Çigdem Selisik Onat graduated from Robert College, then she studied at Istanbul University Faculty of Literature. Throughout her university years, she became founder and performer of Genç Oyuncular Theater Group. She also performed in many theatre plays at Kenter Theater and Ankara State Theater. In following years, she moved with her family to France, at Centre de l'Est she studied directing. Afterwards she moved to the U.S. to get her master degree from University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill for theater and continued her academic career by Phd at the same University. Thoroughout her career she worked as director and actress in plays at Lincoln Center and New York University Tisch Theater Department. In the year 2000 she got World Theater Award with her role of Signora Florina in the theater play The Time of Cuckoo and was also nominated for Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play. She also won Best Supporting Sctress Awards from 52. Antalya International Film Festival and 27. Ankara International Film Festival with her role in the long feature film "Çirak".She gave lectures about Drama and Acting in North Carolina School of Arts and Acting lectures for master degree in New York University Tisch School of Arts. In addition she gave Acting & Drama lectures at Koç University for 4 years.The first half of the 2017 she starred in the film "Rosso Istanbul" a film by Ferzan Özpetek and in October she starred in the film "Yol Ayrimi" directed by Yavuz Turgul.Lastly, she is starring as Tomris Yigitsoy in the popular Tv series "Ufak Tefek Cinayetler" .