Seyhan Arman

Seyhan Arman — Biography

Derya Seyhan Arman (born 26 February 1980, Adana) is a Turkish actress, drag queen and transgender rights activist based in Istanbul. She began her acting career in 1994 by joining the Adana Kardeş Oyuncular theatre, trained under Dilruba Saatçi and took part in Engin Alkan's acting workshops; her credits span both stage productions and television series, including Akasya Durağı.

In 2010 she won the Best Performance award at the 23rd Singapore International Film Awards for "Güneşi Gördüm" (I Saw the Sun) and the Special Jury Award at the 22nd Ankara International Film Festival for "Teslimiyet" (Other Angels). Openly speaking in Turkish media about her experience as a transgender woman, she has continued to perform as a drag queen and was named to the BBC's 100 Women list in 2016.

Beyond acting, Arman is known for her human-rights advocacy, supporting several social-responsibility projects and appearing as a speaker at events focused on LGBTI+ rights.