Cahide Sonku
Cahide Sonku (born Cahide Serap; 27 December 1919 – 18 March 1981) was a Turkish actress, model, writer and the first female film director in Turkey.[1] Sonku was the founder of her own movie production company, Sonku Film, in 1950. She was thrice married and divorced.
Cahide Sonku | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | Cahide Serap 27 December 1919 |
| Died | 18 March 1981 (aged 61) |
| Occupation(s) | Actress, model, writer, film director |
| Years active | 1933–1971 |
| Spouse(s) | Talat Artemel (1936–1938; divorced) İhsan Doruk (1943–1954; divorced) |
| Children | Ender Doruk (daughter) |
Life
Sonku' first theater and cinema experience was during her secondary school education. She was accepted into Darülbedayi when she was only 16 years old, and in time she took her place among the most popular actors of Istanbul City Theatres. She started acting with "Seven Village Zeynebi" first at the People's Houses Theater, then at the Istanbul Municipality Conservatory, and then at Darülbedayi (1932-City Theaters), discovered by Muhsin Ertuğrul who was an important figure in Sonku's career.
Sonku founded the production company "Sonku Film" in 1950 and however went bankrupt in 1963 due to a fire that burned down the company building. She continued working at the City Theater through Muhsin Ertuğrul's influence, then left and struggled with alcohol addiction in the last years of her life.
Sonku received the Turkish Film Critics Association service award in 1979 and died in 1981 at the Alkazar Cinema in Istanbul, at the age of 61. She was buried in Zincirlikuyu Cemetery. Cahide Sonku Prize is awarded in her memory at the annual Antalya Golden Orange Film Festival.
Filmography
| Year | Film | Duty | Notes | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Actor | Director | Producer | Role | |||
| 1933 | Söz Bir Allah Bir | Yes | ||||
| 1934 | Bataklı Damın Kızı Aysel | Yes | Aysel | |||
| 1940 | Şehvet Kurbanı | Yes | ||||
| 1940 | Akasya Palas | Yes | ||||
| 1942 | Kıskanç | Yes | ||||
| 1945 | Yayla Kartalı | Yes | Nermin | |||
| 1946 | Senede Bir Gün | Yes | Nazlı | |||
| 1947 | Yuvamı Yıkamazsın | Yes | ||||
| 1949 | Fedakar Ana | Yes | Yes | |||
| 1951 | Vatan ve Namık Kemal | Yes | Yes | Co-directed with Talat Artemel and Sami Ayanoğlu. | ||
| 1952 | Günahını Ödeyen Adam | Yes | ||||
| 1953 | Beklenen Şarkı | Yes | Yes | Yes | ||
| 1955 | İlk ve Son | Yes | ||||
| 1956 | Büyük Sır | Yes | ||||
| 1962 | Ayşecik Yavru Melek | Yes | ||||
| 1965 | Yahya Peygamber | Yes | ||||
| 1965 | Korkusuzlar | Yes | ||||
| 1965 | Düşman Kardeşler | Yes | ||||
| 1965 | Beyaz Atlı Adam | Yes | ||||
| 1965 | Sevgim ve Gururum | Yes | ||||
| 1966 | Sevda Çiçeğim | Yes | ||||
| 1966 | Kovboy Ali | Yes | ||||
| 1966 | El Kızı | Yes | ||||
| 1966 | Çalıkuşu | Yes | ||||
| 1966 | At Avrat Silah | Yes | ||||
| 1966 | Sokak Kızı | Yes | ||||
| 1967 | Serseriler Kralı | Yes | ||||
| 1967 | Bizansı Titreten Yiğit | Yes | ||||
| 1971 | Mıstık | Yes | ||||
References
- "Cahide Sonku'nun hikayesi: Parlak ışıklardan bulaşıkçılığa". Posta. 4 March 2018. Archived from the original on 13 June 2018. Retrieved 12 April 2020.
