Hande Erçel is one of the most popular Turkish actresses who has also garnered popularity across the world. You may find some of her most loyal fanbase in the Middle East, Europe and many parts of Asia. She rose to fame in no time, thanks to her captivating beauty and charming Turkish dramas that showed off her acting mettle. From romantic comedies to suspense, Turkish actress Hande Erçel boasts an impressive drama roster that has not only won her awards but also captured the attention of global audiences.
She has multiple prestigious accolades to her name. The actress started out her career as a model and rose to fame through her butterfly-inducing romantic and wholesome comedy dramas. Some of her popular dramas include Güneşin Kızları (2015), and Sen Çal Kapımı (2020). She became a household name through her breakthrough role in Aşk Laftan Anlamaz (2016).
Her popularity is further amplified by her strong fanbase on social media. Hande Erçel enjoys a staggering 31.4 million followers on Instagram. She usually posts pictures from her international getaway and professional work. The actress was last seen in the 2024 Iranian-Turkish historical drama romance film Intoxicated by Love. It was a huge commercial success and became the best-selling film in the history of Iranian cinema. If the popularity of Hande Erçel has piqued your interest, we have curated a list of her best Turkish dramas to watch right away.
Best Hande Erçel’s dramas that prove her superstar reputation
Güneşin Kızları (2015-2016)
English name of the show: Sunshine Girls
Directed by: Sadullah Celen
Cast: Emre Kınay, Evrim Alasya, Tolga Sarıtaş, Hande Erçel, Burcu Özberk, Miray Akay
Episodes: 39
Synopsis: 35-year-old Gunes (Evrim) decides to get married to a wealthy businessman, Haluk (Emre) to secure a future for her three daughters, twins Nazlı (Burcu) and Selin (Hande) and Peri (Miray) after her husband disappears. Haluk harbours some deep and dark secrets that the family begins uncovering soon after marriage.
About the show: Hande Erçel won two Rising Actress awards and one Best Actress award for her talent and was recognised as one of the up-and-coming Turkish actresses to look forward to.
Güneşin Kızları is available on YouTube without subtitles
Aşk Laftan Anlamaz (2016-2017)
English name of the show: Love Doesn’t Understand Words
Directed by: Burak Sağyaşar, Müge Uğurlar
Cast: Burak Deniz, Hande Erçel
Episodes: 31
Synopsis: Hayat Uzun (Hande) needs to land a job if she doesn’t want to get married to a stranger, which is a part of growing up in a conservative family. In a case of mistaken identity, she starts working as a personal assistant to Murat Sarsılmaz (Burak), the head of Sarte, a multinational company.
About the show: Aşk Laftan Anlamaz is known by plenty of names in different regions and it’s solely because it is the best Hande Erçel drama that brought the world’s attention to Turkish entertainment. Its extreme popularity is evident from the millions of double-digit views the series has garnered on YouTube.
Siyah İnci (2017-2018)
English name of the show: Black Pearl
Directed by: Cem Karci, Erol Özlevi, Gökhan Ayiz, Tairi Benal
Cast: Tolgahan Sayışman, Hande Erçel, Berk Hakman
Episodes: 67
Synopsis: Hazal (Hande) is forced to marry Vural (Berk), a businessman because she reminds him of his first wife who passed away a few years ago. But Hazal is in love with Kenan (Tolgahan) and is going to get married to him. Now, Kenan plans to take revenge on Hazal as he believes she married Vural for power and money while Hazal tries to sort out her life after sacrificing her youth and dream in forced marriage. Meanwhile, Vural just wants his love reciprocated by Hazal.
About the show: The love triangle in Siyah İnci along with Erçel’s chemistry with Sayışman and Hakman has made this show one of the most-watched Turkish series around the world.
Sen Çal Kapımı (2020-2021)
English name of the show: Love Is in the Air
Directed by: Ender Mihlar, Yusuf Pirhasan, Altan Dönmez
Cast: Hande Erçel, Kerem Bürsin
Episodes: 52 (Two seasons)
Synopsis: Eda Yıldız (Hande) lives with her aunt after her parents die in a car accident and dreams of becoming a successful architect. Her scholarship, initially awarded by the firm Art Life, is cut short. Her fate collides with Art Life’s owner Serkan Bolat (Kerem) and they get into a contract of pretending to be fiances to make their respective partners jealous. Pretend-play turns real as they start falling for each other.
About the show: Erçel and Bürsin’s palpable chemistry was so exciting that the duo won three awards – Best Duo at Öğrencilere Sorduk Project, Best Couple at Güzel Awards, and Most Admired TV Series Couple at the 10th KTÜ Media Awards.
Bambaşka Biri (2023-2024)
English name of the show: Another Love
Directed by: Neslihan Yeşilyurt
Cast: Burak Deniz, Hande Erçel
Episodes: 16
Synopsis: A gruesome murder tests public prosecutor Leyla Gediz (Hande) and her fiance, journalist Kenan Ozturk’s (Burak) relationship. While Leyla has guarded her troubled life from Kenan all this while, uncovering the murder brings forth some serious truths about Kenan’s secretive life as well. Will their love stand strong against the secrets?
About the show: Giving global fans another chance to swoon over them, is this Hande Erçel drama where she rejoined Burak Deniz in lead roles after the global hit Aşk Laftan Anlamaz in 2016.
Bambaşka Biri is available to watch on YouTube without subtitles.
(Hero and feature image: Courtesy Hande Erçel/Instagram)
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Hande Erçel is one of the most popular actresses in Turkey who has attracted the world to Turkish entertainment. She has won several Best Actress awards and enjoys a massive Instagram following of over 32 million.
Hande Erçel has a good roster of Turkish dramas under her belt. Aşk Laftan Anlamaz is her most popular work which got her nominated for several Best Actress awards. Sen Çal Kapımı is also one of her top dramas that got her international recognition.
In the Turkish drama Aşk Laftan Anlamaz, the role of Hayat is played by Hande Erçel. It is an office rom-com that catapulted her to international fame.
Hande Erçel is one of the top Turkish actresses which is apparent from her massive following of 32.2 million on Instagram. Almost all her dramas have won her global recognition and awards. The drama that made her a star in international eyes was the romcom Aşk Laftan Anlamaz aka Love Doesn't Understand Words.