Elizabeth Dowden was born in Auckland, New Zealand. She grew up on Waiheke Island until she was 6 years old, when her parents moved back to the city she began taking dance lessons which led her to becoming a competitive ballet dancer by the age of 9. She booked her first commercial at age 10 for an insurance company after being scouted in dance class. After filming her first commercial, she joined a modelling agency. After booking various commercials and modelling jobs, it wasn't until her agent suggested that she try an acting class that she turned her focus to acting at age 17. She began to book guest roles on quintessential New Zealand TV shows such as Shortland Street, Step Dave, Auckland Daze, Westside and US TV shows such as Power Rangers. After graduating from The University of Auckland with a Bachelors in Psychology and Sociology she travelled to Los Angeles to further her acting career.