Gamze Özçelik

Gamze Özçelik — Biography

Zeynep Gamze Özçelik was born on 26 August 1982 in Istanbul. After Maltepe Anadolu High School she studied at Istanbul Bilgi University, and her public profile began with the 1999 Elite Model Look competition, followed by a runner-up finish at the Miss Turkey pageant in 2000.

She became widely known for her role in Arka Sokaklar, one of the longest-running series in Turkish television history, in which she appeared for several seasons alongside her former husband, actor Uğur Pektaş. Her other credits include Serseri, Tatlı Hayat, Canan and the historical series Mehmetçik Kut'ül Amare. In 2017 she founded the charity Umuda Koşanlar Derneği.

After years away from acting, Özçelik returned to television sets in 2026 alongside her husband Reshad Strik, and the couple have also taken part together in humanitarian campaigns supporting children in Gaza.