Şebnem Sönmez

Şebnem Sönmez — Biography

Born Tevhide Şebnem Sönmez on 5 June 1968 in Istanbul, she developed an interest in theater while attending Pendik High School, gaining early stage experience with troupes such as Pendik Youth Theatre, Kartal Art Theatre, and Taner Barlas Mim Theatre before graduating from Istanbul University State Conservatory and joining the Dormen Theatre company. Alongside acting, she worked as a drama and classroom teacher at several schools and, between 1991 and 1993, ran her own troupe called "Yaz Tiyatrosu" (Summer Theatre).

She became widely known for playing Mücver Abla in "Bir Demet Tiyatro" and Zeliha in "Yedi Numara," and drew further attention for her role in the period drama "Elveda Rumeli." Her film credits include "Vizontele" (2001), "Beş Şehir" (2009), "Aşk Tesadüfleri Sever" (2011), "Toprağın Çocukları" (2012), "Kocan Kadar Konuş: Diriliş" (2016), and "Bergen" (2022), and in 2025 she joined the cast of the television series "Ben Leman."

Sönmez drew public attention during the 2013 Gezi Park protests for her criticism of the government, and in May 2026 she again became a talking point after publishing an open letter to Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, continuing to voice her views on social and political issues.