Meryem Uzerli

Meryem Uzerli
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Name:
Meryem Uzerli
Real name:
Meryem Sarah Uzerli
Who is:
Birth date:
(41 y.o.)
Place of birth:
Kassel, West Germany
Height:
5'8 ft ()
Weight:
132 lb (60 kg)
Birth Sign:
(characteristic)
Chinese zodiac:
Links:

Photos: Meryem Uzerli

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Biography of Meryem Uzerli

Meryem Uzerli is a popular Turkish-German model and actress, who gained worldwide fame for her role as Hürrem Sultan in the acclaimed Turkish TV series "Magnificent Century." Despite having a relatively small filmography, Meryem is considered one of Turkey's leading stars. Her popularity surged once more with her role as Reyyan in the melodrama "Ru," which premiered in spring 2024.
Meryem Uzerli
Meryem Uzerli

Childhood, Youth, Family

Meryem Sahra was born in summer 1983 to German-Turkish parents Ursula and Hussein Uzerli in the German city of Kassel. She is the youngest of four children.

She has two older half-brothers, Denny and Christopher, from her mother's first marriage. Her sister Canan and Meryem herself were born from the second marriage.

From an early age, she displayed acting talent, though she also considered careers as a police officer or doctor. At age five, she appeared on stage at a theater where her father's close friend served as artistic director.

Uzerli attended a school specializing in arts education. She continued acting in school productions and professional theater performances.

In 2000, Meryem beat out around three hundred other applicants to secure a spot at Hamburg's Frese Drama Studio, where she studied acting. As one of the top graduates, she was invited to join a Berlin theater troupe, where she performed in various roles.

Acting Career

Uzerli's film career kicked off in 2008 with German productions. She played Madeline in the feature film "Menage A Trois," appeared in the TV series "Inga Lindström," portrayed a student in the film "Sterne über dem Eis," and played a stewardess in the drama "Journey of No Return." This performance earned Meryem a special prize at the International Antalya Film Festival.

The actress also appeared as Lina in the sports-crime series "We All Love Football" and played Ankel in the melodrama "Ein Fall für zwei."

Meryem shot to fame with the Turkish historical drama "Magnificent Century," set during the Ottoman Empire under Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent.

Producers spent two years searching for the perfect actress to play the main character, known worldwide as the Slavic slave Roxelana. The show's producers invited Uzerli to audition in Turkey, where she was among the final candidates—though she didn't expect much.

But several factors worked in her favor: her European looks and, surprisingly, the fact that she couldn't speak Turkish. Two weeks before the project's launch, she was confirmed for the lead role.

The demanding role meant grueling days, with filming often stretching late into the night. Uzerli later admitted that after three years of the punishing schedule, she'd completely lost herself, living and breathing Hürrem Sultan.

While the role catapulted Meryem to global stardom and earned her numerous awards, she eventually reached her breaking point. Work fatigue combined with personal life problems. With just a few episodes left to shoot in the third season of "Magnificent Century," news broke that Uzerli had suddenly fled to Berlin without warning.

She called the show's management to reveal she was receiving treatment at a psychiatric clinic, describing her condition as severe. The shocking news forced producers to frantically rewrite the series finale, bringing in Vahide Perçin to play the older Hürrem Sultan.

The controversy dragged on for months. Details later surfaced about Meryem's financial disputes with management. Reports claimed she was furious that Halit Ergenç earned double her salary, prompting her to strike back at the producers. However, the main reason was a nervous breakdown.

She didn't return to Turkish television until late 2014. The dramatic series "Night Queen" was crafted specifically for her—with the script being rewritten multiple times during production—co-starring Murat Yıldırım and Uğur Polat.

The producers spared no expense promoting the project, originally called "The Scent of Love." Fans of Uzerli in various countries eagerly awaited its release. Unfortunately, the series failed to meet expectations and was axed after just 15 episodes.

She found better success with the 2016 drama "My Mother's Wound," playing the character Maria. The script came from her friend Ozan Güven, her former "Magnificent Century" co-star.

She also appeared in the crime thriller "A Bandit Cannot Rule the World" as Russian spy Susan Elliot. Turkish critics panned her performance, prompting her to cut ties with the production team.

In 2017, Uzerli declared she'd focus exclusively on feature films. Her first big-screen venture was the action-comedy "Recai the Shrewd" opposite Kenan İmirzalıoğlu. She also starred as the main character Sara in the thriller "The Hidden Face." However, both critics and audiences agreed that Meryem couldn't recapture the magic of Hürrem Sultan, finding her new performances lackluster.

She found better critical reception with the arthouse drama "The Hive" (2019), where Uzerli portrayed the beekeeper Ayşe. Her character boldly launched a new business venture, dreaming of the day when honey from her apiary would gain worldwide fame. But her plans get derailed when a massive bear invades her territory.

For this role, Uzerli received awards at the Antalya Golden Orange Film Festival for Best Actress and the Chelsea Film Festival for Best International Actress.

Beyond acting, Uzerli branched out into business, launching her own cosmetics brand, Meryem Cosmetics. She later opened a bakery in Berlin but was forced to close it a few years later due to Europe's economic crisis.

Personal Life of Meryem Uzerli

The stunning actress quickly attracted a massive fanbase eager to know more about her personal life. The moment she appeared on screen as Hürrem Sultan, rumors immediately swirled about a romance with her leading man. But Meryem's only connection to Halit Ergenç was purely professional.

Meryem's first love happened in college, where she met Özcan, a young Turkish man who was also born in Germany. Their six-year romance made Meryem happy until she discovered her boyfriend had sold paparazzi photos from their vacation, complete with nasty comments. Devastated by the betrayal, she immediately cut all ties with Özcan.

The actress says this betrayal left her withdrawn and vulnerable for a long time, both emotionally and physically. While still fragile, she met businessman Can Ateş. Meryem convinced herself he was her soulmate without really knowing who he was. Despite barely knowing him, she threw herself headfirst into the relationship.

Their intense year-long affair brought Meryem more pain than happiness. Can was far from the perfect man she'd imagined. He'd abandon her in strange cities without money, simply hop in his car and disappear.
One of my acquaintances once said to me: 'Are you crazy? At least start by Googling him.' I was shocked. This person added: 'He will harm you. He is a playboy who enjoys spending time with beautiful women.'
When Meryem became pregnant and told Ateş, he hit her with a brutal ultimatum: "I don't want another kid—I already have two. You're getting an abortion." He tried convincing Meryem he loved her but the timing wasn't right for a baby—she wasn't buying it anymore.

Realizing she was dangerously close to a breakdown, Meryem escaped to Germany and her parents, checking herself into a psychiatric facility. She kept the baby, and in February 2014, welcomed her daughter Lara into the world.

Though Meryem never married, she did have several serious relationships. She dated Turkish actor Ozan Güven, who played Rüstem in "Magnificent Century," for about a year. They later played husband and wife in the drama "My Mother's Wound." Even after their breakup, Meryem described Ozan as a caring person who supported her through tough times and stayed a close friend.

She then met Turkish entrepreneur Alp Özcan and vacationed with him in France. That romance didn't last long. Actor Çağlar Ertuğrul was another romantic interest. Rumors suggest he broke up with his fiancée for Meryem and even proposed to her. But the wedding never happened, and they split up just months later.

When Lara turned seven, news broke that Meryem had given birth to a second daughter, Lily Koi. The father is an American businessman whose identity Meryem keeps private.

Smitten with Meryem, he decided to stay in Europe. The couple lived together for a while, and he formed a close bond with Lara. They planned to marry, but COVID-19 forced them to postpone the wedding. In 2022, Meryem announced their separation, and he returned to America.

Meryem Uzerli Now

Spring 2024 saw the premiere of a new Turkish series starring Meryem Uzerli. She plays Reyan, a restaurant owner who falls for a much younger man. Though Uzer is just 18 and Reyan is 38, their connection proves to be deeply passionate and genuine.

The drama "Ru" has been a hit in Turkey, drawing strong ratings and praise from both audiences and critics. Production is set to resume in late 2024, continuing into early 2025. Fans can look forward to seeing their favorite characters return, with Meryem Uzerli and Burak Berkay Akgül continuing their compelling performances.

Interesting Facts

  • When Meryem Uzerli was a teenager, her mother was diagnosed with early-stage leukemia. Her mother lost 40 kilograms and spent several months in the hospital. Throughout this period, Meryem stayed by her side—attending school during the day, then rushing back to the hospital. Fortunately, Ursula recovered. The experience affected her so profoundly that she's spent every vacation since volunteering with sick children at the same clinic where her mother was treated. The actress believes that this experience taught her a lot.
  • The actress loves reading, cooking various dishes, and traveling the most. She's always got psychology books with her, diving into them whenever she gets a free moment. She's also drawn to documentaries about famous figures, particularly actresses like Romy Schneider.
  • Uzerli admits she wakes up absolutely starving, so she never skips a hearty breakfast. Throughout the day, she gravitates toward fish—her favorite—which she loves preparing herself when time allows. By evening, she's usually too exhausted to cook and opts for restaurant takeout instead.