Cahide Sonku
Cahide Sonku (born Cahide Serap; 27 December 1912 – 18 March 1981) was a Turkish actress, model, writer and the first female film director in Turkey. Sonku was the founder of her own movie production company, Sonku Film, in 1950. She was thrice married and divorced.
Also recorded as Cahide Serap
Cahide Sonku

Public domain
- Name
- Cahide Sonku
- Birth Name
- Cahide Serap
- Born
- 27 December 1912
- Birthplace
- Sanaa, Yemen
- Died
- 18 March 1981
- Place of death
- Istanbul, Turkey
- Occupation
- Actress, model, writer, film director
- Spouse
- Talat Artemel (1936–1938; divorced) İhsan Doruk (1943–1954; divorced)
- Full name
- Cahide Serap.
- Nationality
- Turkey and Ottoman Empire.
- Languages
- Turkish.
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Documentary summary
Cahide Sonku (born Cahide Serap; 27 December 1912 – 18 March 1981) was a Turkish actress, model, writer and the first female film director in Turkey. Sonku was the founder of her own movie production company, Sonku Film, in 1950. She was thrice married and divorced.
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Note VALÉORINE
Cahide Sonku (1919–1981) was an Ottoman and Turkish actor, actress and film director, among other activities. Born Cahide Serap in Sanaa, the actor died in Istanbul. Languages used include Turkish.
Composed from admitted, traceable facts · 29 September 2026
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Authority files
wikidata · Q12069604 · wikipedia · Cahide Sonku
In this article
Key facts
Key facts
• Name — Cahide Sonku • Birth Name — Cahide Serap • Born — 27 December 1912 • Birthplace — Sanaa, Yemen • Died — 18 March 1981 • Place of death — Istanbul, Turkey • Occupation — Actress, model, writer, film director • Years Active — 1930–1980 • Spouse — Talat Artemel (1936–1938; divorced) İhsan Doruk (1943–1954; divorced) • Children — Ender Doruk (daughter)
Life
Life
Sonku' first theater and cinema experience was during her secondary school education. She was accepted into Darülbedayi when she was only 16 years old, and in time she took her place among the most popular actors of Istanbul City Theatres. She started acting with "Seven Village Zeynebi" first at the People's Houses Theater, then at the Istanbul Municipality Conservatory, and then at Darülbedayi (1932-City Theaters), discovered by Muhsin Ertuğrul who was an important figure in Sonku's career. Sonku founded the production company "Sonku Film" in 1950 and however went bankrupt in 1963 due to a fire that burned down the company building. She continued working at the City Theater through Muhsin Ertuğrul's influence, then left and struggled with alcohol addiction in the last years of her life. Sonku received the Turkish Film Critics Association service award in 1979 and died in 1981 at the Alkazar Cinema in Istanbul, at the age of 61. She was buried in Zincirlikuyu Cemetery. Cahide Sonku Prize is awarded in her memory at the annual Antalya Golden Orange Film Festival. • Illustration — Grave of Cahide Sonku, Zincirlikuyu Cemetery, Istanbul.
Cultural depictions
Cultural depictions
• In 1989, the series Cahide is based from life of Cahide Sonku. It starring Hale Soygazi as Cahide. • In 2013, the short film "Kayıkçı" starring Merih Fırat as Cahide. • In 2014, the short film "100-5=Cahide" starring Farah Zeynep Abdullah as Cahide. • In 2016, the short film "Cahide" starring İpek Bilgin as Cahide.
Filmography
Filmography
• Year — Film — Duty — Notes • Actor — Director — Producer — Role • 1933 — Söz Bir Allah Bir • 1934 — Bataklı Damın Kızı Aysel — Aysel • 1940 — Şehvet Kurbanı • 1940 — Akasya Palas • 1942 — Kıskanç • 1945 — Yayla Kartalı — Nermin • 1946 — Senede Bir Gün — Nazlı • 1946 — Kızılırmak Karakoyun • 1947 — Yuvamı Yıkamazsın • 1949 — Fedakar Ana • 1951 — Vatan ve Namık Kemal — Co-directed with Talat Artemel and Sami Ayanoğlu. • 1952 — Günahını Ödeyen Adam • 1953 — Beklenen Şarkı • 1955 — İlk ve Son • 1956 — Büyük Sır • 1962 — Ayşecik Yavru Melek • 1965 — Yahya Peygamber • 1965 — Korkusuzlar • 1965 — Düşman Kardeşler • 1965 — Beyaz Atlı Adam • 1965 — Sevgim ve Gururum • 1966 — Sevda Çiçeğim • 1966 — Kovboy Ali • 1966 — El Kızı • 1966 — Çalıkuşu • 1966 — At Avrat Silah • 1966 — Sokak Kızı • 1967 — Serseriler Kralı • 1967 — Bizansı Titreten Yiğit • 1971 — Mıstık
Identity and origins
Identity and origins
Cahide Sonku was recorded at birth as Cahide Serap. The authorities additionally record the heading Cahide Serap. Her recorded language was Turkish. She married Talat Artemel.
Identity
Identity
Cahide Sonku is recorded as actress, film director, film producer and screenwriter.
Life and career
Dated record
Life and career
The full dated record · 1 entries
1981
Cahide Sonku died at Istanbul.
Places
Named by the record
Places
Only places the record itself states, plotted where the house gazetteer settles their coordinates. Nothing is inferred from a name or a nationality.
Sanaa.
Birth place
Istanbul.
Death place
Literature
Scholarly footprint
A count of publications is evidence of attention, not of standing, and is given here only as a measure.
Notes from the source article
Cited by Wikipedia
Notes from the source article
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References
Citations
References
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Partially resolved
The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 14 August 2026.
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