In 2010, Akdeniz gained wider recognition for his leading role in Stuart Beattie's feature film adaptation of the novel Tomorrow, When the War Began.
His parents hail from Izmir, Turkey[1] and when the family emigrated to Australia, they enrolled his brother (who is seven years older) in drama classes to help him integrate socially.
He honed his performance skills at The Australian Film and Television Academy (TAFTA), NIDA, St Martins Youth Theatre, and with Bruce Alexander at Melbourne Acting Studio.
He was nominated for Best Actor at the 2010 Inside Film Awards, for his breakthrough role as Homer in the Australian box office hit Tomorrow, When the War Began.
He appeared in 2022 Australian-American co-production Interceptor, and in 2023 films You Hurt My Feelings (opposite Julia Louis-Dreyfus) and Dumb Money (alongside an all-star cast).