Biography

Leyla Selen Uçer (born 5 May 1983) is a Turkish actress, best known for her role in the movie Ara and the play Bug. Uçer's parents were chemical engineers. She studied at St. George's Austrian High School and graduated from Boğaziçi University with a degree in chemistry. During her university years, she joined the Boğaziçi University acting club. She also attended the Istanbul University State Conservatory Singing Department. She studied at the Academy Istanbul with a scholarship for a year. She also completed her master's degree at Roosevelt University in Chicago with a scholarship. The play she wrote, American Dream, was staged by Ensemble Theater on Off-Broadway. Upon returning to Turkey, she was cast in the movie Anlat İstanbul, written by Ümit Ünal, in 2004. She also appeared in Külkedisi, directed by Selim Demirdelen. She then took part in DOT's adaptation of Bug. With her performance in Haldun Dormen's Kantocu at Istanbul City Theatres, she was nominated for the Best Supporting Actress in a Musical or Comedy award at the Afife Jale Awards. She had a leading role in the 2007 movie Ara, directed by Ümit Ünal, portraying the character of Gül. For this role, she shared the Best Actress award at the 15th International Adana Film Festival with Ayça Damgacı. In 2008, she appeared as a prostitute in O... Çocukları. In 2009, she played the role of Emel in Binbir Gece. In the same year, she was cast in Hanımın Çiftliği as Asuman. In 2019, with her role in Ümit Ünal's Aşk, Büyü, vs. , she won the Golden Orange Award for Best Actress.