Sometimes the best reunions happen at fan events in unexpected places. George R.R. Martin, the mastermind behind A Song of Ice and Fire, recently linked up with Sibel Kekilli, the actress who brought Shae to life in HBO’s Game of Thrones, at an A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms fan gathering in Germany. And honestly? It’s the kind of wholesome content the Westeros fandom desperately needs right now.
Quick read:
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George R.R. Martin reunited with Sibel Kekilli at an A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms fan event in Germany.
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Martin has publicly stated that show Shae was better than his book version, praising Kekilli’s performance for its emotional depth.
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The two have developed a genuine friendship beyond their professional connection, bonding over mutual respect and shared values.
George R.R. Martin Meets Shae Actress in Germany
The encounter, shared via Kekilli’s Instagram, shows the two catching up at what appears to be a casual hangout before the fan event kicked off. For anyone who’s been following Martin’s relationship with Kekilli over the years, this reunion is particularly heartwarming. It’s not just a random actor-author meet-cute; it’s the coming together of two people who genuinely respect each other’s work.
George R.R. Martin Prefers the Show Version of Shae Over His Own Book Character
Here’s where it gets interesting: Martin has actually gone on record saying that Kekilli’s portrayal of Shae surpassed his own version of the character from the books. In fact, during an interview with Adela Micha, Martin was pretty explicit about it. He acknowledged that when he first saw Kekilli’s interpretation, he thought, “this is all wrong, this is not the way I wrote Shae.” But then? He changed his mind.
“The more I watched it I said it’s a better Shae,” Martin admitted, going on to praise how the show version had “more depth” and “more emotional realism” than his original conception. He even went so far as to say that “show Shae is better than my Shae.”
That’s no small compliment coming from the author himself! Book Shae was primarily a foil for Tyrion’s character arc, but show Shae—thanks to Kekilli’s nuanced performance—became something far more complex and emotionally resonant. The character gained layers that Martin himself recognized as superior to what he’d written.
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