Cariba Heine is a South African-born Australian actress and dancer, celebrated for her dynamic performances in television and film.
Born on October 1, 1988, in Johannesburg, South Africa, she relocated to Australia at the age of three with her family.
Her early exposure to the performing arts, influenced by her mother Michelle, a former showgirl, sparked a passion for dance and acting that shaped her career.
Heine’s transition from a promising dancer to a versatile actress came after a hip injury redirected her focus, leading to a prolific career in the entertainment industry.
Best known for her role as Rikki Chadwick in the popular series H2O: Just Add Water, Heine has built a reputation as a talented performer with a global fanbase.
Siblings
Cariba has one sibling, an older brother named Kyle Heine, born in 1985.
Growing up together in Canberra, Australia, after their family’s move from South Africa, Cariba and Kyle shared a close-knit upbringing.
While Cariba pursued a career in the performing arts, little public information is available about Kyle’s professional or personal life, as he maintains a private life.
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The Heine family’s relocation to Australia when Cariba was three provided a stable environment where she and Kyle were raised, with Cariba often citing her family’s support as integral to her success.
Career
Heine’s career began in dance, where she trained extensively in jazz, tap, classical ballet, acrobatics, and rhythmic gymnastics at her mother’s dance school, Legs, in Canberra.
She performed at the Stargazers Convention in Sydney as the youngest dancer and toured internationally, including in the United States, appearing in Will Young’s music video for “Leave Right Now.”
A career-ending hip injury at age 15 prompted her pivot to acting, a decision that launched her into the spotlight.
In 2006, she landed the role of Rikki Chadwick in H2O: Just Add Water, a Network Ten series that became a global hit, running from 2006 to 2010.
Her portrayal of the rebellious mermaid earned her widespread recognition and a dedicated fanbase.
Following this, she played Bridget Sanchez in the third series of Blue Water High (2008) and Caroline Byrne in the television film A Model Daughter: The Killing of Caroline Byrne (2009).
Heine’s film credits include Bait 3D (2012) as Heather and the miniseries Howzat! Kerry Packer’s War (2012) as Delvene Delaney.
She reprised her role as Rikki in the spin-off Mako: Island of Secrets (2016) and joined Home and Away (2018) as Ebony Harding.
In 2020, she starred as Grace in The Secrets She Keeps.
Beyond acting, Heine has ventured into producing and directing, notably with her 2018 short film BEND, and continues to teach dance with a focus on injury prevention.
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