Dolunay Soysert (born 25 March 1973) is a Turkish actress.
Soysert first rose to prominence with her role as Latife Hanñm in the series Cumhuriyet. She had leading role in other popular series such as ', ', BebeÃÂim, Omuz Omuza, and Baà Ârolde Aà Âk. She appeared in various plays staged at Istanbul City Theatres, Dostlar Theatre, Craft Theatre, and Toy Theatre. She is also one of the founders of Istanbul Folk Theatre. For her performance on stage in an adaptation of Insignificance, she was given the Most Successful Actress award at the 9th Afife Theatre Awards. In addition to her career on stage and television, she has appeared in a number of movies. Her period roles are in Veda, Yol Ayrñmñ, ', ', ', Cumhuriyet, ', Salkñm Hanñmñn Taneleri, ', ', and Muhteà Âem Yüzyñl.
Dolunay Soysert was born on 25 March 1973 in Adana. Her family is of Circassian descent. They moved to Ankara when she was three or four years old due to her father's job requirements. She spent her primary and middle school years in Ankara, and finished high school in Istanbul at Private Mode College.
After graduating from college, she simultaneously studied acting at the Müjdat Gezen Art Center and earned her bachelor's degree from the School of Art History and Archeology at Istanbul University. She then worked as an actress at the Istanbul City Theatres for four years. She made her debut on stage in 1995 with a role in an adaptation of Blood Wedding, which was directed by Baà Âar Sabuncu. She later received a nomination for the Most Successful Supporting Actress award at the 1st Afife Theatre Awards for her role in Silvanlñ Kadñnlar, which was staged between 1996 and 1997.
Soysert made her cinematic debut with a role in Sekizinci Saat, which was directed by Cemal Gözütok. She then landed roles in comedy series such as ÃÂñlgñn Bedià  (1996), Kaygñsñzlar, and Baskül Ailesi. She subsequently moved to England and later to the United States to finish her studies. She studied drama and theatre at the University of NebraskaâÂÂLincoln. She lived in New York City for three years and worked different jobs. Soysert received lessons on cinema and television acting at the Sally Johnson Studios.
After returning to Turkey she appeared in various stage and television productions. Notably, she appeared in the series Sultan Makamñ (2003) and Omuz Omuza (2004). She portrayed the character of Derya in Bir ðstanbul Masalñ and played the role of Leyla in BebeÃÂim (2006). In the movie Mavi Gözlü Dev, which tells the life of Nâzñm Hikmet, Soysert portrayed the famous poet's wife . In an adaptation of Insignificance which was staged at Dostlar Theatre, Soysert portrayed Marilyn Monroe. She also had the leading role of Ayà Âe in the operetta Ayà Âe, which went on stage at Gülriz Sururi-Engin Cezzar Theatre. For her role in Insignificance, Soysert won the Most Successful Actress award at the 9th Afife Theatre Awards.
In 2006, together with some of the Istanbul City Theatres artists, including Bahtiyar Engin, Yñldñray à Âahinler, Levent ÃÂzümcü and Kemal Kocatürk, Soysert founded the Istanbul Folk Theatre. She also took part in the community's first stage adaptation, Can Tarlasñ In 2006, she married actor Sinan Tuzcu. The couple divorced in 2016. In 2008, Soysert had a role in Sürmanà Âet, which was written by Tuzcu and staged by the Istanbul Folk Theatre and Beà Âiktaà  Cultural Center. For her role in this play, she received a nomination for the Most Successful Actress award at the 13th Afife Theatre Awards.
In 2011, Soysert received her master's degree in advanced acting from Kadir Has University. She continued her television career by appearing in the series Benim Annem Bir Melek, Adanalñ, Baà Ârolde Aà Âk (2011), Muhteà Âem Yüzyñl (2014), and Urfalñyam Ezelden (2014). She also had roles in the movies Orada (2009), Veda (2010), ÃÂlümden Kalma (2012), and Yarñm Kalan Mucize (2012). Besides acting, Soysert also worked as an acting coach and did commercial voiceovers. She has continued her career on stage and in 2010 had a role in the play Cam which was staged by Theatre Gaga and Aysa Production Theatre, followed by Contradictions in 2015 which was staged by Craft Theatre, and the one-woman show Kul in 2018 which was an adaptation of Seray à Âahiner's novel.