Meet The Cast Of Netflix’s New Turkish Thriller ‘Not a Stranger’ (With Photos)

Netflix has expanded its slate of international originals with ‘Not a Stranger,’ a Turkish psychological drama that premiered on the streaming service on September 17. The eight part series follows a young mother navigating the pull between her career and new motherhood, only to find her household upended by the arrival of a nanny whose past does not add up.

The show, known in Turkey as ‘Seni Tanıyorum,’ was created and written by Tuğba Doğan and directed by Mert Baykal, with production handled by Bombon Studios. Below is a look at the actors leading Netflix’s newest suspense drama and the roles they play in it.

Elçin Sangu

Elçin Sangu stars as Funda in ‘Not a Stranger,’ a mother who wants to return to painting, the career she paused after giving birth. Born on August 13, 1985, in İzmir, Turkey, Sangu is a Turkish actress and model who has become one of the highest paid celebrities in the country through television campaigns and endorsements.

She is best known for playing Defne in the Star TV romantic comedy ‘Kiralık Aşk,’ which ran from 2015 to 2017 and helped establish her as a leading name in Turkish television. Her career has spanned more than a decade of television work, and ‘Not a Stranger’ marks her latest starring role in a Netflix original production.

In the new series, Funda’s decision to hire a nanny so she can return to her art sets the entire plot in motion, and Sangu’s performance anchors the family drama at the center of the story.

Melis Sezen

Melis Sezen plays Nazlı, the nanny whose mysterious and unsettling nature changes Funda and her husband’s lives forever, according to Netflix’s official synopsis for the series. Nazlı is hired to care for Funda and İlker’s newborn, and her hidden intentions drive the show’s central mystery.

Sezen discussed the project ahead of its release, sharing that her new series was launching on the digital platform on September 17 and that she would appear as the mysterious nanny character. She has continued working across both streaming and television during this period, noting that she is also reading new scripts for mainstream projects.

Sezen’s casting drew attention in part because of her recent role as Derin in the Turkish drama ‘Iludida,’ known internationally as ‘Sadakatsiz,’ giving her an established audience heading into the new series. Her shift from that role to playing a nanny with a hidden agenda has been positioned as a significant change of pace for the actress.

Ozan Dolunay

Ozan Dolunay plays İlker, Funda’s husband, whose position between his wife and the new nanny becomes increasingly fraught as the series unfolds. Born Mehmet Ozan Dolunay on May 2, 1990, in Ankara, Turkey, he is a Turkish actor who studied mechanical engineering at Koç University before training in acting.

He is known for his role as Mert in the Star TV series ‘Yüksek Sosyete’ opposite Meriç Aral, as well as for playing Cenk Karaçay in the Kanal D series ‘Zalim İstanbul.’ His television career began in 2015, and he has built a body of work across romance and drama series in the years since.

In ‘Not a Stranger,’ Dolunay’s character is caught in the middle of the growing tension between his wife and the nanny, with his suspicions about Nazlı forming a key part of the unfolding conflict.

Cemal Hünal

Cemal Hünal rounds out the principal cast of ‘Not a Stranger,’ joining a supporting ensemble that also includes Efe Taşdelen, Murat Garipağaoğlu, Mine Teber, and Nergis Öztürk. Born on October 2, 1976, in Istanbul, Hünal studied theatre and acting at Santa Monica College, UCLA, and the London Film School.

His breakthrough role came as Kerim in the hit series ‘Asi,’ which aired from 2007 to 2009, and he went on to lead the historical series ‘Bir Zamanlar Osmanlı, Kıyam’ alongside Aslı Tandoğan. He has also worked extensively in film, including starring roles in ‘Issız Adam’ and the ‘Romantik Komedi’ franchise.

Hünal’s presence adds another veteran face to a cast built largely around performers with long track records in Turkish television, reinforcing the show’s blend of established stars and newer talent.

‘Not a Stranger’ arrives as part of a broader push by Netflix into Turkish language originals, joining the platform’s growing library of international suspense dramas. The trailer’s focus on Nazlı’s uncertain past and her growing attachment to the baby has already stirred plenty of theories about where the season is headed, so which cast member’s arc are you most curious to see play out.