Esen Püsküllü

Esen Püsküllü, born smack in the middle of summer 1946 in Istanbul, is one of those names you’ll stumble on if you ever dive into classic Turkish cinema. She’s not just another pretty face on the silver screen—nope, she’s got some serious acting chops, and she’s penned a few things herself too. People mostly remember her from the wild, action-packed days of the late '60s, like when she starred in “Karaoglan: Bizansli Zorba” back in ’67. That flick? Straight-up swashbuckling, with Püsküllü tangled up in a wild adventure where ancient enemies clash and everything’s on the line. Not your average Sunday afternoon movie, that’s for sure. And then there’s “Azrail Benim” from 1968—now that one’s got a darker edge. If you’re into suspense and a touch of the macabre, it’s pretty much right up your alley. Püsküllü brings this raw, magnetic energy to the screen, like she’s seen it all and then some. She’s also in “222 no’lu Dosya,” another ’67 gem, where secrets and mysteries keep piling up. It’s got that old-school vibe—think smoky rooms, whispered conversations, and more than a few close calls. Off screen, she was once married to Yücel Uçanoglu, which made for a bit of a Turkish cinema power couple for a while. But really, it’s her filmography that sticks—those memorable roles, that unmistakable presence. She’s this fascinating mix of classic beauty and real grit, and honestly, Turkish film just wouldn’t be the same without her.