Julian Kostov is a Bulgarian actor, filmmaker, and talent manager known for his versatile roles in television and video games. Born on August 25, 1989, in Varna, Bulgaria, he gained international recognition for portraying Fedyor Kaminsky in the Netflix fantasy series Shadow and Bone (2021) and for voicing the iconic villain Vladimir Makarov in the video game Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III (2023). His other notable screen appearances include recurring roles in A Discovery of Witches and Berlin Station, as well as film credits such as Another Mother’s Son (2017), The Toxic Avenger (2023), and The Last Front (2024).
Before launching his entertainment career, Kostov excelled in sports. A former elite swimmer, he was Bulgaria’s 10-time National Swimming Champion between 2005 and 2009 and won over 60 medals, including a bronze at the 2007 Balkan Games. He also held the Master of Sport title in swimming. He completed his early education at the Frederic Joliot-Curie School in Varna, which offered Spanish-language instruction, and initially pursued international business studies at Tilburg University in the Netherlands.
Inspired by Heath Ledger’s performance in The Dark Knight, Kostov transitioned to acting, transferring to Cardiff Metropolitan University and earning a degree in Business Studies in 2011. That same year, he was admitted to the National Youth Theatre and began pursuing professional acting opportunities in the UK. He trained further at Anthony Meindl’s Actor Workshop in London, eventually securing representation and landing early roles, including a Gillette commercial, marking the beginning of a promising screen career.
