The blue-eyed beauty of Yeşilçam: Fatma Girik remembered on the second anniversary of her passing

Fatma Girik, who formed the "four-leaf clover" of Yeşilçam alongside Türkan Şoray, Hülya Koçyiğit, and Filiz Akın after stepping into the industry at just 14, packed over 180 works into her 80-year life.

The artist, who began her cinema career as an extra at 14, played her first leading role in 1957 at the age of 15 in the film "Leke," which was written and directed by Seyfi Havaeri.

Fatma Girik drew attention with her role in the 1960 film "Ölüm Peşimizde," directed by Memduh Ün, whom she met on the set of one of the films where she worked as an extra.

STARRED IN OVER 180 PROJECTS

Throughout her career, the artist starred in over 180 films and many series, including unforgettable titles such as "Memiş İş Peşinde" and "Leke" in 1957; "İstiklal Uğrunda" and "Çakır Eminem" in 1958; "Üsküdar İskelesi" and "Vatan ve Namus" in 1960; "İki Damla Gözyaşı" and "Duvaksız Gelin" in 1961; "Küçük Beyefendi" and "Cengiz Han'ın Hazineleri" in 1962; "Bulunmaz Uşak" and "Yaralı Aslan" in 1963; "Köye Giden Gelin" and "Keşanlı Ali Destanı" in 1964; "Kartalların Öcü" and "Hırsız" in 1965; "Karakolda Ayna Var" and "Avare Kız" in 1966; "Yaprak Dökümü" and "Sürtüğün Kızı" in 1967; "Köroğlu" in 1968; "Menekşe Gözler", "Boş Beşik", and "Şoför Nebahat" in 1969; and "Kerem ile Aslı" and "Mahşere Kadar" in 1971.

Girik took on leading roles in films such as "Leyla ile Mecnun" and "Ekmekçi Kadın" in 1972; "Rabia", "Ezo Gelin", and "Hz. Ömer'in Adaleti" in 1973; "Talihsiz Yavrum" and "Önce Vatan" in 1974; "Ağrı Dağı Efsanesi" and "Ana Kurban Can Kurban" in 1975; "Kadın Hamlet" in 1976; "Ana Ocağı" and "Hatasız Kul Olmaz" in 1977; "Gelincik" and "Yaşam Kavgası" in 1978; "Bağrıyanık" in 1980; "Kanlı Nigar" in 1981; "Gülsüm Ana" in 1982; "Postacı" in 1984; and "Yılanların Öcü" in 1985.

AWARDED NUMEROUS ACCOLADES

The artist, who received the "Best Actress Award" at the Antalya Golden Orange Film Festival in 1965 and 1967, was also the recipient of the "Lifetime Achievement Award" in 1998 and the "Best Actress" award at the 1st and 3rd Adana Golden Boll Film Festival. Fatma Girik was also deemed worthy of the "Aziz Nesin Labor Award" at the 18th Ankara International Film Festival.

Like many famous Yeşilçam actors, the artist also released records for a period. Girik, who recorded the album "Aguş/Aşka Şepke" with Öztürk Serengil in 1965, also signed a 45-rpm record titled "Aşk Düğümü/Su Sızmazdı Aramızdan" in 1975.

Stepping into politics, Girik served as the Mayor of Şişli between 1989 and 1994. The artist also hosted a television program titled "Söz Fato'da" for a period.

The master artist, who began to appear less frequently in cinema starting in the 1990s, last appeared in the 2012 film "Babalar ve Evlatlar."

'IF I HAD ANOTHER 78 YEARS, I WOULD GIVE THEM TO CINEMA AGAIN'

In an interview featured in Izdiham magazine before her passing, Girik stated that she had lived a wonderful life, saying, "The public loved me very much, and thank God, they still do. How happy I am; the art of cinema, to which I gave my years, brought great beauty to my life. For this reason, I feel very good. If I had another 78 years, I would give them to cinema again.

Just as a child is never a regret, a fatigue, or wasted years for a mother, cinema became my child. I experienced the most beautiful emotions, excitements, joys, and anxieties through cinema. I am glad I did so."

In an interview given after the passing of her husband Memduh Ün, whom she never left throughout her life, in 2017, the artist expressed her longing for him with these words:

"The roof of my house has collapsed. I still cannot believe he is dead. Sometimes I go down to the center of Bodrum. I look and see it is late. I think of Memduh. I shouldn't be late home; he waits, his medicine might be late. Then suddenly I say, 'Where am I rushing to? He is no longer here.'

Missing someone is the heaviest burden in the world. I miss everything about him. Even him squeezing toothpaste onto his toothbrush. Memduh would say to me, 'Oh my dear Fato, you squeeze the paste nicely. You do it.' We did everything together. When we were going somewhere and I said, 'Memduh, I am very tired, let's not go,' he would say, 'Get dressed, get dressed, let people see a beautiful woman.'"

Fatma Girik, who formed the "four-leaf clover" of Yeşilçam with Türkan Şoray, Hülya Koçyiğit, and Filiz Akın, passed away on January 24, 2022, due to multiple organ failure at the hospital where she was receiving treatment. The unforgettable actress was laid to rest in the Bodrum district of Muğla.