Elyas M’Barek

Elyas M'Barek is an Austrian actor based in Germany. He is best known for his roles in the comedy television series Türkisch für Anfänger and the 2013 comedy feature film Fack ju Göhte.

M'Barek was born in Munich, West Germany, on 29 May 1982 to an Austrian mother and a Tunisian father. His acting talent was discovered while he was still attending high school.

He began his acting career in 2001 with an appearance in Dennis Gansel's sex comedy Mädchen, Mädchen. His breakout recognition came from playing Cem Öztürk, a young Turk, in the television series Türkisch für Anfänger starting in 2006. Around this period, he also acted alongside Arnel Taci in the television series Abschnitt 40.

In 2008, M'Barek appeared in Dennis Gansel's drama film Die Welle as Sinan, a student who embraces fascism. He reunited with co-star Max Riemelt in the 2012 drama film Heiter bis Wolkig, which also starred Jessica Schwarz and Anna Fischer. That same year, he played a lead role in the feature film adaptation of Türkisch für Anfänger.

M'Barek expanded into varied roles in 2013, portraying a vampire in The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones and voicing the character Art in the German dub of Monsters University. He also held a supporting role in the adventure film The Physician, which became a box-office hit in Germany. His leading role in Fack ju Göhte in 2013 achieved major commercial success, reaching three million viewers in 17 days and becoming the most successful German film of that year.

In 2016, M'Barek featured in the film Welcome to Germany, directed by Simon Verhoeven. He later collaborated with Verhoeven again on the 2020 comedy Nightlife, starring as Milo, and on the 2024 film Old White Man. His other projects include the 2019 social comedy The Perfect Secret, in which he played Leo Keschwari.

In 2025, M'Barek starred as Rahid Youseffi, a Tunisian political refugee, in the TV crime drama series Smilla's Sense of Snow. Created and directed by British director Amma Asante, this international co-production marked M'Barek's first lead role in an international production.