Gül Ayşe Selen was born in Ankara on 28 July 1955 and died of lung cancer in Istanbul on 30 December 2017, at the age of 62. After graduating from the Theatre Department of Ankara University's Faculty of Language, History and Geography in 1982, she completed her undergraduate thesis titled “Peter Stein ve Schaubühne am Halleschen Ufer’de Türkçe Tiyatro” (Peter Stein and Turkish Theatre at the Schaubühne am Halleschen Ufer), her master's degree with a study titled “Geleneksel Türlerin Türkiye’deki Kabare Tiyatrosuna Etkisi” (The Influence of Traditional Genres on Cabaret Theatre in Turkey), and her doctorate with research on “G.
E. Lessing ve Üç Oyunu Üzerine Göstergebilimsel Bir Çalışma” (A Semiotic Study of G. E. Lessing and Three of His Plays).
In her academic career she taught at the Theatre Department of the same university from 1985 to 1989, at the Theatre Department of Anadolu University State Conservatory from 1989 to 1991, and at the Theatre Department of Kadir Has University's Faculty of Art and Design from 2012 to 2013. Selen began her artistic life on the theatre stage and over time appeared in many film and television projects; she was especially known for her contributions to children's theatre.
She married actor Şehsuvar Aktaş in 1988, and in 2000, with her husband's support, founded the theatre company “Tiyatrotem”.
Also known as a translator, Ayşe Selen brought into Turkish the works of writers such as Arnolt Bronnen, Erich Maria Remarque, Bertolt Brecht, Daniel Douglas Wissmann, Urs Widmer, Thomas Brezina, Imre Kertész, Peter Handke, Ingrid Noll and Alfred Jarry. Her translations include notable titles such as “Brecht’li Günler”, “Tanrının Gözdesi Yok”, “Dönüş Yolu” (The Road Back), “Cesaret Ana ve Çocukları” (Mother Courage and Her Children), “Uçaktaki İskelet” and “Kral Übü” (Ubu Roi).
Having put her name to many projects in art and education throughout her life, Selen continues to be remembered after her death. In Bursa, the Nilüfer City Theatre named the stage it opened in the Yüzüncüyıl neighborhood in 2018 after her; she was laid to rest in Feriköy Cemetery.
After finishing Istanbul Austrian High School for Girls in 1973, Ayşe Selen graduated from the Theatre Department of Ankara University's Faculty of Language, History and Geography in 1982. She completed her undergraduate degree in 1982 with “Peter Stein ve Schaubühne am Halleschen Ufer’de Türkçe Tiyatro”, her master's degree in 1985 with the study “Geleneksel Türlerin Türkiye’deki Kabare Tiyatrosuna Etkisi”, and her doctorate in 1989 with “G. E. Lessing ve Üç Oyunu Üzerine Göstergebilimsel Bir Çalışma”.
She began her artistic life as a stage actress. She later appeared in many films and TV series. She produced significant work on children's theatre.
In 1988 she married actor Şehsuvar Aktaş. In 2000 she and her husband founded Tiyatrotem. The artist died of lung cancer on 30 December 2017 at the age of 62. She was laid to rest in Feriköy Cemetery.
Productions
Appeared in 20 productions in total; the 12 best known are listed.
- Aşk Yakar (2008)
- Leyla ile Mecnun (2011) — Sevim Yılmaz
- Gülpare (2006)
- Böyle Bitmesin (2012)
- Keskin Bıçak (2010)
- Devekuşu Kabare (1984)
- Çekmeköy Underground (2015)
- Kapalıçarşı (2009)
- Z (2008) — Grandma
- N'olur Ayrılalım (2016) — Nazife
- Evlat Kokusu (2017)
- Hayatboyu (2013) — Neighbour
Production and credit information is sourced from TMDB.
