The 42nd International Emmy Awards included a nomination for best actress featuring Tuba Büyüküstün for her performance in the 2012 drama series 20 Dakika. Since her debut in 2003, she has built a career across Turkish television and film, later expanding into international streaming projects and advocacy roles as a humanitarian representative.
Early Career and Education
Born in Istanbul on 5 July 1982, Büyüküstün completed her higher education at Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University, graduating in 2004 with a degree in costume and design. She transitioned from modeling and television commercials to acting with a supporting role in the final four episodes of the series Sultan Makamı in 2003.
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Her initial notable television work included the 2004 production Çemberimde Gül Oya and the 2005 series Ihlamurlar Altında. She played the lead in the 2007 drama Asi, partnering with Murat Yıldırım and Çetin Tekindor. Her film appearances feature the 2006 title Sınav, which included Jean-Claude Van Damme, and the 2010 production Yüreğine Sor. Her performance in the 2014 series Kara Para Aşk involved a lead role opposite Engin Akyürek, followed by a 2016 partnership with Kıvanç Tatlıtuğ in Cesur ve Güzel. By 2020, she joined the Netflix docudrama Rise of Empires: Ottoman, later appearing in the platform's 2022 series Another Self.
Humanitarian and Public Life
UNICEF appointed Büyüküstün as a Goodwill Ambassador for Turkey in 2014. Her personal history involves parents from Erzurum, with ancestral roots tracing back to Turkish immigrants from Crimea and Muslim immigrants from Crete. In 2011, she married actor Onur Saylak, with whom she had twin daughters in 2012. The pair ended their marriage in June 2017.
Fast facts
- Born: 5 July 1982, Istanbul
- Education: Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University
- UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador since 2014
- Marriage to Onur Saylak: 2011–2017
- Children: Maya and Toprak (born 2012)
- Notable TV nomination: 42nd International Emmy Awards
- Musical contribution: Sayenizde (2019)
Questions readers ask
What is Tuba Büyüküstün's educational background?
She graduated from Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University in 2004 with a degree in costume and design.
When did she begin working with UNICEF?
She was appointed as a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador for Turkey in 2014.
