Tuğçe Kazaz

Tuğçe Kazaz — Biography

Tuğçe Kazaz, born 26 August 1982 in Edremit, Balıkesir Province, is a Turkish former model and actress who grew up in İzmir and played basketball at school for seven years. She studied international relations at Yeditepe University but did not finish the degree due to poor attendance. She placed second in the 2000 Elit Model Look contest, reached the top fifteen at its Paris finals, and was crowned Miss Turkey in 2001.

She began acting in the youth series Kampüsistan (2003), later played Arzu in the period drama Son Yaz Balkanlar 1912, and took the lead opposite Kenan İmirzalıoğlu in the period film Uzun Hikâye (2012). While filming a Greek movie she met actor George Seitaridis, whom she married in Athens in 2005; she converted to Orthodox Christianity before the wedding and took the name Maria Seitaridis, a step that drew criticism at home. The marriage ended after three years, and on returning to Turkey in 2008 she said she had become Muslim again and had given up nightlife, alcohol and smoking. In later years she drew renewed attention for appearing in a headscarf and for speaking at an anti-LGBT rally.