Born in the United Kingdom, Kaaren de Zilva grew up in Canada and describes her ancestry as an eclectic mix. Her parents were born in Sri Lanka and throughout the family tree the predominant ethnicities are Portuguese and Dutch. She began her pursuit of an acting career at a young age. She attended the Gastown Actors' Studio in Vancouver, British Columbia with Mel Tuck, as well as receiving tutelage from Ivanna Chubbick and Larry Moss.