Sebnem Köstem Şebnem Köstem

Şebnem Köstem — Biography

Şebnem Köstem is a stage actress whose career has been centred on the Istanbul City Theatres, and she also works in television, film and dubbing. Her best-known stage work is Gayri Resmi Hürrem and Hedda Gabler, both of which brought her awards. In cinema she stood out in Mutluluk (2007) and Başka Dilde Aşk (2009).

At the Istanbul University State Conservatory she first studied voice, then moved to the theatre department, graduating in 1993 and joining the City Theatres the same year. There she played in classic and contemporary works such as Aldatma, Kösem Sultan, Bakhalar, Medea, Sekiz Kadın and Kafkas Tebeşir Dairesi, and she guested with companies including Tiyatro Stüdyosu, Tiyatro Oyunevi and Aysa Prodüksiyon. On screen she played Derya in Yılan Hikâyesi (1999-2002); she went on to series such as Hürrem Sultan (Kalfa Edadil), Ihlamurlar Altında (Canan), Komiser Nevzat (Despina) and Kadın (Jülide), played Döne in Abdullah Oğuz's film Mutluluk, and Handan in Başka Dilde Aşk.

For Gayri Resmi Hürrem she was named best actress at both the Afife Theatre Awards and the Sadri Alışık Awards in 2004, and for Hedda Gabler she won best actress at the Direklerarası Audience Awards in 2012. In 2019 she read a story by Nezihe Meriç to students in Bursa.