Life is not a road, but a bumpy path. For Sibel Kekilli it was over hill and dale, from the German provinces to Hollywood. That’s where it belongs. We think so.
A nipple, a bit of sex, and there’s a lot of whining. Sibel Kekilli is by no means the only one who kept her head above water with porn when it was up to her neck. The media hype, the whispering on the red carpet and the outraged cries of colleagues were embarrassing. But let’s leave that alone. After all, Kekilli has made it, is a Tatort detective and played the beautiful Holde in the fantasy epic “Game of Thrones”. Not bad for someone from a German backwater. Sibel Kekilli actually wanted to study medicine or law. The plan failed because of the parents. Both of Turkish descent, modern Muslims, but still too conservative at heart to allow their daughter to study. She should learn something decent, find a husband, have children, stay traditional. And she tried. At 19, Kekilli wanted to get married, but the Turkish state stood in the way. Papers were missing. That’s tedious. One reason for her decision to become a naturalized citizen. The training finally started in German. Sibel Kekilli has made it all the way to administrative assistant – a job so stuffy that even reading it hurts. A job that you do, but don’t love. Kekilli quit, sold, cleaned, waited tables, worked as a bouncer at nightclubs and bars. Then came the modeling, a few photos, the porn. What you do for a few figures in your account. In 2002, she was approached by an agent in Cologne and literally besieged. She should apply for a movie, there was a casting by director Fatih Akin. It was worth a try. 350 women wanted the role, Sibel Kekilli got it. And played in “Against the Wall” as if she had never done anything else. Without training, without guidance, that’s called talent. Only then did she take acting lessons and hone her skills. She won laurels at the 2004 Berlinale, and other prizes followed. And suddenly it worked. The offers came, Kekilli played – still does, because she loves it. She avoids cliché roles and accepts without hesitation when she is asked to appear in Tatort Kiel. And then for “Game of Thrones”, her international accolade. The play is good for you, makes you happy and free. But it’s not the reality, Kekilli believes. This is why she supports Terre des Femmes, is committed to women’s rights and mediates between cultures. Something the parents are proud of. Even if it doesn’t always matter.