Samal Yeslyamova

Samal Yeslyamova is a Kazakh film and theatre actress. She pursued her studies at the Russian Institute of Theatre Arts from 2007 to 2011. Her breakthrough came with her screen debut in TULPAN (2008), a drama directed by Sergey Dvortsevoy that premiered at the Cannes Film Festival. TULPAN garnered numerous awards, including the Un Certain Regard Award at the Cannes Film Festival. During the filming of TULPAN, Samal, then just 19 years old, demonstrated her dedication by profoundly immersing herself in the role, spending a month living in a nomadic yurt for authenticity. Her commitment to the character and the film’s success laid the foundation for her future career. A decade later, Yeslyamova delivered a remarkable performance in AYKA (2018), also directed by Sergey Dvortsevoy, marking her second feature film. In AYKA, she commanded the screen with rare intensity, portraying the struggles of a young immigrant mother in Moscow. Her raw and compelling performance earned her widespread acclaim, culminating in the prestigious Best Actress award at the 2018 Cannes Film Festival. Samal Yeslyamova’s filmography expanded with notable roles in THREE (2020), where she portrayed Dina Sadikhov and INFINITI (2022), a series directed by Thierry Poiraud. These roles showcase her versatility and range as an actress, affirming her status as one of the most talented actresses in contemporary cinema.