Meral Okay

Meral Okay — Biography

Born Meral Katı, Meral Okay came into the world in Ankara on September 20, 1959, and died in Istanbul on April 9, 2012, of lung cancer. Married to director Yaman Okay, she left a lasting mark on Turkish culture both through her acting in film and television and through the screenplays she wrote.

Her acting credits include the films Hiçbiryerde (2001), O Şimdi Asker (2003), and Beynelmilel (2006), as well as television productions such as Yeditepe İstanbul and Asmalı Konak.

As a screenwriter, she is best remembered for penning the early episodes of the series Muhteşem Yüzyıl (Magnificent Century), which premiered in 2011 and quickly reached a wide audience. Following her death, her name has remained closely tied to that series, and she is remembered as one of the most notable screenwriters in Turkish television history.