Serra Yilmaz is a renowned Turkish-Italian actress, director, and translator, widely recognized for her outstanding work in Turkish and Italian theater, film, and television. Her illustrious career in the film industry began in 1983 with the film Sekerpare, and she went on to win the prestigious Best Actress award at the 21st Istanbul International Film Festival in 2002 for her remarkable performance in the film 9, directed by Ümit Ünal.
Yilmaz's artistic journey has taken her to the Gardner Museum, where she first visited in March 2006. During her time at the museum, she delved into the archives, studying Isabella Stewart Gardner's travel journals and reading letters exchanged between Gardner and notable figures such as Sarah Bernhardt, Adelaide Grillo, and Lady Gregory. In the spring of 2008, Yilmaz returned to the museum to perform Apples from the Sky, a series of intimate readings held in the galleries in conjunction with the exhibition Luxury for Export: Exchange Between India and Portugal around 1600. She carefully selected writings that explored the exchange and movement between cultures, spanning from the 15th-century Greek historian Kritovoulos to Marguerite Yourcenar and Orhan Pamuk.
In addition to the readings, Yilmaz regaled audiences of all ages with Turkish fairy tales during a Day of Discovery focused on Luxury for Export. She also dedicated an evening program in the Tapestry Room to Hrant Dink, the Turkish-Armenian journalist who was tragically assassinated in 2007 by Turkish nationalists. Yilmaz paired a reading of Dink's final article, which advocated for tolerance and forgiveness, with Armenian and Turkish tales that shared a similar spirit.
Throughout her illustrious career, Yilmaz has received numerous awards, including Best Actress in a Supporting Role for Harem Suare (Haren Soirée) at the Antalya Film Festival and Best Supporting Actress for Facing Windows at the Flaiano Film Festival. She has appeared in several internationally acclaimed films, including Le Fate Ignorante (The Ignorant Fairies, 2000),La Finestra di Fronte (Facing Windows, 2002),Saturno Contro (Saturn in Opposition, 2007),and Un Giorno Perfetto (A Perfect Day, 2008),all directed by Ferzan Özpetek. Her recent film credits include Red Istanbul (2017) and La Prima Pietra (The First Stone, 2018).
As a translator, Yilmaz is fluent in Turkish, French, Italian, and English. In 2006, she served as the official interpreter for Pope Benedict XVI during his trip to Turkey. She is a global citizen, frequently working in Italy, France, and Turkey, and resides in Paris and Florence, having been awarded French citizenship.
