Lea Vivier


Lea Vivier is a South African actress, best known for her leading role in the Showmax original series Dam and her appearances in the films The Day We Didn't Meet and Wonderlus.

Early life and education

Born in Cape Town, South Africa, to drama teacher Adri Troksie Vivier and senior advocate Pieter De Bruin Vivier, Lea Vivier was one of four siblings. Her elder sister, Trix Vivier, is also an actress, known for her role in the 2019 television series Trackers adapted from the Deon Meyer novel.
While at the Waterfront Theatre School studying classical ballet, contemporary dance, and drama, Vivier completed a year of Speech and Drama training through Trinity College London.
After completing her matric qualification at Jan van Riebeeck High School, Vivier travelled to Chile, where she became fluent in Spanish. After her return to South Africa, she spent a year at the University of Cape Town studying towards her Bachelor of Arts. She thereafter transferred to Rhodes University, in Makhanda (Grahamstown), to complete her degree, triple majoring in English Literature, Drama, and Afrikaans Dutch Studies in 2015.

Career

Though she appeared in a number of theatre productions, some of which featured at the National Arts Festival, Vivier's screen acting career began with her role in the film Wonderlus, directed by Johan Cronje. Vivier's performance as the unnamed waitress earned her the Best Actress award at the Silwerskerm Film Festival in 2017 and a nomination for Best Actress in the Winter Film Awards. The following year, she played the role of Louisa in the short film Runner, for which she won Best Actress in a Short Film at the Five Continents International Film Festival Award in April 2018.
She has since she appeared in a number of television series and serials, including Mense Mense, Die Spreeus, ''Fynskrif, Binnelanders, and The Girl from St Agnes.
In 2021, Vivier took the leading roles in the Showmax series
Dam and Johan Cronje's The Day We Didn't Meet.
Most recently, Vivier performed as Madeline Evans in M-Net's
Legacy, and the Netflix series Ludik and Resident Evil''.

Personal life

In 2023, she married Andre Wilkens just outside Greyton in the Western Cape. The couple have since settled in Lisbon in Portugal.

Filmography

Film
YearTitleRole
2017WonderlusWaitress
2018Runner Louisa
2021The Day We Didn't MeetAlex Webb

Television
YearTitleRole
2018Die KasteelJade Smit
2018Mense MenseSalomé Muller
2018Kampkosas self
2018The DocketSteffie
2018BinnelandersLika Bosch
2019The Girl from St. AgnesAmy Eliason
2019Die SpreeusEmmie
2019Fynskrif Lilani du Toit
2020Projek DinaSonya De Jager
2021DamYola Fischer
2021Troukoors Lizelle
2021Die SentrumDaleen le Roux
2022Die BylAzel Maritz
2022LegacyMadeleine Evans
2022LudikLouise Ludik
2022Resident EvilSusana Franco
2022-2024Diepe WatersMeghan
2025Die NuusmakersMelanie Palmer

Awards

2018
Best Lead Actress in a Short Film at the Five Continents International Film Festival
2017
Best Actress at the Silwerskerm Film Festival