Tanit Phoenix

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title: "Tanit Phoenix" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["south-african-television-actresses", "actresses-from-durban", "south-african-people-of-dutch-descent", "south-african-people-of-irish-descent", "south-african-female-models", "south-african-expatriates-in-the-united-states", "living-people", "1980-births", "afrikaner-people"] description: "South African actress and model" topic_path: "geography/south-africa" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tanit_Phoenix" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary South African actress and model ::

::data[format=table title="Infobox person"]

Field	Value
name	Tanit Phoenix
image	Tanit Phoenix.jpg
caption	Phoenix in 2011
birth_name	Tanit Jacqueline Phoenix
birth_date
birth_place	Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
spouse

| | known_for | Lilith (Femme Fatales) | | yearsactive | 2005–2013 | | occupation | Model, actress, makeup artist | | height | | | children | 1 | ::

| name = Tanit Phoenix | image = Tanit Phoenix.jpg | caption = Phoenix in 2011 | birth_name = Tanit Jacqueline Phoenix | birth_date = | birth_place = Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa | spouse =

| known_for = Lilith (Femme Fatales) | yearsactive = 2005–2013 | occupation = Model, actress, makeup artist | height = | children = 1 Tanit Phoenix (born 24 September 1980) is a South African fashion model, actress and makeup artist. She is known for her swimwear and lingerie photo shoots after appearing in a Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue in 2003 and in GQ magazine and FHM in the same year.

Early life

Tanit Phoenix was born in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, and is of Dutch and Irish descent.

Modeling career

Phoenix began her career in Durban, South Africa at the age of 14, after being discovered by a modelling scout in her hometown, Westville. She has appeared in international TV commercials for Adidas, Coca-Cola, Volvic water, Aqua-mineral, Visine, Schweppes, American Swiss Jewelry, Citroën C3, Nivea, Alberto VO5, Aria, Transition Lenses, Volvic, and Distractions lingerie campaign.

Phoenix appeared in the European TV ad for Fa shower gel, skydiving. She was then chosen to be a cover girl for German Maxim in 2004 after being named "Who's That Girl?" at the Woman of the Year German Maxim awards in 2003, and then appeared on the cover of American Maxim the year after. She was ranked #5 in the FHM 100 Sexiest Women in the World poll of South African FHM readers in 2004, #6 in 2005, #10 in 2006, #40 in 2007. In 2011 Phoenix won "IGN's Sexiest woman of the year". She was the most popular woman ever photographed for Babeology by IGN.

She has appeared on the cover of South African Cosmopolitan four times, South African and American FHM numerous times, Legacy, Indwe, South African Marie Claire, German and South African Shape and South African GQ magazines, and has frequently been shot for Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue. In May 2014 Tanit Phoenix appeared on the cover for Maxim South Africa.

Acting career

Phoenix began her acting career with a brief appearance as one of Jared Leto's girlfriends in the 2005 film Lord of War, and the South African-Canadian mystery series Charlie Jade as Malachi's associate in the episode "Things Unseen". In 2007, she filmed a role in Gallowwalkers, opposite Wesley Snipes. The film was not released until it went to video in 2013. In 2008, she appeared in the thriller Kamasutra Nights (also known as Maya).

In 2010, she starred in the horror film Lost Boys: The Thirst and in the comedy Spud opposite John Cleese.

In 2011, Phoenix appeared in the TV series Femme Fatales, where she was the narrator of the show and appeared for a snippet of every episode. She also had a minor role in Safe House, and played the sexy antagonist alongside Leon Schuster in the 2012 movie Mad Buddies.

Phoenix starred in Death Race 2 and Death Race 3: Inferno alongside Luke Goss and Danny Trejo and reprised her role as Eve Wilson in Spud 2: The Madness Continues.

Make-up artist career

In 2013, Phoenix took her first job as the key makeup artist and designer of the character Jimmy on the P.O.V. action film Hardcore Henry. Jimmy was played by her husband Sharlto Copley. She transformed him into 11 different characters.

Personal life

Phoenix started dating actor Sharlto Copley in January 2012. On 15 February 2016, they married in Cape Town, South Africa, and announced their first child together on 1 January 2017. Sharlto filed for divorce in June 2023, after the couple had lived apart since 30 October 2021. According to her social media, Phoenix married financial advisor Blaine Lourd in October 2025.

Phoenix is a vegan.

Filmography

Film

::data[format=table]

Year	Title	Role	Notes
2005	Crazy Monkey Presents Straight Outta Benoni	Megan Alba
Lord of War	Candy
2008	Kamasutra Nights	Alexandria	Direct to Video
2010	Schuks Tshabalala's Survival Guide to South Africa	Sexy Nurse
Lost Boys: The Thirst	Gwen Lieber	Video
Spud	Eve Wilson
Death Race 2	Katrina Banks	Video
2012	Safe House	Hostess
Mad Buddies	Kelsey
2013	Death Race 3: Inferno	Katrina Banks	Video
Spud 2: The Madness Continues	Eve Wilson
Gallowwalkers	Angel	Video
::

Television

::data[format=table]

Year	Title	Role	Notes
2005	Charlie Jade	Malachi's associate #1	Episode: "Things Unseen"
2009	The Philanthropist	Lap Dancer	Episode: "San Diego"
2011–2012	Femme Fatales	Lilith	Lead Role
::

Music video

::data[format=table]

Year	Title	Artist
2012	"Unholy"	Taxi Violence
::

References

References

1. Walters, Mike. (28 June 2023). "'District 9' Star Sharlto Copley Files for Divorce from Model Wife Tanit Phoenix". Yahoo!.
2. Phoenix, Tanit. (24 October 2025). "Home at last... ❤️ @blainelourd I love you! #husbandandwife #love". Facebook.
3. "Tanit Phoenix". Ice Model Management.
4. (2 May 2010). "Tanit Choice". Tanit Phoenix website.
5. "Tanit Phoenix Biography". IGN.
6. "Tanit Phoenix". Ubuhle.
7. Wiggins, Luke. (14 November 2013). "Tanit Phoenix, International Actress and South African Super Model Interview". The Night Life.
8. Puchko, Kristy. (5 April 2016). "Sharlto Copley Reveals Shocking Secrets of 'Hardcore Henry's' Insane Stunts". Comic Book Resources.
9. (2014). "Tanit Phoenix - Filmography". [[The New York Times]].
10. "Tanit Phoenix". Ask Men.
11. "Tanit Phoenix". Tullylish Parish.
12. "Aquia Minerale". YouTube.
13. "Transitions Optical TV Ad - Nature Cinematographer". Pinterest.
14. "Distractions Lingerie TV Ad with Woolworths". Facebook.
15. "Tanit Phoenix - Commercials". Tanit Phoenix website.
16. "Girls". Maxim.
17. "FHM-South Africa's 100 Sexiest Women [2004]". Am I Annoying.
18. "FHM-South Africa's 100 Sexiest Women [2005]". Am I Annoying.
19. Roberts, Cherie. (20 December 2011). "Tanit Phoenix is IGN Babeology's 2011 Babe of the Year". IGN.
20. Miska, Brad. (29 May 2010). "Tanit Phoenix Talks Sexy Role in 'Lost Boys: The Thirst'". Bloody Disgusting.
21. (27 December 2010). "The FHM February 2011 issue". FHM.
22. (3 February 2011). "Sneak Peek: Marie Claire's Annual Naked Issue Cover. Tanit Phoenix Rises". Hurricane Vanessa.
23. "Tanit Phoenix, Jessica Roffey, Bar Refaeli old video". YouTube.
24. "Modeling section of official web site". Tanit Phoenix website.
25. "Maxim South Africa Magazine May 2014 issue". Magzter.
26. "Tanit Phoenix - Maxim May 2014 (5-2014) South Africa". Scanof.net.
27. Joviic, Milan. (22 February 1999). "Tanit Phoenix At Maxim South Africa May 2014". Celebzz.
28. (19 June 2014). "South Africa's Tanit Phoenix". Maxim.
29. "Tanit Phoenix - Profile". Tanit Phoenix website.
30. Goreboy. (17 May 2013). "Lionsgate Releases Gallowwalkers to DVD". Best Horror Movies.
31. "Kamasutra Nights (2008)". Rotten Tomatoes.
32. unclecreepy. (26 September 2012). "Short List Revealed to Helm Dawn of the Planet of the Apes". Dread Central.
33. "Femme Fatales". Internet Movie Database.
34. Hibberd, James. (25 October 2010). "Cinemax Casts Lead in 'Femme Fatales'". The Hollywood Reporter.
35. (4 July 2012). "John Cleese Back for ''Spud 2''". Channel 24.
36. "Hardcore Henry (2015)". Internet Movie Database.
37. Lewis, Maria. (13 August 2013). "Elysium star Sharlto Copley says Angelina Jolie a "perfect" Maleficent". The Courier Mail.
38. Buck, Kristin. (26 February 2016). "Exciting news for Sharlto Copley and Tanit Phoenix!". News 24.
39. (29 April 2016). "Tanit and Sharlto: Happily Ever After". Grazia.
40. The Juice. (3 January 2017). "Tanit Phoenix and Sharlto Copley share baby news". Channel 24.
41. Walters, Mike. (28 June 2023). "'District 9' Star Sharlto Copley Files for Divorce from Model Wife Tanit Phoenix". Yahoo!.
42. "Tanit Phoenix – Femme On Fire". Playboy.
43. "Tanit Phoenix". Mail & Guardian.
44. (3 May 2012). "How To Date A Supermodel". Men's Health.

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