Merve Dizdar (born June 25, 1986) is a Turkish actress acclaimed for her performances in film, television, and theater. She gained widespread recognition for her roles in War of the Eltilis (2020), The Innocents (Masumlar Apartmanı, 2020–2022), The Life and Movies of Erşan Kuneri (2022–present), and Snow and the Bear (2022). In 2020, Dizdar won the Golden Butterfly Award for Best Actress for her role in The Innocents. In 2023, she made history by becoming the first Turkish actress to win the Cannes Film Festival Award for Best Actress for her performance in About Dry Grasses (Kuru Otlar Üstüne). During her acceptance speech at Cannes, Dizdar dedicated the award to Turkish women, acknowledging the resilience and hope of women fighting for their rights. Her statement sparked national discussions, further highlighting her influence not only as an actress but also as a voice for social issues.

Merve Dizdar was born on June 25, 1986, in İzmir, Turkey. She pursued her passion for acting by graduating from the Çanakkale Onsekiz Mart University School of Fine Arts with a degree in acting. Furthering her education, she earned a master’s degree in acting from Kadir Has University. Her formal training laid the foundation for a successful career across various performing arts platforms, including theater, cinema, and television.

Merve Dizdar began her acting career on stage, joining the Semaver Company and later continuing at Craft Theatre. She made her cinematic debut in Bir Ses Böler Geceyi (2011), acting alongside Cem Davran. Dizdar also made notable appearances on television with recurring roles in popular series such as Kavak Yelleri, Geniş Aile, Bir Yastıkta, Doksanlar, and Çılgın Dershane Üniversite. Her breakout television performance came with the series Beş Kardeş. Alongside acting, she worked as a presenter for TRT Children, hosting programs like Arkadaşım Bıdı and 23 Nisan Şenliğe Doğru. Her theater career earned her the prestigious Afife Jale Theatre Best Actress Award for her role in the play Yutmak. Continuing her television success, Dizdar appeared in 7 Yüz, Vatanım Sensin, and Mucize Doktor. In 2020, she starred with Uraz Kaygılaroğlu in Gupse Özay's comedy film Eltilerin Savaşı, which became one of the most-watched films in Turkey. She also took part in a musical adaptation of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland alongside Serenay Sarıkaya, Ezgi Mola, Enis Arıkan, and Şükrü Özyıldız. Dizdar’s career reached new heights with her leading role in the television series Masumlar Apartmanı, for which she won the Golden Butterfly Award for Best Actress. She showcased her versatility by playing multiple roles in the Netflix spinoff comedy series Erşan Kuneri. In 2023, Dizdar delivered a critically acclaimed performance in Nuri Bilge Ceylan's About Dry Grasses (Kuru Otlar Üstüne), earning the Best Actress award at the 76th Cannes Film Festival, marking a historic achievement for Turkish cinema.