Throughout her career, Kekilli has received numerous awards and nominations for her outstanding performances. Some of her notable awards include:

Perhaps her most challenging role to watch, When We Leave tells the story of Umay, a Turkish-German woman who flees an abusive marriage and seeks refuge with her traditional family in Berlin, only to face honor-based violence.

A heartbreaking performance as a woman fleeing an abusive marriage, earning her a second Lola.

In When We Leave , Kekilli delivers what many critics consider her finest acting performance.

While already a star in Germany, her transition to English-language and long-form television expanded her global audience significantly.

Before achieving cinematic fame, Sibel Kekilli briefly worked in the adult entertainment industry in Germany for a few months between 2001 and 2002 under the stage name "Dilara". Kekilli has since openly stated that this period was a brief chapter from her past used to pay off personal debts.

Demonstrating her continued activity in both television movie and series formats. Legacy in Entertainment and Media

An international anthology film showcasing her presence in ensemble productions. Global Recognition: Game of Thrones and Television

Fatih Akın, Kekilli’yi savunarak oyunculuk yeteneğinin geçmişinden bağımsız olduğunu vurguladı. Bu destek, Kekilli’nin kariyerine devam etmesini sağladı. Ardından “Kebab Connection” (2005) ve “Die Fremde” (2010) gibi önemli filmlerde rol aldı. Ancak uluslararası arenada asıl patlamasını, 2011-2014 yılları arasında HBO’nun efsanevi dizisi “Game of Thrones”da canlandırdığı Shae karakteriyle yaptı. Bu rol, onu tüm dünyaya tanıttı ve yetişkin film geçmişi artık sadece merak konusu olarak kaldı.