Sharni Vinson - Bikini at Cronulla beach Sydney January 13, 2014

Sharni Vinson (born July 22, 1983) is an Australian model, actress and dancer.

Vinson was born in Sydney, Australia. She was raised by her single mother; her father lives in Canada. Vinson studied with the Australian Theatre for Young People for four years and enrolled as a student in the Brent Street School of Performing Arts, studying dance when she was twelve. On leaving high school, Vinson continued her studies as a full-time student with the Brent Street School.

Vinson portrayed the role of Cassie Turner in the Australian soap opera Home and Away from 2004 to 2008. She joined the show permanently in December 2004, having previously appeared twice on the show as a minor character and auditioning for the role of Martha McKenzie but losing out to Jodi Gordon. In 2006 Vinson was nominated for a TV Week Logie Award for Best New Talent for her performance in Home and Away. In April, 2008 Sharni announced she would be leaving the series to pursue a career in America.

Vinson appeared in the CSI: NY Season 4 cliffhanger titled "Hostage". She portrayed the role of Lori Mandel, a pregnant woman held hostage in a bank. Vinson also had a guest role in episode 13 of NCIS, "Broken Bird", which first aired on 13 January 2009. She played the part of an airline hostess named Jeanette. Vinson also played a minor role in Cold Case episode "Metamorphosis" as Mia Romanov who worked at the circus.

She has also appeared in other Australian television shows such as Saturday Disney, The Footy Show, and the Princess Margaret Hospital for Children Telethon. She was also featured on the Australian televisions series Creature Features with her pet dog.