Veteran Turkish actor, Haluk Bilginer, was awarded the International Emmy Award for Best Performance by an Actor for his role as Agah, in the mini series Şahsiyet (Persona). This is Bilginer’s and Turkey’s first Emmy Award. In the miniseries, Bilginer plays a man diagnosed with Alzheimer’s who turns the ailment into an opportunity to dispose of criminals. Bilgner’s award was among those given to 8 countries including, Turkey, Australia, Brazil, Colombia, Hungary, The Netherlands, the UK and the US.
Sahsiyet was written by Hakan Gunday and directed by Turkish actor, Onur Saylak (Carpisma, Asi, Vatanim Sensin). The 12 episode mini series also featured veteran actress Cansu Dere, star of Ezel currently streaming on Netflix, and was produced by Ay Yapim.
Bilginer was born in 1954 in the Aegean Izmir province and first began acting in a theater group when he was a high school student. After graduating from the Theater Department at Ankara State Conservatory, Bilginer worked for the State Theaters starting in 1977 and studied at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts (LAMDA) in the 1980’s. From 1980 to 1993, he performed on stage and on TV series in England. He gained fame for his 250 episodes in the role of Cypriot Mehmet Osman in the long-running soap opera EastEnders. Bilginer started his movie career with the film A Cloud in Love in 1987. He later performed in Istanbul is Under My Wings, in the role of Hezarfen Ahmed Celebi, the legendary Ottoman aviator. In 1987, he took part in The Other Side of the Night and later had roles in the Young Indiana Jones TV series in Hollywood and in Two Women in Turkey.
In 1999, Bilgner and his wife, actress Zuhal Olcay whom he married in 1992, established the Play Atelier, where they staged many international plays including Moliere’s The Mister and Anthony Horowitz’s Mindgame. Bilginer who has been in nearly 80 films and TV series throughout his career, has been honored with 11 prestigious awards for his performances, including in Masumiyet (Innocence, 1997) and Winter Sleep.
The International Academy of Television Arts & Sciences announced the winners of the 47th International Emmy® Awards on November 25, 2019 at a Black-Tie Gala event attended by 1,000 television professionals from around the world and hosted by comedian Ronny Chieng at the New York Hilton.
Bilginer accepting his award
Sahsiyet trailer
Related posts: Onur Saylak: More than an Actor
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