# Alicia Banit

Alicia Banit (born 5 September 1990) is an Australian actress and dancer best known for her role as Kat in the ABC television series Dance Academy. She was also part of the main cast in We Were Tomorrow and had a recurring role in Playing for Keeps.

## Early life

Banit started dancing at the age of four, undertaking lessons in tap, jazz, ballet and hip hop at T-Jam Dance School. This led to a scholarship with Victorian College of the Arts Secondary School (VCASS) at the age of 12, where she learnt further dance styles including contemporary, character and acrobatics.

## Career

Banit first acting appearance was in the 1998 Australian film Dead Letter Office at the age of six, playing a minor role as the younger version of the main character, Alice. Comedy skits on shows called In Melbourne Tonight and Rove followed, before she took a hiatus from acting to focus on dance. At the age of 16, she resumed acting, playing a two episode guest role in the Network Ten soap opera Neighbours as Madison Sullivan (2006), before returning to the soap in 2008 for another two episode role – this time portraying Sharni Hillman.
From 2007 to 2009 Banit had two guest roles on the Australian version of the Disney Channel series As The Bell Rings, playing Amber. In 2007, she was cast as Kaitlyn in Chris Lilley's television series Summer Heights High, for the duration of the first season. In 2008, Banit appeared in Rush as Gemma Rose Parker acting alongside former Neighbours actress Eliza Taylor-Cotter. In 2009, she played Leah in season one of the Australian drama series Tangle. Later that year, she was cast as one of the main characters, Katrina Karamakov in the ABC television series Dance Academy.
From 23 to 27 August 2010, Banit was co-host on the ABC3 wrapper program Studio 3, alongside Kayne Tremills and Amberly Lobo.

## Personal life

Banit revealed via her Instagram account the birth of her first child, Isla Joy, born on October 10, 2022.

## Filmography
### Film

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1998 | Dead Letter Office | Young Alice | Feature film |
| 2017 | Dance Academy: The Comeback | Katrina Karamakov | Feature film |
| 2020 | mArk | Sarah | Short film |
| 2021 | The Quirky Best Friend | Sam | Short film |

### Television

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1995 | Halifax f.p. | Young Jane | TV series, 1 episode |
| 2006 | Neighbours | Madison Sullivan | TV series, 2 episodes |
| 2007–2011 | As the Bell Rings | Amber (main cast) | TV series |
| 2007 | Summer Heights High | Kaitlyn | TV series, 8 episodes |
| 2007 | Pass the Plate | Herself | TV short form series, episode: "Mango" |
| 2008 | Neighbours | Sharni Hillman | TV series, 4 episodes |
| 2008 | Rush | Gemma Rose Parker | TV series, season 1, 1 episode |
| 2009 | Tangle | Leah | TV series, season 1, 6 episodes |
| 2010–2013 | Dance Academy | Katrina Karamakov (main cast) | TV series, 65 episodes |
| 2010 | Studio 3 | Herself | TV series, 5 episodes |
| 2017–2018 | Superwog | The Neighbour, Holly | TV series, 3 episodes: Pilot; Episode 4: "The Formal"; Episode 6: "The Zombie Apocalypse" |
| 2018 | We Were Tomorrow | Siena Woodlands (main cast) | TV series, 6 episodes |
| 2018 | Playing for Keeps | Karlie Lum (recurring role) | TV series |
| 2018 | Olivia Newton-John: Hopelessly Devoted to You | Chloe Rose Lattanzi | TV miniseries |
| 2019 | Ms Fisher's Modern Murder Mysteries | Rita | TV series, season 1, 1 episode |
| 2022 | Summer Love | Ella | TV series, episode 7 |
| 2023 | Crazy Fun Park | Asha | TV series, 1 episode |