Before entering mainstream entertainment, Kekilli worked under a pseudonym in adult films between 2001 and 2002. When this background was revealed by the German tabloid press in 2004, it sparked a major media controversy. However, rather than ending her career, Kekilli’s talent enabled a remarkable transition.
praised her for avoiding melodrama in a "gritty, documentary-like" portrayal. Game of Thrones 2011–2014 International recognition. praised her for avoiding melodrama in a "gritty,
Following the 2014 murder of a young woman in Turkey (Özgecan Aslan), Kekilli became a prominent voice against domestic violence and honor killings. She has used her media platform to speak on women’s rights, integration, and the treatment of actors with adult film pasts. Her 2010 interview with Der Spiegel about the tabloid scandal (“I was ashamed, but I didn’t want to lie”) is a key piece of media content that framed her as a survivor of exploitation rather than a victim of her own choices. She has used her media platform to speak
Kekilli’s most recognizable role to international audiences is , a prostitute and later mistress to Tyrion Lannister, appearing in the first four seasons of Game of Thrones (2011–2014). Tatort: For several years
Tatort: For several years, Kekilli was a staple of the iconic German police procedural Tatort. Playing investigator Sarah Brandt, she brought a modern, gritty edge to one of the longest-running and most successful entertainment brands in Europe.
Kekilli moved to Germany with her family at a young age and grew up in Bremerhaven. She began her acting career in the early 2000s, initially appearing in short films and television productions.