There’s nothing like a good Turkish drama. Recent television ratings have proven that Turkish dramas are taking the reign within the region. Are you even Arab if you haven’t sat and watched one with your mom?
Yes, they can be empty and sometimes regurgitate plotlines, but somehow they just suck you in. After all, it’s pretty difficult to resist an ultra-dramatic love story between a poor woman and rich man, and if you’re lucky, it will include the added histrionics of an unsuspecting fatal disease that falls upon one of them.
This is where Hazal Kaya comes in. Think of her as the queen of Turkish dramas. The 29-year-old actress has been in the game since 2006, and she’s done it all. If you’ve yet to come across her work, we’ve rounded up her best series to get you acquainted.
I Named Her Feriha
It’s a classic story, but it’s worth the watch. In this series, Hazal Kaya plays a beautiful woman from a poor family, with a doorman as her father. Feriha finds herself enrolling at a private school with a full scholarship, and this is where she meets Emir; a rich young man who falls in love with her—all whilst she’s pretending to be as rich as he is.
Our Story
Whilst she pretended to be a rich girl in ‘I Named Her Feriha’, Hazal Kaya’s character in ‘Our Story’ doesn’t shy away from her reality as working class. Kaya plays Filiz, a young girl left to raise her five siblings alongside her alcoholic father in a poor Istanbul neighbourhood. The cast features the usual star studded line up, including Burcu Özberk.
L.O.V.E
In 2013, Kaya took on the role of Azra Ozak, a poor tennis coach in a secret relationship with Kerem, a swimming coach at the gym where they both work. But the relationship goes awry after he meets Sebnem, a rich girl learning how to play tennis. Sebnem falls in love with Kerem, and confesses that she’s dying of leukaemia. Azra then hatches a plan to temporarily sacrifice her lover for a potentially rich life with him after Sebnem’s death.
Maral, The Most Beautiful Story
In this series, Kaya plays Maral, a young woman working as a waitress in a restaurant who later becomes the manager—all whilst being in love with Sarp, a young man who works at the restaurant. It’s a tale that explores the intersections of love and career.
Forbidden Love
Yet again, Kaya plays a role with love as the central theme, but it doesn’t disappoint. The actress plays Nihal, the teenage daughter of a rich widower who is in love with her cousin.
Midnight at the Pera Palace
In this historical fantasy drama, Hazal Kaya stars as Esra, a young journalist who accidentally stumbles upon a time portal in Istanbul’s iconic Pera Palace Hotel. transported back to 1919, she finds herself navigating political intrigue and danger as she becomes embroiled in a mission to protect Turkey’s future during the turbulent period of its War of Independence. Blending elements of history and mystery, this Netflix series offers a thrilling introduction to the era while also taking some creative liberties with the actual events. Watching it will forever change the way you see Istiklal Street and the Pera Palace, making it a must-watch for fans of historical drama and Istanbul.
Genco
One of Hazal Kaya’s earliest and most pivotal roles came in the 2007 series Genco, where she played Özge, a character that was part of the supporting cast across all 51 episodes. The show’s nostalgic feel transports viewers to simpler times, with its mix of romance, drama, and suspense unfolding in a small neighborhood. Genco is a coming-of-age story about two young people from different worlds who face the challenges of love and friendship, and Kaya’s performance in this series helped cement her status as one of Turkey’s rising stars.
Sorgu
In Sorgu, Hazal Kaya steps into the role of Cihan Manoğlu, a tough female officer in a male-dominated inquiry unit. As the first original Turkish series on TOD, the streaming platform launched by beIN Media Group, Sorgu takes Kaya’s talent to new horizons in the world of crime thrillers. When Cihan discovers her father’s body under suspicious circumstances, she teams up with fellow investigator Metin Yazıcı (played by Çağlar Ertuğrul) to uncover dark secrets that put their relationship to the test. With its star-studded cast and gripping plot, Sorgu promises to be a hit for fans of intense thrillers and Turkish drama.
