Phoebe Tonkin
Born Phoebe Jane Elizabeth Tonkin
12 July 1989
Sydney, Australia
Nationality Australian
Occupation
Actress model
Phoebe Jane Elizabeth Tonkin (born 12 July 1989) is an Australian actress and model. She is best known for portraying Cleo Sertori in H2O: Just Add Water, Fiona Maxwell in Tomorrow, When the War Began, Faye Chamberlain in The Secret Circle, and Hayley Marshall-Kenner in The CW series The Vampire Diaries and its spin-off series The Originals.
Tonkin was born in Sydney. When she was four, she attended dance courses in classical ballet, hip hop, contemporary dance, and tap dance. At the age of 12, Tonkin began courses at the Australian Theatre for Young People (ATYP) at the Wharf Theatre. Tonkin graduated from Queenwood School for Girls.
Tonkin dated The Vampire Diaries star Paul Wesley from September 2013 to March 2017.
Career
In December 2005, Tonkin was cast as the role of Cleo Sertori on the Australian children television series H2O: Just Add Water which follows the lives of three teenage girls who turn into mermaids. Tonkin improved on her swimming abilities during the pre-production of the series. The series premiered on 7 July 2006 on Network Ten and has since gone on to be aired to a worldwide audience of more than 250 million. To promote the series she and her co-stars presented the best band award at the Nickelodeon UK Kids’ Choice Awards in October 2007. In 2008, Tonkin was nominated for “Best Lead Actress in a Television Series” at the prestigious Australian Film Institute Awards. The series ran for three seasons with the series finale airing on 16 April 2010.
Tonkin has also appeared on fellow Australian television shows Packed to the Rafters and Home and Away. In September 2010, Tonkin made her film debut starring in the Australian action ensemble film Tomorrow, When the War Began.
In January 2011, Tonkin moved to Los Angeles to pursue an international acting career. She was cast in March 2011 as Faye Chamberlain on The CW supernatural drama series The Secret Circle,
Tonkin has appeared in a number of advertisements which include Vauxhall Motors and was previously signed to Chic Management. Her modelling career includes shoots for Girlfriend, Teen Vogue, ELLE Australia, Miss Vogue Australia, Vogue Australia, Dolly and Free People. Tonkin has also appeared in Miles Fisher’s music video “Don’t Let Go”. In 2012, Tonkin opened a website about health with friend Teresa Palmer called YourZenLife.
Filmography
Film
Year Title Role Notes
2010 Tomorrow, When the War Began Fiona Maxwell
2012 Bait 3D Jaime
2014 The Ever After Mabel
2016 Billionaire Ransom Amy Tilton Originally titled Take Down
2016 Cul-de-Sac Mother Short film
Television
Year Title Role Notes
2006–10 H2O: Just Add Water Cleo Sertori Main role: 78 episodes
2009–10 Packed to the Rafters Lexi Recurring role: 3 episodes
2010 Home and Away Adrian Hall Recurring role: 7 episodes
2011–12 The Secret Circle Faye Chamberlain Main role: 22 episodes
2012–13 The Vampire Diaries Hayley Marshall Recurring role: 8 episodes
2013–present The Originals Hayley Marshall-Kenner Main role
2015 Stalker Nicole Clark Episode (1.14): “My Hero”