Profile
Name: Meral Okay
Birthdate: September 20, 1959 – April 9, 2012
Birthplace: Ankara, Turkey
Education: Public Administration
Spouse: Yaman Okay (m. 1984 – 1993)
Biography: Meral Okay was born on 20 September 1959 in Ankara. Her name before marriage was Meral Kati. She was a second child of her family. Due to her father’s job, she spent her childhood in different cities. She started her education in Balikesir, and continued her education in Agri, Corlu, Iskenderun, and Ankara. After high school, she studied political science at the university. Before starting her career at entertainment sector, Meral Okay worked as a public servant for 5 years. While working for the government, Meral Okay moved to Istanbul in 1983 to work at Gunaydin Newspaper. During 12 September period of Turkish history, Meral Okay was the member of Turkish Workers’ Party. She wrote the screenplay of Beynelminel movie based on her experiences during that period. Meral Okay got married to actor Yaman Okay in 1984. After then, she started to closely follow cinema and television sector. Meral Okay’s husband Yaman Okay passed away in 19 February 1993 when he was 41 years old due to pancreas cancer. Meral Okay worked at Gunaydin Newspaper, she also worked as journalist, producer, and restaurant manager after coming to Istanbul. She started her acting career in 1992 with her role in movie Seni Seviyorum Rosa. Meral Okay wrote the screenplays of popular Turkish series including Vine Mansion (Asmali Konak) which was a milestone in Turkish television dramas. She wrote the screenplay of Magnificent Century (Muhtesem Yuzyil) which was the first period drama in Turkey. Meral Okay passed away on 9 April 2012 due to lung cancer.
Screenwriter
1997 – Yasemince
2002 – Vine Mansion (Asmali Konak)
2007 – Bodyguard (Fedai)
2009 – Beyond Clouds (Bir Bulut Olsam)
2011 – Magnificent Century (Muhtesem Yuzyil)
Roles at Tv Series / Movies
1992 – I Love You Rosa (Seni Seviyorum Rosa) (Movie)
1998 – Second Spring (Ikinci Bahar) (as Kasap Melahat)
2001 – Istanbul Seven Hills (Yeditepe Istanbul) (as Havva)
2001 – Koltuk Sevdasi
2001 – Nowhere (Hicbiryerde) (as Melek) (Movie)
2002 – He is Soldier Now (O Simdi Asker) (as Resmiye) (Movie)
2006 – The International (Beynelmilel) (as Aydeniz Derya) (Movie)
2008 – Alia (Movie)
2009 – Beyond Clouds (Bir Bulut Olsam) (as Inci Batur)
2010 – Captain Feza (Kaptan Feza) (as Solmaz) (Movie)
Awards
2002 – 35. Cinema Writers’ Association Awards (35. Sinema Yazarlari Dernegi Odulleri) – Best Actress on Supporting Role (Nowhere) – En Iyi Yardimci Kadin Oyuncu (Hicbiryerde)
2007 – 14. Golden Cocoon Film Festival (14. Altin Koza Film Festivali) – Best Actress in Supo-porting Role (The International) – En Iyi Yardimci Kadin Oyuncu (Beynelmilel)
Meral Okay Song Lyrics
1993 – Masum Degiliz (Lyrics: Sezen Aksu, Meral Okay – Music: Uzay Hepari, Sezen Aksu)
1995 – Var Git Turnam (Lyrics: Sezen Aksu, Meral Okay – Music: A. Isahakian)
1995 – Yaktilar Halim’imi (Lyrics: Sezen Aksu, Meral Okay – Music: Fahir Atakoglu)
1997 – Gul (Lyrics: Sezen Aksu, Meral Okay – Music: Goran Bregovic)
1997 – Helal Ettim Hakkimi (Lyrics: Sezen Aksu, Meral Okay – Music: Goran Bregovic)
1997 – Kalasnikof (Lyrics: Sezen Aksu, Meral Okay – Music: Goran Bregovic)
1998 – Tutuklu – Adi Bende Sakli (Lyrics: Meral Okay, Sezen Aksu – Music: Yorghos Stavrianos)
1998 – Simal Yildizi (Lyrics: Sezen Aksu, Meral Okay – Music: Sezen Aksu)
1998 – Adi Menekse (Lyrics: Meral Okay, Sezen Aksu – Music: Sezen Aksu, Askin Arsunan)
1998 – Helal Ettim Hakkimi (Lyrics: Sezen Aksu, Meral Okay – Music: Goran Bregovic)
2000 – Yine mi Cicek (Lyrics: Meral Okay – Music: Ara Dinkjian)
Other Works
1999 – Propaganda (Media and Communications Staff – Basin ve halkla iliskiler)
2000 – Tomorrow Won’t Be Late (Yarin Gec Olmayacak) (Producer – Yapimci)
2003 – Academia Turkey (Akademi Turkiye) (Jury member at this reality show – Juri uyesi)
2004 – Istanbul is My Witness (Istanbul Sahidimdir) (Project Designer – Proje tasarim)
2005 – Gulf Fire (Korfez Atesi) (Project adviser – Proje danismani)
2006 – The International (Beynelmilel) (Production coordinator – Yapim koordinatoru)
