Hülya Koçyiğit (born 12 December 1947) is a
Turkish actress. A prominent female lead in the
Turkish cinema, she received numerous awards at international film festivals, including the
Antalya Golden Orange Film Festival. Altogether, she has acted in some 180 films.
Biography
Koçyiğit's father is a Turkish immigrant from Bulgaria. She grew up in
Istanbul and finished her secondary education in
Ankara, where she attended Atatürk High School for Girls. After she then enrolled in Ankara Academy of State Art's
ballet department for education in the arts, she continued ballet department of Istanbul City Conservatory. She joined Istanbul City Theatre during her middle education. After
Muhsin Ertuğrul suggested, she studied in theatre department of
Ankara State Conservatory.[1]
Koçyiğit decided to venture into
cinema in 1963 after she was the runner-up in a beauty contest organized by the magazine Ses (literally: Sound). Her debut film was the 1964 Susuz Yaz (Dry Summer), which went on to win the
Golden Bear Award at the
14th Berlin International Film Festival.[2] This honor was the first of its kind ever bestowed upon a Turkish movie. Derman, a film she starred in was the first
Turkish film that played in five continents. Kurbağalar, another of her famous films was the first Turkish movie that was sold to international televisions. She received the distinction of "Turkish state artist" in 1991.
Koçyiğit holds the distinction of being the Turkish actress of having won the most national and international awards and is probably, the most recognised face of the Turkish silver screen. Her movies between 1965 and 1974, her golden period, constantly captivated movie audiences. She was recognizable in many countries like
Algeria,
Greece,
Iran,
Lebanon.
In 2009, she starred in
Altın Kızlar the Turkish TV adaptation of the famous American series, The Golden Girls. Koçyiğit played the role originated by
Bea Arthur.
Her sisters Nilüfer Koçyiğit, Feryal Koçyiğit and her daughter Gülşah Alkoçlar were child actresses. She married in 1968
Selim Soydan, then a
Fenerbahçe S.K. footballer. The couple has a daughter named
Gülşah Alkoçlar. Her grandchild Neslişah Alkoçlar married actor
Engin Altan Düzyatan.[3][4][5]
Best Actress of the Year, Turkish Ministry of Tourism (1964)
Woman of the Year, Turkish Women's Union (1964)
Golden Orange (Antalya) for Cemile (1969)
Golden Boll (Adana) for Zehra (1972)
Golden Orange (Antalya) for Diyet (1975)
Golden Orange (Antalya) for Derman (1984)
Golden Orange (Antalya) for Karılar Koğuşu (1990)
Golden Orange, Lifetime Achievement Award
Golden Boll, Lifetime Achievement Award
Çasot, Lifetime Achievement Award
Istanbul Film Festival, Honorary Award
Ankara Film Festival, Honorary Award
Uçan Süpürge Film Festival, Honorary Award
Siyad, Honorary Award
International film awards
Most Successful Actress Award for Kurbağalar, Nantes Film Festival (1987)
Best Actress Award for Bez Bebek, Amiens Film Festival (1988)
Foreign film festival appearances
London Film Festival, for Derman
Berlin Film Festival, for Susuz Yaz
Mexico Film Festival, for Susuz Yaz
Tehran Film Festival, for Gelin
Tashkent Film Festival, for Almanya Acı Vatan
Film festival screenings
Susuz Yaz Berlin Film Festival, Mexico Film Festival
Gelin Tehran Film Festival
Derman Karlovy Film Festival, Venice Film Festival, London Film Festival, Nantes Film Festival, Damascus Film Festival (She holds the greatest award), Tashkent Film Festival
Kurbağalar Nantes Film Festival, Best Actress Award