Lilli Meinhardt was born on September 25, 1991. She made her screen debut in a 2009 episode of the TV series "Kommissar Stolberg". The following year she was the female lead in the TV movie "Vom Ende der Liebe", and after a supporting role in "Lollipop Monster" (2011), Meinhardt began to study acting at the Filmuniversität Babelsberg 'Konrad Wolf'.

She went on to appear in several shorts and guest-starred in the TV series "Ein Fall für die Anrheiner" and "Familie Undercover". The award-winning coming-of-age drama "Liebe mich!" marked Lilli Meinhardt's first leading role in a theatrical release. Her portrayal of a young, rebellious Berlin girl who secretly longs for intimacy garnered her the Best Female Actor Award at the 'achtung berlin' film festival. The same year, she starred opposite Walter Sittler and Herbert Knaup in the road movie "600 PS für 2".