True mainstream stardom arrived during the summer of 2015. Star TV aired Çilek Kokusu (Scent of Strawberries), pairing Daymaz with Demet Özdemir and Yusuf Çim. As Volkan, the well-intentioned, steady counterweight to the central romance, Daymaz captured the spotlight across domestic ratings and youth demographics. The series concluded after 23 episodes, yet its afterlife in international syndication gave Daymaz his initial foothold across Spain, Italy, and South America.
Summer romantic comedies can easily box an actor into surface-level leading roles. Daymaz consciously pulled back from the formula. In 2017, he signed onto Kırlangıç Fırtınası (Swallow Storm), a bleak Anatolian family saga directed by Özlem Günhan. Playing Şahin Turaboğlu, an emotionally scarred young man trapped inside hidden parentage disputes and violent domestic feuds, Daymaz pushed his range. Production sets in central Turkey demanded grueling hours, working through winter freezes far removed from the polished seaside sets of coastal rom-coms.
Critics observed a tighter, more restrained performance style. The show tackled bitter dynastic feuds rather than bright poolside banter, proving Daymaz could carry heavy dramatic narrative weight without losing audience empathy.
