Hülya Darcan

Hülya Darcan — Biography

Hülya Darcan has a career of some fifty years, from teenage lead in Yeşilçam cinema to one of Turkish television's most recognisable mother figures. Wide audiences know her as Hayme Ana, Ertuğrul's mother, in Diriliş Ertuğrul (2014-2019), a series whose success abroad carried the role to international viewers. She is the mother of actress Bergüzar Korel and mother-in-law of Halit Ergenç.

Her career began in 1967, when at sixteen she placed third in Ses magazine's cover star contest; the offer that followed led to her first film, Silahları Ellerinde Öldüler, where she shared the lead with Fikret Hakan, Ekrem Bora and Tugay Toksöz. In Yeşilçam's busiest years she appeared in many films, among them Beş Ateşli Kadın, Kendi Düşen Ağlamaz, Dağların Kartalı and Dudaktan Silaha. After a short break she returned to the screen in 1990 with Kara Elmas and moved toward television: Bizim Ev, Zeybek Ateşi, Büyük Yalan, Binbir Gece, Samanyolu and Dila Hanım.

After Hayme Ana she played Emsal Adabeyli in Şeref Sözü, Lütfiye Duman in Bir Zamanlar Çukurova and, in 2024, Neveser Giraylı in Kül Masalı; in 2026 she appeared in Şule: Senin Hikâyen. Outside acting she paints in oils and writes short stories. She married actor Tanju Korel in 1974.