With a career that spans critically acclaimed film, high-profile television dramas, and groundbreaking theatre, Oral is known for bringing raw truth, deep emotional intelligence, and poetic precision to every role she embodies.
She won the prestigious Golden Calf for Best Actress (the Dutch equivalent of an Academy Award) for her leading role in In Vrijheid (In Freedom), a haunting drama about the moral complexity of love and betrayal. Her performance was hailed by critics for its depth, vulnerability, and magnetic stillness.
International audiences may recognize Oral from her standout role as Leyla Bulut in Season 3 of Netflix’s hit series Undercover, where she played a powerful crime matriarch with both steel and soul. She currently stars as a morally ambiguous Chief Public Prosecutor in the acclaimed crime series Sleepers, solidifying her reputation as an actress capable of playing characters with immense inner tension and sophistication.
Oral also stars alongside Gerard Butler in the American action thriller Den of Thieves 2: Pantera, where she portrays a diamond broker navigating the dangerous underworld with intellect and intensity. This film (now available on Prime Video) marks her official debut in an American feature film, and signals the start of a broader international trajectory.
Beyond the screen, Oral is a celebrated writer and theatre-maker. Her semi-autobiographical play Niet Meer Zonder Jou (No Longer Without You), co-written and performed with her mother, received widespread acclaim for its radical intimacy and cross-cultural resonance. She is also the author of Zehra, a novel nominated for the E. du Perron Prize for its literary and social impact. A former columnist for de Volkskrant, one of the Netherlands’ leading newspapers, Oral is a fearless voice on themes of freedom, identity, and intergenerational healing. Her work often bridges the personal and the political, the sacred and the everyday, making her not only an actress but a cultural force.
Now, with a solid foundation in Europe and an expanding international presence, Nazmiye Oral is ready to bring her unique blend of soul, strength, and cinematic presence to global audiences.
