Cariba Heine

Heine was born in Johannesburg^[2] to South African parents Michelle, a former showgirl, and Kevin Heine.^[3] She moved to Australia at the age of three with her parents and older brother Kyle (born 1985).^[3][4]

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.^[4] She danced at her mother's dance school in Canberra,^[5] 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.^[6] 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".^[4] After a serious hip injury, she was suggested to temporarily turn to acting by her manager.^[4]

Heine began her acting career in 2006 by being cast on the television series, H₂O: Just Add Water, where she played Rikki Chadwick, one of the lead roles.^[7] 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.^[8]

In 2011, she joined the cast of the indie film Lord of the Crows,^[9] though the film ultimately failed to get crowdfunded.^[10] In 2012, she portrayed Heather in Bait 3D,^[11] and Delvene Delaney in Channel 9's biographical TV miniseries Howzat! Kerry Packer's War.^[12] 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 H₂O: Just Add Water.^[13] 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.^[14] In 2020, she appeared in the thriller-drama series The Secrets She Keeps with Laura Carmichael and Jessica De Gouw.^[15][16]

Heine married her long-time boyfriend Matt Pong on 24 June 2024.^[17] On 20 December 2024, Heine announced she was expecting her first child.^[18] She gave birth to a son in 2025.^[19]