Defne Samyeli

Defne Samyeli — Biography

Turkish media figure Defne Samyeli entered television after finishing third in a 1991 beauty pageant, became known as the face of the main news bulletins of Kanal D and Show TV, and widened her career with newspaper columns, singing and acting. In recent years she has taken roles in TV series and released singles.

She graduated from Boğaziçi University's business administration department. She presented Salı Pazarı and İyi Günler Türkiye on Star TV and made Show'da Show on Show TV, and in 1994 she released the album Tek Başına, working with Melih Kibar. After hosting and editing Gecenin İçinden at Kanal D, she presented the Kanal D main news from 1999 for three years; her different style of delivery earned her two international awards, and at a New York festival she was named the world's second-best news anchor two years running. From 2002 to 2007 she led Show TV's main news bulletin. She wrote columns for Güneş (2002-2009) and Milliyet (2013-2015), and in 2010 she presented Her Şey Bambaşka on ATV.

Alongside journalism she trained in musical theater and voice. After taking acting lessons at Atölye Craft she played Çiğdem in her first series, Babam Sınıfta Kaldı, and then appeared in Kurtlar Vadisi Pusu, as Siren in İstanbullu Gelin, as Asena in Sol Yanım and as Elmas Heves in Aldatmak. In 2023 she appeared in the film Prestij Meselesi. Her singles include Son Arzum, Ağla Ağla and Abidin.