Serra Yılmaz

Serra Yılmaz — Biography

Born Serra Tuğrul on 13 September 1954 in Istanbul, Serra Yılmaz was educated at the French lycées Saint Pulchérie and Saint Benoît before studying psychology at the University of Caen in France. She trained in theatre under Robert Abirached, a former French Ministry of Culture theatre official, and performed with Istanbul's Dostlar Theatre between 1977 and 1979.

Also a professional French–Italian simultaneous interpreter, she became widely known in Turkey after interpreting during Pope Benedict XVI's visit to the country. In Italian cinema she is best known for her long-running collaboration with director Ferzan Özpetek, beginning with Harem Suare and continuing through films such as Cahil Periler, Karşı Pencere, Mükemmel Bir Gün and İstanbul Kırmızısı; she made her own directorial debut in 2018 with Cebimdeki Yabancı. She was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1991 and has spoken publicly about her treatment.

In early 2026 her memoir "Sevgili İstanbul" ("Cara İstanbul") was published in Italy and became a national bestseller, adding to a career that continues to span film, theatre and writing.