Charlbi Dean

Charlbi Dean Kriek ( SHARL-bee; 5 February 1990 – 29 August 2022) was a South African model and actress. She was best known for her roles in the Spud films (2010–2013), the superhero drama series Black Lightning (2018) and the Palme d'Or-winning dark comedy Triangle of Sadness (2022).

Early life and career

Dean was born on 5 February 1990 to Joanne Muller and Johan Kriek. She had a brother. She began modelling at the age of six, appearing in commercials and catalogues. She signed with Alfa Model Management when she was 12 and was homeschooled from the age of 14. She attended Waterfront Theatre School in her hometown of Cape Town, traveling widely for her career.

In October 2008, Dean and another model survived a car crash. Her injuries included a broken wrist, four broken ribs, and a collapsed lung. She was hospitalised at Milnerton Medi-Clinic and received life-saving surgery. She took a break from her career after the accident.

In 2010, Dean made her acting debut in the film adaptation of Spud as Amanda, a role she reprised in the sequel Spud 2: The Madness Continues. She went on to star in the films Don't Sleep in 2017 and An Interview with God in 2018. Also in 2018, she landed the role of Syonide, a recurring character she played for two seasons of the Arrowverse series Black Lightning. In February 2020, she was cast in a leading role in Ruben Östlund's satirical film Triangle of Sadness, which premiered at the 2022 Cannes Film Festival and won the Palme d'Or. Her performance in the film received critical praise, with some considering it as what could have been her breakout role.