Yonca Evcimik

Yonca Evcimik — Biography

Fatma Yonca Evcimik was born in Istanbul on 16 September 1963 and is affectionately known to fans as "Yoncimik." After graduating from the ballet department of Mimar Sinan University's State Conservatory, she joined the Şan Theatre in 1979 and spent five years dancing and acting in productions such as Yedi Kocalı Hürmüz and Carmen, then performed at the Devekuşu Kabare Theatre from 1985 to 1988.

Her 1991 debut album Abone made enough of an impact to be regarded as a turning point for Turkish pop and sold around 2.8 million copies; albums including Kendine Gel, I'm Hot For You, Günaha Davet and Herkes Baksın Dalgasına followed. The song Tatlı Kaçık won her the Best Female Pop Artist award at the 1998 Kral TV awards, and over her career she also received a best-selling album prize, a promising-artist award, and an environmental group's Environmentalist of the Year honor for her animal-rights work. On screen she became known through Hababam Sınıfı Güle Güle, Kızlar Sınıfı and Bay E, and the long-running series Çılgın Bediş, which began in 1996; she also hosted her own variety show in 1993 and sat on the judging panel of a televised dance competition in 2006.