Swashbuckling heroes on the high seas have been inspiring fantasies for centuries, and now one of the world’s sexiest men is bringing an iconic pirate to life for a whole new generation. Turkish heartthrob Can Yaman is playing the titular role in Sandokan, an upcoming reboot of the classic Italian TV series, and fans are ready to walk the plank for the buff buccaneer.
As Sandokan, audiences can expect to see Yaman battle colonial powers on the island of Borneo and fall in love with the daughter of his enemy — and if the first photos from the production are any indication– smoldering with sex appeal all the while. Of course, that won’t come as a surprise to Yaman’s loyal fans. What is surprising is the story of how the 34-year-old actor found his way to fame.
Yaman was born in 1989 in Istanbul, though his parents are of Albanian origin. After his mother and father divorced when he was 5 years old, Yaman’s family struggled financially — but the celebrity-in-the-making was determined to rise above his circumstances. As a student at the Liceo Italiano di Istanbul, Yaman unknowingly prepared for international acclaim by becoming fluent in several languages including Italian, Spanish, and English. The young scholar soon set his sights on a career as an attorney, eventually graduating from Yeditepe University in 2012 with a law degree, according to Can Yaman Media. Yaman’s early experiences as a lawyer served as a sort of dry run for his future in front of the camera, as the young attorney took acting classes to help improve his performance in the courtroom. But before long, Yaman decided that the 9 to 5 life wasn’t for him.
Sembra Strano Anche a Me.
His very first role as an unfaithful husband in the music video for the song “Porselen Dusler” by Gulnur Gokce capitalized on Yaman’s scorching good looks, but it was the 2017 romantic comedy series Dolunay (Full Moon) that catapulted him to stardom. The genre proved to be a perfect fit for Yaman; in 2019, he won the E! News TV’s Top Leading Man poll for his role in another rom-com, Erkenci Kus! (Early Bird). According to E! Online, the majority of Yaman’s votes came from Spain, Italy, and the Philippines, and his victory was the first time an actor from a non-English show won the poll.
“Apparently, I won the E! News TV Scoop TV’s Top Leading Man 2019 poll,” Yaman said in an Instagram video at the time. “It turns out I got some hell of a dedicated fans all over the world who pretty much made this win come true…it’s such an honor for me and my country. We should be taking pride in this accomplishment.”
For Men Magazine.
As far as accomplishments go, Yaman’s aren’t limited to the small screen — or any screen, for that matter. Shaped by his childhood experiences, Yaman is known for his charitable work involving disadvantaged children, including the creation of the organization Can Yaman for Children, which raises money for kids in need. “As a kid growing up in Turkey, I had my fair share of lack and I know just how that feels,” the actor explains on the foundation’s website.
“Now that I have achieved success in my career, I am out to ensure that young innocent children have the basic things they need to live a normal life and achieve their dreams. I am out to ensure that sick children get treated promptly. I am out to ensure that children from even the poorest families get access to quality education.”
Whether he’s just being himself or playing a 19th-century corsair, it seems Yaman is destined to save the day.
Violet Like the Sea. Art: Lux Vide.
