Seyhan Arman

Seyhan Arman — Biography

Seyhan Arman is a versatile actress, performance artist and human rights advocate whose work runs from theatre and film to cabaret and drag. Based in Istanbul, she was included in the BBC's 100 Women project in 2016, and as her stage alter ego Matmazel Coco she continues to give interactive, improvised shows at cabarets and private events.

She began acting in 1994 at the Kardeş Oyuncular theatre in Adana, took lessons from Dilruba Saatçi, attended Engin Alkan's workshops and also worked as an assistant director on Alkan's productions. In cinema she received the jury's special acting award at the Ankara International Film Festival for Teslimiyet and a best performance award at the festival in Singapore for Güneşi Gördüm. She shared the lead in Merve Gezen's Nerdesin Aşkım, which won a human rights award from Boston and an excellence award in the foreign film category from Canada. Her credits include Komik Bir Aşk Hikayesi, Zohak and Ali, an appearance in Akasya Durağı, and Kutluğ Ataman's Hilal, Feza ve Diğer Gezegenler.

On stage, her self-written one-woman show Küründen Kabare brought her the Üstün Akmen Encouragement Award and a special jury award at the Tiyatro Dergisi Emek ve Başarı Awards. She has spoken in the media about her experience as a trans woman living in Turkey, supported social responsibility projects such as Çorbada Tuzun Olsun, and writes for theatre magazines.