Biography of Serenay Sarikaya
Serenay Sarikaya is a Turkish beauty pageant winner turned actress and model who shot to fame with standout roles like Mira Beylice in the dramedy "Medcezir," Duru Durulay in the melodrama "Fi," and Devin in the crime action movie "The Family." She has been awarded the prestigious Turkish "Golden Butterfly Award" twice and serves as the face of Bulgari in her home country.
Childhood, Adolescence, Family
Serenay was born in the summer of 1992 to Mustafa and Umran Seyhan Sarıkaya in the Turkish capital, Ankara.From early childhood, she was incredibly active, loving dance and singing, and with a sports-loving family, Serenay tried everything: tennis, swimming, track and field, gymnastics. Later, she began to play professional volleyball seriously. As a little girl, though, she lived for the outdoors:
When Serenay was young, her parents divorced. Her mother became her best friend – having had her daughter at just 20, they easily connected.My mother couldn't drag me home. I had a very happy and fun childhood. I would play in the streets all day long, covered in dirt. Nowadays, I feel sad for children who stay at home with tablets. We are probably the last generation who spent their childhood in our neighborhoods.
It was Umran who started taking her daughter to various castings. At 14, Serenay made her screen debut in the comedy-drama "Şaşıfelek Çıkmazı" starring Onur Ünsal....together we started our struggle for life, overcoming everything together for a long time. And in addition to all this, my mom has a special soul, she taught me many things. She really believed in me, taught me to appreciate everything that makes us human.
At that time, she also landed a role in the TV series "Plajda". She found herself torn between modeling and acting, unsure which path to pursue. Everything changed when she met a woman named Ayşe, as Serenay revealed in an interview:
She and her mother moved to Istanbul, where she graduated from high school's theater department with plans to study acting abroad. But another film opportunity came calling – this time, a major role. And Serenay stayed.The turning point in my life was my first meeting with my manager, Ayşe Barim. At that time, I was working as a model, walking the runway. It was a hectic period in my life. I was very young. I wanted to do everything quickly to change everything. Ayse said one wonderful thing: «Go and think a little about what you want in this life? Who do you want to become? What will make you happy? How will you earn money? First, make a decision.» And after that, I didn't see Ayse for three months. Once I believed that I really enjoyed acting, I steered in that direction. For me, it was like being reborn.
Acting Career
Serenay Sarikaya scored the lead role of Yesim Taskiran in the TV series "About Lale Devri" (2010). The series was purchased by many countries, including Georgia, Lebanon, and India. Audiences were split: some loved her character, while others absolutely hated her. The actress actually received death threats, which she discussed openly on television.
Shahsu is just a teacher who decided to reconcile with her grandfather after her mother's death. However, as she gets drawn into a completely new world for her, she confronts her past, her roots, and discovers that she is a very important part of a prophecy... They all undergo various tests to rid themselves of the burden of the past and make room for the new. They destroy and rebuild what they know as truth, custom, fate. They move into the unknown in search of a new order and balance. What they find is no secret. A return to factory settings. With the most primitive impulses and feelings.
Serenay Sarıkaya's Personal Life
The actress remains unmarried and has no children. Turkish tabloids have romantically linked her to actors Tolgahan Sayışman, Muzaffer Yıldırım, and influential businessman Murat Süğlün. At the time, Serenay was 22 years old, while he was older and married. Their affair—which even Murat's wife knew about—lasted just over a year before ending.
However, the actress did share a real romantic connection with Kerem Bürsin for many years. After meeting on a commercial set, the couple became inseparable.
In 2018, Serenay candidly shared:
The sticking point was their different views on starting a family and having children. While Kerem was ready for this life change, the still-young Serenay had no desire to become a wife and mother.We've been together for almost three years. In my opinion, a good relationship is about supporting each other. As actors, we go through tough times, but we've found harmony. We're in each other's lives through understanding, love, and respect, and it gives us strength to overcome all difficulties. We speak honestly. I've learned so much from him and discovered so much. I have many funny moments with him. He creates a wonderful dynamic that I really love.
Serenay Sarıkaya Now
Early 2024 saw the actress participating in the award ceremony at Yıldız Technical University. After "Shahmaran" was announced as the winner in the "Best Digital Series" category and Sarıkaya received the award, she took the stage for the second time to also claim the prize for "Best Actress in a Series." This sparked dissatisfaction among industry colleagues, who felt the organizers favored young actors and rewarded those with high viewership numbers.
Interesting Facts
- Serenay Sarikaya keeps an unusual diary where she doesn't record past events but writes down everything she believes should happen. She believes in what she writes, reads it repeatedly, and swears this technique actually works: "I think when I write these things down, they start working faster in my subconscious. This system suits me. I believe in the power of writing. It works better if you write it in big letters on paper and hang it up in your room," the actress stated.
- Sarikaya has a unique way of celebrating both new beginnings and endings. For instance, after finishing the shooting of the series "Shahmaran," the actress treated herself to a New York trip, where she celebrated the end of a long, exhausting, yet wonderful journey with daily champagne toasts while making room in her heart for something new. Upon returning to Turkey, she began working on a new project.
- Sarikaya admits her specialty is lentil soup, and she always keeps her fridge stocked with various types of cheese. She also loves her couch, where she watches movies according to her mood. When she wants to cry, she goes for "La Vie en Rose"; when she wants to laugh, it's "The Office" with Steve Carell. Sarikaya dreams of having the superpower of flight, which would let her teleport anywhere on the planet without spending tons of time and money on travel.