Tanju Tuncel was born in Adana in 1940. She graduated from Akhisar Secondary School, Erenköy Girls High School and Istanbul Conservatory Theater Department. She married and divorced Necdet Yakın. She started her theater career at the Youth Theater. With the age 60 law, she was retired from Istanbul City Theater.

Tanju Tuncel continued to act in TV series after his retirement. He starred in TV series such as Stranger in the House, Yalancı Yarim, Yol Arkadaşım and Geniş Aile. She also played the character of Hatçe Grandma in the movies Eyvah Eyvah 1 and Eyvah Eyvah 2, starring Ata Demirer and Demet Akbağ.