1. Childhood and Early Life
2. A Crossroads
3. A Shift in Focus
4. театра and Film Beginnings
5. Critical Acclaim and Collaboration
6. Personal Life
7. Activism and Hobbies

Childhood and Early Life

Berkay Ateş, a Turkish actor, was born on February 19, 1987, in Istanbul, Turkey's largest city straddling the Bosphorus Strait. His parents, in search of work, had moved to the former capital of the Ottoman Empire and settled in the European part of the cosmopolitan city. Ateş is the second of two children, with a sister seven years his senior.

A Crossroads

At the age of twelve, tragedy struck Ateş when his father passed away. He recalled the subsequent financial hardships his family faced in an interview, with his mother having to take on a second job. Ateş heavily grieved the loss and found solace in sports, particularly football, where he excelled as a goalkeeper.

While excelling in sports, Ateş's friends predicted a promising professional career for him, even suggesting his potential for the national team. Football fanaticism runs deep in Turkey, with families attending stadiums and discussing their beloved teams throughout the week. Ateş was a devoted fan of Beşiktaş, forsaking an offer from fellow Istanbul giants Galatasaray to play for his preferred club.

A Shift in Focus

After finishing high school, Ateş surprised his family by enrolling in the Mathematics Department. However, he realized his passion lay elsewhere and transferred to Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University three years later. There, he immersed himself in theater productions, co-founding his own theater studio in Istanbul, D22.

At the age of 22, Ateş's writing talent blossomed when he penned his first play. The Dean of the university recognized his potential and offered him the opportunity to work alongside younger students. To this day, Ateş continues to write during his free time and was awarded a prize in 2017 for his work, "Truth, One Day."

театра and Film Beginnings

Ateş began his rise to fame on stage at the Semaver Kumpanya theater. He also collaborated with the now-defunct Krek Theatre and Studio D.O.S.T., which staged performances based on the works of Russian author Fyodor Dostoevsky. In interviews, Ateş expressed his admiration for Dostoevsky and his desire to portray the iconic character of Raskolnikov.

Ateş made his film debut in 2007 with a minor role in the television series "Quiet Storm." He went on to appear in the film "The Invisibles," but it was not until 2015 that he experienced a breakthrough with the premiere of the feature film "Deliler." His subsequent notable work includes the popular TV series "My Mother," alongside Beren Gökyıldız and Cansu Dere.

Critical Acclaim and Collaboration

Ateş has starred in several critically acclaimed dramas, including "Çukur" and "Uyanış: Büyük Selçuklu." He reunited with Cansu Dere in the second season of the TV series "Sadakatsiz" (Unfaithful), speaking highly of his collaboration with the cast. Social media buzz ignited rumors of a romantic relationship between the two, which remained unconfirmed.

Personal Life

Ateş is guarded about his personal life, preferring to keep his relationships out of the public eye. In 2018, he dated athlete Burcu Kuş, with the couple attending film premieres in Istanbul. However, their romance was short-lived, with Kuş moving on to actor Alperen Duymaz.

In 2022, Turkish media outlets published photographs of Ateş and his new girlfriend, volleyball player Simge Aköz, having lunch at a café. The couple confirmed their relationship but declined to provide further details in interviews.

Activism and Hobbies

Ateş is an active participant in charitable endeavors, appearing in public service announcements and visiting terminally ill children. He is a vocal advocate for women's rights, believing that reducing social inequality can alleviate tensions in the Kurdish-populated east of the country.

One of Ateş's passions is woodworking. He has joked that he aspires to become a carpenter in his retirement and currently has handmade items in his home, some of which have been sold at charity auctions.

Actor