Her debut performance as Sibel Güner, a woman struggling between her traditional Turkish roots and her desire for freedom, earned her the prestigious Lola Award for Best Actress .

Originally written as a "gold digger" in the source novels, the show's creators modified Shae into a more complex survivor after seeing Kekilli's audition.

Kekilli achieved global recognition when she was cast as in the HBO hit series Game of Thrones (2011–2014).

During her tenure, she was nominated for a Screen Actors Guild Award as part of the show's ensemble cast. Sibel Kekilli: Movies, TV, and Bio - Prime Video

Her chemistry with Peter Dinklage (Tyrion Lannister) made Shae one of the most memorable supporting characters in the series.