Acting · 1944–1981 · village Chaek, Semirechye Oblast, Turkestan Governor-Generalship, Russian Empire [now Jumgal District, Naryn Province, Kyrgyzstan]
Tattybubu Tursunbaeva (July 12, 1944 – December 21, 1981) was a legendary Kyrgyz theater and film actress, widely revered as the "Pearl of Kyrgyz Cinema" for her breathtaking beauty and profound dramatic talent. She was honored with the title of Honored Artist of the Kirghiz SSR.
Born in the village of Chaek in the Naryn Region, she graduated from the acting department of the Tashkent Theater and Art Institute. She became a leading actress at the Kyrgyz State Academic Drama Theater, portraying iconic characters from both world classics and national literature.
In cinema, Tursunbaeva became a central figure of the "Kyrgyz Miracle" cinematic wave. She delivered unforgettable performances in masterpieces such as "Ak Moor" (1969), where she played the tragic titular heroine, "Bow to the Fire" (1971) as the revolutionary Urkuya Salieva, and "The Red Apple" (1975), based on Chingiz Aitmatov's story. Despite her tragic and premature passing at the age of 37, Tursunbaeva left an indelible mark on Central Asian art and remains an eternal icon of Kyrgyz culture.
