Carine Cruzten was born in 1961 in Heerlen. After primary school, she attended grammar school ("gymnasium"). When she passed her exams she wanted to study psychology, but the math appeared to bother her and she quit. She decided to go to Maastricht, to the acting school. She passed, but there wasn't really any work for her. When she decided to set up a casting agency, there suddenly was an offer to play in a series. Since then it has been that way non stop. Highlight of her career is probably her appearance in Oud Geld, for which she won a Dutch academy award (best TV actress). She has two sons; Vincent (b. 1990) and Sebastiaan (b. 1994). She lives with Nico de Vries in Haarlem, the Netherlands.