Serenay Sarikaya

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Serenay Sarikaya
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Name:
Serenay Sarikaya (Serenay Sarıkaya)
Who is:
Birth date:
(31 y.o.)
Place of birth:
Ankara
Height:
5'9 ft ()
Weight:
121 lb (55 kg)
Relationship:
single
Birth Sign:
Chinese zodiac:
Links:

Biography of Serenay Sarikaya

Serenay Sarikaya is a well-known Turkish beauty pageant winner, a vibrant actress and model whose popularity soared with roles such as 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.
Actress Serenay Sarikaya
Actress Serenay Sarikaya

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, the girl was very active, enjoyed dancing and singing, and since her family loved sports, Serenay tried many different activities: tennis, swimming, track and field, gymnastics. Later, she began to play professional volleyball seriously. But as a little girl, she spent her time outside:
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.
When Serenay was little, her parents divorced. Her mother became her best friend – she had her daughter at 20, so they easily found common ground.
...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.
It was Umran who started taking her daughter to various castings. At 14, Serenay first appeared on screen – in the comedy-drama "Şaşıfelek Çıkmazı" with Onur Ünsal in the lead role.
Serenay Sarıkaya in her childhood
Serenay Sarıkaya in her childhood
She then participated in an international children's beauty contest in the Czech Republic, where she took fourth place. The jury awarded the young Turkish girl with a special prize.

At that time, she also landed a role in the TV series "Plajda". She was torn between the modeling business and the opportunity to act in films and did not know which path to choose. Serenay's life changed dramatically when she met a woman named Ayşe, as she mentioned in an interview:
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.
Together with her mother, Sarıkaya moved to Istanbul, where she graduated from the theater department in high school and planned to pursue higher education in acting abroad. But she was called back for filming again, this time for a major role. And Serenay stayed.
Serenay Sarıkaya during her school years
Serenay Sarıkaya during her school years

Acting Career

Serenay Sarikaya landed the central character, Yesim Taskiran, in the TV series "About Lale Devri" (2010). The series was purchased by many countries, including Georgia, Lebanon, and India. Viewer opinions were divided: some liked her character, while others couldn't stand her. The actress even received real threats, which she spoke about openly on a TV show.
Serenay Sarikaya in the TV series 'About Lale Devri'
Serenay Sarikaya in the TV series 'About Lale Devri'
While filming the series, Sarikaya also participated in the Miss Turkey beauty pageant and finished as the first runner-up. She continued to walk the runways and appeared in fashion magazines for a while after that, but then shifted her focus to cinema.
Serenay Sarikaya at the Miss Turkey pageant
Serenay Sarikaya at the Miss Turkey pageant
For her role as Mira Beylice in the melodrama "Medcezir" (2013), the actress was awarded the Golden Butterfly Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role twice. Her co-stars in the series were Cagatay Ulusoy, Mine Tugay, and Taner Olmez, and the show itself won six awards in various categories at the Ayaklı Newspaper TV Stars Awards.
Serenay Sarikaya in the TV series 'Medcezir'
Serenay Sarikaya in the TV series 'Medcezir'
In the dramatic series "Ikimizin Yerine" (2016), the actress played the main character named Çiçek. Nejat Isler portrayed the literature teacher Dogan, who arrives in their village and becomes the object of Cicek's affection.
Serenay Sarikaya in the TV series 'Ikimizin Yerine'
Serenay Sarikaya in the TV series 'Ikimizin Yerine'
A new story about love and overcoming obstacles once again brought Sarikaya another award, and she was already working on a new project – "Fi" (2017), where she played the role of the young dancer Duru Durulay. This was the first Turkish web series that millions of viewers watched around the world.
Serenay Sarikaya in the TV series 'Fi'
Serenay Sarikaya in the TV series 'Fi'
After a brief hiatus, during which the actress performed in the musical "Alice in Wonderland," to the delight of Turkish audiences, Serenay returned to the screen in the melodrama "Aile" ("The Family".)
Serenay Sarikaya in the musical 'Alice in Wonderland'
Serenay Sarikaya in the musical 'Alice in Wonderland'
The casting was not without controversy. Producer Kerem Catay initially invited another actress, Ozge Ozpirincci, for the leading role of the psychologist Devin, but when she arrived in Istanbul to sign the contract, it turned out that Sarikaya would be playing the main character. Kivanc Tatlitug was her co-star in the series, and both portrayed the lovers very realistically.
Serenay Sarikaya in the TV series 'Aile'
Serenay Sarikaya in the TV series 'Aile'
In 2023, Serenay landed another leading role. This time, she starred in the Netflix-ordered mystical thriller "Sahmaran." About the series and her character, the actress said:
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 is not married and does not have any children. Turkish tabloids have linked her romantically to actors Tolgahan Sayışman, Muzaffer Yıldırım, and the influential businessman Murat Süğlün. At the time, Serenay was 22 years old, and the man was older and moreover married. Their affair, which even Murat's wife knew about, lasted just over a year before they parted ways.
Serenay Sarıkaya and Çağatay Ulusoy
Serenay Sarıkaya and Çağatay Ulusoy
During the filming of "Medcezir", rumors spread about a romance between Çağatay Ulusoy and Serenay Sarıkaya, but both denied any relationship beyond professional and friendly ones.

However, it was with Kerem Bürsin that the actress indeed shared a romantic connection for many years. After meeting on the set of a commercial, the couple remained inseparable.

In 2018, Serenay candidly shared:
We have been together for almost three years. In my opinion, a good relationship is about supporting each other. And as actors, we go through tough times. But we have found harmony. We are in each other's lives thanks to understanding, love, and respect. And it gives us the strength to overcome all difficulties. We speak honestly. I have learned a lot and discovered a lot from him. I have many funny moments associated with him. He creates a wonderful dynamic, and I really like it.
The sticking point was their differing views on starting a family and having children. While Kerem was inclined towards this life change, the still young Serenay had no desire to become a wife and mother.
Serenay Sarıkaya and Kerem Bürsin
Serenay Sarıkaya and Kerem Bürsin
In 2019, news of the couple's separation became public. Insiders claimed that Bürsin eventually managed to persuade his beloved, proposed to her, and Serenay agreed to become his wife. However, the actress's wish for a prenuptial agreement allegedly outraged the actor, leading to their breakup.
Serenay Sarıkaya and Cem Yılmaz
Serenay Sarıkaya and Cem Yılmaz
Sarıkaya found solace in the arms of the comedian Cem Yılmaz, but their romance was short-lived. Kerem also did not live a hermit's life. However, at the beginning of 2024, the press began to report that the couple was back together and dating again. This was covered in both Turkish and Arabic media.

Serenay Sarıkaya Now

The beginning of 2024 brought the actress participation 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 caused dissatisfaction among colleagues, who believed that the organizers were biased towards young actors and awarded those with high viewership ratings.
Serenay Sarıkaya in 2024
Serenay Sarıkaya in 2024
It was also revealed that Serenay will star in a new Netflix series titled "Who Came, Who Left." She will play the role of Leyla Taylan, a lawyer who embarks on a serious fight that drastically changes her life. The actress shared that the story is not only about love but also about friendship, betrayal, and complex human relationships.

Interesting Facts

  • Serenay Sarikaya keeps an unusual diary where she doesn't record past events but everything that, in her opinion, should happen. She believes in what she writes, reads it over, and thinks that this technique really works: "I think when I make such entries, they start working faster in the subconscious. This system suits me. I believe in the power of writing. It's more beneficial if you write it in large letters on paper and hang it in the room," the actress stated.

  • Sarikaya enjoys celebrating both new beginnings and endings in unique ways. For instance, after finishing the shooting of the series "Shahmaran," the actress rewarded herself with a trip to New York, where she celebrated the end of a long, exhausting, and wonderful process with champagne every day and made room in her heart for something new. Upon returning to Turkey, she began working on a new project.

  • Sarikaya admits that she cooks lentil soup the best, and her fridge always contains various kinds of cheese. She also loves her couch, where she watches movies according to her mood. If she wants to cry, it's "La Vie en Rose"; if she wants to laugh, it's "The Office" with Steve Carell. Overall, Sarikaya dreams of having the superpower to fly, allowing her to teleport to any place on the planet without spending much time and money on moving and flights.