Selim Bayraktar, a renowned Iraqi-Turkish actor, was born on June 17, 1975, in Kirkuk, Iraq, to a family of Iraqi Turkmen origin. From a young age, Bayraktar demonstrated a passion for performance, participating in gymnastic competitions as a child.
As the Iran-Iraq War drew to a close, a body double of Saddam Hussein visited Bayraktar's schools, seeking to recruit young boys into the army. When Bayraktar was selected to serve, his family made the courageous decision to smuggle him into Turkey to avoid military service.
After graduating from Hacettepe University in 2000, Bayraktar began his professional career at the Turkish State Theatre, where he honed his craft and developed his skills as an actor.
His breakthrough role as "Sumbul Aga" in the popular Turkish series Muhtesem Yüzyil brought him widespread recognition, both domestically and internationally. Bayraktar's performance in the Netflix original series Rise of Empires: Ottoman further cemented his status as a talented and versatile actor, earning him international acclaim.
