Francesca Vanthielen (born 24 December 1972 in Eeklo) is a Belgian television actress and host, radio presenter, and economist. She is probably best known internationally for playing the lead role in the Svalbard-set adventure film When the Light Comes (1998) and for hosting Sterren op de dansvloer (Dancing with the Stars) between 2005 and 2008.[1][2] She has worked as a host on Radio TAM TAM (BRT), Q-music and Studio Brussel.[3]
Her childhood and adolescent years were spent in Zonhoven and she currently resides in Antwerp. Her father is an economist in Diepenbeek and her mother is a social worker in Geel.[3] Vanthielen holds a degree in Applied Economics from the Katholieke Universiteit Leuven and has a Post Graduate in Acting from the Mountview Theatre School in London.[3] In 2009 she obtained a master's degree in comparative and international politics at the Catholic University of Leuven.