# Cariba Heine

Cariba Heine (born 1 October 1988) is a South African-born Australian actress and dancer. She is known for her roles as Rikki Chadwick in the Network Ten show H$_2$O: Just Add Water, Bridget Sanchez in the third series of Blue Water High, and Caroline Byrne in A Model Daughter: The Killing of Caroline Byrne.

## Early life

Heine was born in Johannesburg to South African parents Michelle, a former showgirl, and Kevin Heine. She moved to Australia at the age of three with her parents and older brother Kyle (born 1985).

## Career
### Dancing

Her early days included training in jazz dance, tap dance, classical ballet, acrobatics and rhythmic gymnastics, and studying acting and singing at National Capital Acting School. She danced at her mother's dance school in Canberra, where she later attended Telopea Park School and St Clare's College. She was the youngest dancer to perform at the Stargazers Convention in Sydney, Australia. She was homeschooled to focus on her dance career, and performed in many stage productions, including a tour in the United States, where she featured in the music video for Will Young's song "Leave Right Now". After a serious hip injury, she was suggested to turn temporarily to acting by her manager.

### Acting

Heine began her acting career in 2006 by being cast on the television series, H$_2$O: Just Add Water, where she played Rikki Chadwick, one of the lead roles. Heine next portrayed Caroline Byrne in the television film A Model Daughter: The Killing of Caroline Byrne which was broadcast on Network Ten in Australia on 4 November 2009.
In 2011, she joined the cast of the indie film Lord of the Crows, though the film ultimately failed to get crowdfunded. In 2012, she portrayed Heather in Bait 3D, and Delvene Delaney in Channel 9's biographical TV miniseries Howzat! Kerry Packer's War. In 2016, Heine reprised her role as Rikki Chadwick in the final two episodes of the third series of Mako: Island of Secrets, a spin-off of H$_2$O: Just Add Water. The same year Heine had a starring role in the short film How'd I Get in This Field which premiered at the Massachusetts Independent Film Festival.
Heine joined the cast of Home and Away in 2018 as Ebony Harding. In 2020, she appeared in the thriller-drama series The Secrets She Keeps with Laura Carmichael and Jessica De Gouw.

## Personal life

Heine married her boyfriend Matt Pongrass on 24 June 2024. On 20 December 2024, Heine announced she was expecting her first child.

## Filmography
### Film

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 2003 | Ballistic Sessions | Amanda | Short film |
| 2009 | A Model Daughter: The Killing of Caroline Byrne | Caroline Byrne | TV film |
| 2009 | At the Tattooist | Alex | Short film |
| 2011 | Blood Brothers | Ellie Carter | TV film |
| 2012 | Quietus | Alex | Short film |
| 2012 | Bait 3D | Heather | Feature film |
| 2016 | How'd I Get In This Field | Ashley | Short film |
| 2016 | Rough Sweat | June | Short film |

### Television

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 2005 | Strictly Dancing | Herself | Episode: "Heat 12" |
| 2006–10 | H$_2$O: Just Add Water | Rikki Chadwick | TV series. 78 episodes |
| 2007 | Stupid, Stupid Man | Mindy | TV series, episode: "The Boyfriend" |
| 2008 | Blue Water High | Bridget Sanchez | TV series. Season 3, 25 episodes |
| 2009 | The Pacific | Phyllis | TV series, episode: "Home" |
| 2010–13 | Dance Academy | Isabelle | TV series, 9 episodes |
| 2010–13 | The Future Machine | Kate Hill | Web series |
| 2012 | Howzat! Kerry Packer's War | Delvene Delaney | TV miniseries |
| 2014 | Friendly Advice | Faith | Web series; 2 episodes |
| 2015 | Hiding | Harriet | TV series, 4 episodes |
| 2016 | Adopted | Harriet | Web series; episodes: "Music, Virgins, and Prawns", "Kofi's Choice" |
| 2016 | Mako: Island of Secrets | Rikki Chadwick | TV series, episodes: "The Legend of Jiao Long", "Homecoming" |
| 2017 | Designated Survivor | Peyton Lane | TV series, episodes: "Suckers", "Two Ships", "Family Ties" |
| 2018 | Home and Away | Ebony Harding | TV series |
| 2020 | The Secrets She Keeps | Grace | TV series, 6 episodes |
| 2021 | Everyone Is Doing Great | Isabella Baker | TV series, 6 episodes |
| 2023 | Wellmania | Goldie | TV series, episode: "Carpe That Diem" |