Cahide Sonku
Actor
Biography
Cahide Sonku (27 December 1912 – 18 March 1981) was a Turkish actress, model, writer and the first female film director in Turkey. Sonku was the founder of her own movie production company, Sonku Film, in 1950. 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.
As Director
Filmography
The Wren
1966
The Girl From The Marsh Croft
as Aysel 1934
A Song to Long For
as Seniha 1953
Victims of Lust
1940
Ayşecik Yavru Melek
as Büyükanne 1962
The Stranger's Daughter
as Saime 1966
Serseriler Kralı
1967
Akasya Palas
as Pakize 1940
Yahya Peygamber
1965
Kıskanç
1942
Senede Bir Gün
1946
Yeşilçam Sokağı
1977
Yayla Kartalı
as Nermin 1945
The Devoted Mother
as Cavidan 1949
Sevgim ve Gururum
as Esma Hanım 1965
Vatan ve Namık Kemal
as Zekiye 1951
Yuvamı Yıkamazsın
1947