Eight Turkish drama actors whose work reached audiences far beyond Turkey, and the series to start with for each.
A decade ago, most Turkish actors were known only inside Turkey. Today, several of them have fans in Latin America, South Asia, the Middle East and southern Europe, and some have moved into international productions. Their rise followed the global spread of Turkish series, which has been driven by distribution to dozens of countries and, more recently, by streaming platforms.
The eight actors below are well-documented examples. For each, we list the series that made them known, the international step they took, and a series to start with if you want to see why. We keep to facts that are publicly reported, and we do not rank them, because fame is hard to measure across so many markets.
At a glance
- Kıvanç Tatlıtuğ — Known for: Forbidden Love, Brave and Beautiful. International step: Netflix originals. Start with: Brave and Beautiful.
- Can Yaman — Known for: Daydreamer, Bitter Sweet. International step: Italian television. Start with: Daydreamer.
- Hande Erçel — Known for: Love Is in the Air. International step: Brand and platform ambassadorships. Start with: Love Is in the Air.
- Burak Özçivit — Known for: Endless Love. International step: Popularity across South Asia and the Middle East. Start with: Endless Love.
- Beren Saat — Known for: Forbidden Love. International step: Netflix lead, festival film. Start with: Forbidden Love.
- Halit Ergenç — Known for: Magnificent Century. International step: Broadcast in 50+ countries. Start with: Magnificent Century.
- Kenan İmirzalıoğlu — Known for: Ezel, Karadayı. International step: Series remade abroad. Start with: Ezel.
- Çağatay Ulusoy — Known for: Insider, Kübra. International step: Netflix lead. Start with: Kübra.
The actors
1. Kıvanç Tatlıtuğ
A former model who won Best Model of the World in 2002, Tatlıtuğ began acting in 2005 and became a leading man with Forbidden Love (2008 to 2010), for which he won a Golden Butterfly for Best Actor, and then Brave and Beautiful. His international step came with the Netflix originals Into the Night (2021) and Yakamoz S-245 (2022). He has won four Golden Butterfly awards for Best Actor in total, and a sculpture of him is displayed at Madame Tussauds Istanbul.
Why he matters: he is among the clearest examples of a broadcast star moving into streaming originals.
2. Can Yaman
Trained as a lawyer, Yaman's breakthrough came with Bitter Sweet (2017), followed by Daydreamer (2018 to 2019), which brought him a Golden Butterfly for Best Romantic Comedy Actor and a Murex d'Or for Best Foreign Actor in 2019. He then moved into Italian television, starring in Viola come il mare and later in the series Sandokan, which premiered in December 2025. He speaks several languages, including Italian and English.
Why he matters: he is one of the few Turkish actors to build a second career in another country's television.
3. Hande Erçel
Erçel won a pageant title in 2012 before turning to acting. Love Is in the Air (2020 to 2021) made her a star in Turkey and in Europe, particularly Italy and Spain, where the series was a success. She was named a Disney+ brand ambassador in 2022, and has worked with international brands. In 2024, she made her film debut, and in 2025 she led the Netflix romance Chasing the Wind.
Why she matters: she shows how one hit export can open doors to international brand work and streaming leads.
4. Burak Özçivit
Özçivit started as a model and rose to fame with Endless Love (2015 to 2017), the first Turkish series to win an International Emmy for Best Telenovela. He later played Osman I in Kuruluş: Osman, which ran for six seasons and is popular in South Asia, Central Asia, the Middle East and Latin America. He also appeared in Magnificent Century in a supporting role. Our Endless Love review explains the series' wider reach.
Why he matters: his work spans a modern romance and a historical epic, which helped him reach very different audiences.
5. Beren Saat
Saat debuted in 2004 and became internationally known through Forbidden Love (2008 to 2010), which won her two Golden Butterflies and whose format was sold to other countries for adaptation. Fatmagül'ün Suçu Ne? (2010 to 2012) was also sold widely abroad, and she later led the Netflix series The Gift (2019 to 2021). She also appeared in the film Rhino Season, which premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival.
Why she matters: she combines mass-audience hits with an arthouse film credit and a Netflix lead.
6. Halit Ergenç
Ergenç played Suleiman in Magnificent Century (2011 to 2014), one of the most widely exported Turkish series, reportedly aired in more than 50 countries. He later led Wounded Love and the Netflix series Lovers Anonymous (2025), showing a career that has moved from historical epics to streaming comedy-drama.
Why he matters: his career follows the arc of Turkish drama's international growth, from palace epic to Netflix.
7. Kenan İmirzalıoğlu
İmirzalıoğlu led Ezel (2009 to 2011), which won the Golden Butterfly for Best Turkish Series and was remade in countries including Mexico, Romania and India, and Karadayı (2012 to 2015), nominated for an International Emmy in 2014.
Why he matters: his series have been adapted abroad, one of the strongest signs of international influence.
8. Çağatay Ulusoy
Ulusoy led the crime series Insider, which DiziCentral reports became one of the most-watched Turkish dramas on YouTube, and starred in the Netflix series Kübra (2024). He is also in the recent series Eşref Rüya.
Why he matters: he is part of a newer generation that moves between broadcast television, digital platforms and Netflix.
What these careers have in common
- One export hit. Most of these actors became known abroad through a single widely sold series.
- Streaming as a second step. Netflix and similar platforms gave several of them international leading roles.
- Language and travel. Those who moved furthest, such as Can Yaman, built careers in another country's television.
- Strong regional audiences. Different actors are famous in different regions, from Latin America to South Asia.
To explore their series, browse DiziCentral's Best Series Ever collection or our guides to the best Turkish romantic dramas and best Turkish dramas on Netflix. If you are new to the genre, start with the best Turkish dramas for beginners.
Frequently asked questions
Which Turkish actor is most famous internationally?
It depends on the region. Can Yaman is well known in Italy and Spain, Burak Özçivit in South Asia and the Middle East, and Kıvanç Tatlıtuğ through Netflix originals.
Which Turkish actors have worked on Netflix?
Kıvanç Tatlıtuğ, Beren Saat, Çağatay Ulusoy, Halit Ergenç and Hande Erçel have all led Netflix series.
Has a Turkish actor worked in Italian television?
Yes. Can Yaman starred in Viola come il mare and in Sandokan.
Which Turkish series have been remade in other countries?
Ezel and Evermore (İstanbullu Gelin) are among the series that have been remade abroad.
Where should I start if I like one of these actors?
Use the table above: each row lists a series that shows the actor at their best known.
