She graduated from Boston University's Department of Theater and Television with a Master’s degree in acting and directing in 1962.

She has worked as an actor and director in many professional and semi-professional theaters in Provincetown, New York, San Francisco and Massachusetts.

After returning to Istanbul in 1962, she worked at Kenter Theatre and for Turkish Radio and Television Corporation.

She wrote, directed and voiced children's programs on the radio for 17 years.

Göksel Kortay has turned over thirty Turkish to foreigners and all of them have been put on stage.