ^ "Damla Sönmez: Bizde yarım kalan öykülerden bol bir şey yok". 4 November 2014. Archived from the original on 3 February 2017.
8. ^ "Damla Sönmez Career".
9. ^ "'Sandalye birleştirip uyutulan çocuklardanım'". 6 February 2013.
10. ^ "Damla Sönmez". www.onemgunal.com. Retrieved 15 October 2021.
11. ^ Saruhan, Ece (24 July 2015). "'Yeni masallar yazmalıyız'". Habertürk. p. Culture and Art. Retrieved 26 October 2009.
12. ^ "Altın Portakal bu yıl iki filme gitti". CNN Türk. 18 October 2009. Retrieved 26 October 2009.
13. ^ "15. Sadri Alışık Sinema ve Tiyatro Oyuncu Ödülleri sahiplerini buldu". Milliyet. 21 April 2010. p. Cinema. Retrieved 19 September 2016.
14. ^ a b "Genç cadı ödülü sahibini buldu". HaberTürk. 14 May 2010. Archived from the original on 20 November 2016. Retrieved 19 November 2016. "Uçan Süpürge Kadın Filmleri Festivali'nde ödülü Damla Sönmez aldı"
15. ^ "Damla Sönmez, Milano'da ayakta alkışlandı". CNN Türk. 11 September 2015. Retrieved 19 November 2016.
16. ^ "Sadri̇ Alişik Kültür Merkezi̇ Ödülleri̇".
17. ^ "Sibel filmi için ıslık dili öğrendiler".
18. ^ "Türkiye'nin Oscar adayı belli oldu". 24 August 2017.
19. ^ "Sen Aydınlatırsın Geceyi Toronto'da | Milliyet Sanat".
20. ^ "Damla Sönmez kimdir, nereli ve kaç yaşında?". Sözcü. 16 September 2019. Retrieved 7 June 2021.
21. ^ a b c "Damla Sönmez Aziz dizisinde… Kenan karakteri kimin oldu? | Birsen Altuntaş" (in Turkish). 16 August 2021. Retrieved 16 August 2021.
22. ^ "Çukur'un yeni yıldızları: Damla Sönmez (Efsun) ve Hazal Subaşı (Nehir)". www.ntv.com.tr (in Turkish). Retrieved 17 September 2021.
23. ^ "Çukur'un Efsun'u Damla Sönmez'den 'Sen Affetsen Ben Affetmem' performansı - Son Dakika Televizyon Haberleri | AKŞAM". aksam.com.tr (in Turkish). 23 February 2021. Retrieved 17 September 2021.
24. ^ "Cansever - Durdurun Dünyayı şarkı sözleri Çukur Efsun'un söylediği şarkının adı ne, kimin". Haberler.com (in Turkish). 8 February 2021. Retrieved 17 September 2021.
25. ^ "7 YÜZ çok yakında başlıyor". CNN Türk (in Turkish). 12 October 2018. Retrieved 6 October 2021.
26. ^ Simon, Alissa (14 February 2019). "Turkish Actress Damla Sonmez to Star in Netflix Docu-Drama 'Ottoman Rising'". Variety. Retrieved 6 October 2021.
27. ^ "Damla Sönmez'li Saygı çekimlere başladı! Güzel oyuncu setten ilk pozunu paylaştı!". Televizyon Gazetesi (in Turkish). 28 June 2021. Retrieved 6 October 2021.
28. ^ "Damla Sönmez'in yeni projesi belli oldu! 'Saygı' için el sıkıştı". aksam.com.tr (in Turkish). 26 May 2021. Retrieved 21 June 2021.
29. ^ DAMLA SÖNMEZ' İN SESİNDEN DOĞADAN ZENCEFİL IHLAMUR BALLI REKLAM FİLMİ, 20 November 2017, retrieved 13 October 2021
30. ^ DAMLA SÖNMEZ' İN SESİNDEN MODACRUZ REKLAM FİLMİ, 21 March 2017, retrieved 13 October 2021
31. ^ DAMLA SÖNMEZ' İN SESİNDEN VESTEL REKLAM FİLMİ, 18 May 2017, retrieved 13 October 2021
32. ^ Damla Sönmez, tiyatrolar.com.tr
33. ^ "Yalnız Batı | tiyatrolar.com.tr". tiyatrolar.com.tr (in Turkish). Retrieved 13 October 2021.
34. ^ Dijital Sahne #1 : Hamlet, 7 January 2021, retrieved 11 August 2022
35. ^ "Antalya Golden Orange Film Festival 2009". MUBI. Retrieved 21 June 2021.
36. ^ "Adana Golden Boll Film Festival 2014". MUBI. Retrieved 21 June 2021.
37. ^ Goodfellow, Melanie (1 October 2018). "'Sibel', 'Butterflies', 'The Announcement' and 'Burning' triumph at Adana Film Festival". Screen. Retrieved 21 June 2021.
38. ^ "6. Kayseri̇ Uluslararası Fi̇lm Festi̇vali̇'nde Altın Çınar Ödülleri̇ni̇n Sahi̇pleri̇ Belli Oldu – Kayseri Film Festivali" (in Turkish). Retrieved 21 June 2021.
39. ^ londonfilmweek. "2018 Awards – London Film Week". Retrieved 21 June 2021.
40. ^ "Medals of honor | Miff Awards". www.miffawards.com. Retrieved 21 June 2021.
41. ^ "Damla Sönmez in Sibel". Asia Pacific Screen Awards. Retrieved 21 June 2021.
42. ^ AWARDS, FLORENCE FILM. "July 2020". FLORENCE FILM AWARDS (in Italian). Retrieved 15 August 2021.
43. ^ "6. Kayseri̇ Uluslararası Fi̇lm Festi̇vali̇'nde Altın Çınar Ödülleri̇ni̇n Sahi̇pleri̇ Belli Oldu – Kayseri Film Festivali" (in Turkish). Retrieved 15 August 2021.
44. ^ "Damla Sönmez kimdir, hangi dizilerde rol aldı?". Milliyet (in Turkish). 3 September 2019. Retrieved 15 August 2021.
45. ^ Beyazperde (7 May 2019). "Sadri Alışık Sinema ve Tiyatro Ödülleri Belli Oldu". Beyazperde (in Turkish). Retrieved 15 August 2021.
46. ^ "SIFF 2019 Award Winners". www.siff.net. Retrieved 15 August 2021.
47. ^ "SİYAD'ın yıldızı 'Kız Kardeşler'". www.hurriyet.com.tr (in Turkish). 24 August 2020. Retrieved 15 August 2021.
48. ^ "SİYAD Ödülleri 46. Kez Sahiplerini Buluyor, İşte Adaylar". Ekşi Sinema (in Turkish). 8 January 2014. Retrieved 15 August 2021.
49. ^ "3. (Yeşilçam ödülleri adayları açıklandı". www.intersinema.com. Archived from the original on 7 January 2017. Retrieved 15 August 2021.
50. ^ "Ekranda güller açtıran kadın: Damla Sönmez /12 - Radikal Radikalist". Radikal (in Turkish). Retrieved 15 August 2021.
51. ^ "Tiyatro Ödülleri | tiyatrolar.com.tr". tiyatrolar.com.tr. Retrieved 15 August 2021.
52. ^ "'En İyi Film' Yol Kenarı oldu!". www.haberturk.com (in Turkish). Retrieved 15 August 2021.
53. ^ "İKSV GALALARI: SİBEL". www.iksv.org. Retrieved 15 August 2021.
54. ^ Beyazperde (5 November 2018). ""Yılın Performansı Ödülleri" Damla Sönmez ve Kemal Burak Alper'e!". Beyazperde (in Turkish). Retrieved 15 August 2021.
55. ^ Eğitim, Hürriyet (15 February 2019). "Liselilerden 'fark yaratanlar'a ödül". www.hurriyet.com.tr (in Turkish). Retrieved 15 August 2021.
56. ^ "Film Festivalleri". www.kameraarkasi.org. Retrieved 15 August 2021.
57. ^ "Adaylar / 2018 | Kazananlar ve Adaylar / 2018". www.afife.org. Retrieved 15 August 2021.

## External links

[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Damla Sönmez.

* Damla Sönmez at IMDb
* Official website

* v
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Golden Boll Award for Best Actress

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* Hatice Aslan - Görkem Yeltan (2011)
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* Deniz Özdoğan - Damla Sönmez (2014)
* Nihal Koldaş (2015)
* Gizem Erdem (2016)
* Başak Köklükaya (2017)
* Damla Sönmez (2018)
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