Aysen Gruda

Aysen Gruda—now there’s a name that rings out in Turkish comedy, right? Born smack in the heart of Istanbul back in ’44, she was basically destined for the stage. I mean, acting pretty much ran in the family, with her sisters Ayben and Ayten jumping into the same game. Gruda’s career? Wildly impressive. She wasn’t just the funny lady on TV, she owned the stage too. Musicals like “Mum Söndü,” “Deve Kuşu Kabare,” “Hababam Sınıfı Müzikali,” and “Yedi Kocalı Hürmüz”—she lit them up. People still talk about her as “Domates Güzeli” (Tomato Beauty), thanks to that unforgettable sketch “Her Domates Güzeli Nahide Şerbet.” Catchy, right? That nickname just stuck. But the real kicker—she didn’t just dabble in movies, she pretty much dominated them. Over 100 films, which is just… bonkers. And we’re not talking background roles here. Gruda was right in the thick of it, serving up laughs and tears in classics like “Tosun Paşa” (1976), “Süt Kardeşler” (1976), “Gülen Gözler,” “Şaban Oğlu Şaban” (1977), “Hababam Sınıfı: Tatilde” (1977), “Hababam Sınıfı: Güle Güle” (1981), and “Neşeli Günler” (1978). If you’ve watched any Turkish comedy from the ’70s or ’80s, odds are, you’ve seen her work. She could flip from slapstick to heartfelt in a heartbeat—no wonder she’s basically a legend.