Elani Dekker is a South African actress, illustrator, and dancer. She was nominated for a SAFTA for her performance in the film Toorbos (2019). Her other films include Jou Romeo (2016), Liewe Lisa (2019), Silverton Siege (2022), and Die Bloedhonde (2024).
Early life and education Dekker was born in Pretoria. She attended an Afrikaans school. On a scholarship, she took the summer Acting on Film course at the New York Film Academy (NYFA) in July 2015. She also trained in ballet and worked as a production manager on the set of the film Sink. In 2021, Dekker obtained a diploma from the Interior Design Institute.
Career In 2016, Dekker made her feature film debut as Yvette Verwey in Jou Romeo. This was followed by further film roles as Older Zettie in Raaiselkind and Face in Vaselinetjie the following year. She made her television debut in the thirteenth season of the M-Net soap opera Binnelanders, which aired in 2018. She starred in the 2019 films Liewe Lisa as the titular character and Toorbos as Karoliena Kapp. For the latter, an adaptation of the novel by Dalene Matthee., Dekker received a SAFTA nomination for Best Actress in a Film. She also appeared in Vergeet my nie.
Dekker had her first solo art exhibition in February 2021, and her second Wild in September 2021. She joined the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI). She returned to acting with a role as Christine in the 2022 Netflix historical action thriller film Silverton Siege. She co-wrote and starred in the 2024 murder mystery Die Bloedhonde as Katrien, directed by Stiaan Smith. She described it as a "deeply personal" film for Smith and herself.
Personal life As of 2020, Dekker lived in Robindale, a suburb of Randburg. She is engaged to Stiaan Smith, who directed Die Bloedhonde.
Filmography Year Title Role Notes 2016 Jou Romeo Yvette Verwey 2017 Raaiselkind Older Zettie Vaselinetjie Face 2018 Binnelanders Monique Roux Season 13 2019 Liewe Lisa Lisa de Wet Toorbos Karoliena Kapp 2020 Vergeet my nie Nicky van As 2022 Silverton Siege Christine Netflix film 2024 Die Bloedhonde Katrien
Music videos Year Song Artist Notes 2016 "SY" Die Heuwels Fantasties "Ons op ons eie" Loki Rothman
Stage Year Title Role Notes 2017 DEURnis Aardklop
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