Fatma Girik, born on 12 December 1942 in Istanbul, became one of the most prolific figures of Yeşilçam cinema with an extensive filmography beginning in the late 1950s. Girik appeared in over 180 films and earned a significant place in Turkish cinema history through leading roles in productions from the 1960s and 1970s. Throughout her career, she was honored multiple times with the “Best Actress” award at festivals such as the Antalya Golden Orange and Adana Golden Boll. From 1989 to 1994, she served as the Şişli Mayorship. Known not only for her artistic contributions but also for her political and cultural activities, Girik passed away on 24 January 2022.

^{Fatma Girik infographic (}AA⁾

Fatma Girik was born on 12 December 1942 in the Sultanahmet district of Istanbul. Her family lived in Kocamustafapaşa, and a significant part of her childhood was spent in Sultanahmet near the Cedid Mehmed Efendi Medresesi, where she lived with her aunt and sister. Girik grew up in a medrese room alongside her uncles and became acquainted with work at an early age due to economic hardship within the family. She attended Cağaloğlu Girls’ High School, but during her high school years she revealed her interest in cinema to her family; her father advised her that no matter what she chose to do, she must do it “like a man.”

Girik entered cinema as an extra at the age of 14. Accompanied by her mother, she visited film sets and made her debut as an extra in Seyfi Havaeri’s film “Leke” (1957), in which she later secured her first leading role. She then appeared in Memduh Ün’s film “Murada Ereceğiz” (1958).

A pivotal turning point in her career came with her performance in Memduh Ün’s film “Ölüm Peşimizde” (1960). After this production, she became more visible in the film industry and began landing leading roles.

The 1960s marked the most intensive period of Girik’s film production. During these years, she played leading roles in both village-themed films and social dramas. Her films include:

• Early works between 1957 and 1960: “Memiş İş Peşinde”, “Leke”, “İstiklal Uğrunda”, “Çakır Eminem”, “Üsküdar İskelesi”, “Vatan ve Namus”
• Significant works between 1961 and 1965: “İki Damla Gözyaşı”, “Duvaksız Gelin”, “Küçük Beyefendi”, “Cengiz Han’ın Hazineleri”, “Bulunmaz Uşak”, “Yaralı Aslan”, “Köye Giden Gelin”, “Keşanlı Ali Destanı”, “Kartalların Öcü”, “Hırsız”
• Works between 1966 and 1971: “Karakolda Ayna Var”, “Avare Kız”, “Yaprak Dökümü”, “Sürtüğün Kızı”, “Köroğlu”, “Menekşe Gözler”, “Boş Beşik”, “Şoför Nebahat”, “Kerem ile Aslı”, “Mahşere Kadar”

In 1962, her performance in Memduh Ün’s film Belalı Torun marked a distinct shift in her acting style, leading her toward roles beyond dramatic archetypes.

This period is recorded as the time when Fatma Girik became one of the most recognized female actresses in Yeşilçam cinema.

The 1970s were a period during which Girik frequently appeared in both village and social films. Among the films in which she played leading roles during this time:

• 1972–1975: “Leyla ile Mecnun”, “Ekmekçi Kadın”, “Rabia”, “Ezo Gelin”, “Hz. Ömer’in Adaleti”, “Talihsiz Yavrum”, “Önce Vatan”, “Ağrı Dağı Efsanesi”, “Ana Kurban Can Kurban”
• 1976–1980: “Kadın Hamlet”, “Ana Ocağı”, “Hatasız Kul Olmaz”, “Gelincik”, “Yaşam Kavgası”, “Bağrıyanık”

During this period, in 1978, she co-founded the production company Can Film with Kemal Sunal.

Girik continued her cinema work in the 1980s, taking leading roles in films such as “Kanlı Nigar” (1981), “Gülsüm Ana” (1982), “Postacı” (1984), and “Yılanların Öcü” (1985). In 1987, following the decline of Yeşilçam, she reached television audiences through the TRT-produced series Gönül Dostları, for which she received an award from the Ministry of Culture.

Starting in the 1990s, she appeared less frequently in cinema, returning to the screen in 2005 with “Sinema Bir Mucizedir” and again in 2012 with “Babalar ve Evlatlar”.

Among the major awards Girik received are:

• 1965 – II. Antalya Film Festival, Keşanlı Ali Destanı, Best Actress
• 1967 – IV. Antalya Film Festival, Sürtüğün Kızı, Best Actress
• 1969 – I. Adana Golden Boll Film Festival, Büyük Yemin and Ezo Gelin, Best Actress
• 1971 – III. Adana Golden Boll, Acı, Best Actress
• 1998 – 35th Antalya Film Festival, Lifetime Honorary Award
• 2001 – Istanbul International Film Festival, Honorary Award
• 2007 – 18th Ankara Film Festival, Aziz Nesin Career Award
• 2006 – Honorary Doctorate conferred by SDU Senate

Additionally, she released two 45 rpm records in 1965 and 1975.

^{(Honorary Doctorate -} SDU⁾

Fatma Girik entered politics in 1988 and was elected Şişli Mayor in the 1989 local elections as a candidate of the Social Democratic Populist Party (SHP). She held this position until 1994. During her mayoral term, she developed programs addressing social issues and in 1990 produced the television program “Söz Fato’da”.

After the death of her life partner Memduh Ün in 2017, Fatma Girik lived for a time in Bodrum, where she received treatment for various health issues.

The artist passed away on 24 January 2022 due to multiple organ failure that developed during treatment for viral pneumonia caused by COVID-19. Her funeral was held in Bodrum, Muğla, where she was buried beside Memduh Ün.

⁽AA⁾

According to source materials, Fatma Girik’s cinematic career comprises over 180 films, spanning from the 1950s to the 2000s. Due to both the number of films and her festival successes, she is counted among the most productive actresses of the Yeşilçam era. Alongside Türkan Şoray, Hülya Koçyiğit, and Filiz Akın, she is regarded as one of the “four-leaf clovers” of Yeşilçam cinema.