For over 40 years, Nur Sürer has shaped the world of cinema. She combines her personal philosophy of life and creativity with social engagement. Her approach is simple yet profound: art and society constantly influence each other—and she makes this interplay tangible in every one of her works.

Nur Sürer’s artistic career began in an era marked by significant upheavals in both the political climate and the Turkish film industry. These changes gave rise to a new understanding of acting, and Sürer became one of its early representatives. Looking back at the start of her career—which she continues to pursue productively through films and television series—allows us to better understand her creative work and her unwavering commitment as an engaged artist.

In the late 1970s, Yeşilçam, the Turkish Hollywood, underwent profound transformations. The production structures, based on a star system and regional pre-financing, gradually dissolved. After the 1980 military coup, political repression, coupled with the emerging video technology and other trends in popular culture, led to a market dominated by low-budget productions. Yet the aspirations and approaches of the political left before 1980 still enabled the production of a few socially relevant films. While a new generation of directors sought to portray the country’s problems on screen, they also demanded new standards of acting. Sürer’s socio-political stance and priorities paved the way for collaborations with filmmakers aiming to explore everyday challenges while navigating political pressures. Shortly before the military coup, and before the waves of globalization reached Turkey, Erden Kıral filmed Bereketli Topraklar Üzerinde (Fertile Lands), marking Nur Sürer’s debut and laying the foundations for her future career.

The screenplay of Bereketli Topraklar Üzerinde, adapted by Tuncel Kurtiz from Orhan Kemal’s novel of the same name, is a masterpiece featuring experienced theater actors such as Yaman Okay and Erkan Yücel. Sürer plays Fatma, a woman forced to submit to the Agas and share the fate of displaced field laborers. For the women, the world of men mirrors the Agas’ system. Graceful and spirited, Fatma tries to show strength, suffers hardship, speaks her mind, and demonstrates intelligence. Through her performance, Sürer brings Fatma to life with striking realism.

In Bir Günün Hikayesi (The Story of a Day), set against the backdrop of miners’ resistance, she plays Zeynep, caught between her older sister and the man she loves due to societal traditions—a role that earned her the Best Actress award at the 1983 Antalya Film Festival. That same year, she appeared in Şerif Gören’s Derman (The Remedy) as Bahar, a young bride in a snow-covered village in Ağrı province. By blending traditional female roles of the region with Bahar’s curious, lively, and strong-willed character, and performing alongside Hülya Koçyiğit, who plays a city midwife, she created a harmonious and memorable on-screen pairing.

In Atıf Yılmaz’s bold film Dul Bir Kadın (A Divorced Woman), which examines contemporary women’s issues, Sürer delivers a duet of exceptional artistry alongside Müjde Ar. Following Zeki Ökten’s Ses (The Voice), she appeared in Tunç Başaran’s unforgettable political drama Uçurtmayı Vurmasınlar (Don’t Let the Kite Fall). Her portrayal of İnci, a political prisoner describing the outside world with hope to a young boy growing up in a women’s cell, earned her the Best Actress award at the 26th Antalya Golden Orange Film Festival. Through this role, Sürer became a symbol of the dream of freedom within one’s own home, enduring hope, and solidarity among women.

In Xavier Koller’s Journey of Hope (Umuda Yolculuk), which won the 1991 Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film and depicts the ongoing human drama of migration and displacement, Sürer shines like never before. On a long journey from Maraş in southeastern Turkey to Switzerland, she portrays Meryem, torn between hope and despair, with remarkable realism.

Sürer consistently succeeds in bringing the inner depths of her characters to the surface, giving voice to their silent moments through her acting. She carefully analyzes her characters’ realities and demonstrates an ability to channel her observational skills and creativity into cinema as a comprehensive art form.

Describing Nur Sürer’s over 40-year-long continuous career in films and television series in just a few paragraphs is, of course, impossible. Yet one fact remains undisputed: as a responsible artist with a strong socio-political conscience, she selects her roles with great care and approaches each character with equal dedication, bringing them to life with brilliance and integrity.

Prof. Dr. Ayla Kanbur
Lecturer, Author