Ahu Türkpençe

Ahu Türkpençe — Biography

Playing Esma Kozan Arhan in Bir İstanbul Masalı brought wide recognition to Ahu Türkpençe, a Turkish actress who works in theatre, film and television. In later years she stayed on screen as Asena Tümer in Börü and Börü 2039 and as Kirra Hatun in the series Mevlânâ Celâleddîn-i Rûmî (2023-2025). She is the sister of the actress Gözde Türkpençe.

She kept her distance from theatre until she was eighteen; at a close friend's suggestion she sat the entrance examination of the Müjdat Gezen Art Center and put her physics studies at Yıldız Technical University on hold. After her school years she appeared in series such as Yedi Numara (Seher Menekşe) and Azad (Dilan), and in 2003 she moved into film with Neredesin Firuze. Bir İstanbul Masalı made her known across the country; Şöhret, Elveda Rumeli, Karamel and Ateşe Yürümek carried that rise forward. In 2010 she appeared in Kaybedenler Kulübü, in 2013 she took the lead in Deniz Akçay's film Köksüz and played Keriman in the series Vicdan, and in 2016 she featured in the film Dağ 2. The later Börü, which began on Star TV, and its film adaptation opened a new period for her.

On stage she was named most successful actress of the year at the 15th Afife Theatre Awards, and best actress at the Lions Theatre Awards, for Sondan Sonra; she also appeared in the plays Vişne Bahçesi and İyi Ki Varsın.