Phoebe Jane Elizabeth Tonkin is an Australian actress and model who portrayed Cleo Sertori in H2O: Just Add Water.
Early life
From the age of four, Tonkin participated in various dance classes including classical ballet and tap. She completed various courses at the Australian Theater for Young People (ATYP) at the Wharf Theater from the age of twelve. Courses at ATYP included Shakespeare, Script to Stage, Clowning Around, and Musical Theater. She attended Loreto Kirribilli and Queenwood School for Girls in Balmoral, renowned for its excellent drama department and had private drama classes. She became involved in all school productions including Antigone, White Crane and Venetian Twins. Each year Tonkin took part in the school's Shakespeare festival culminating in winning the state final in 2005 in a Midsummer Nights Dream.
Career
Tonkin's first television appearance was on the Australian teen show H2O: Just Add Water, where she plays one of the main characters, Cleo Sertori. While not a strong swimmer, she worked to improve her abilities during pre-production of the show. She is the youngest member of the principal cast on the show. On 20 October 2007, Tonkin appeared on the Nickelodeon UK Kids' Choice Awards, where she presented the award for best band alongside H2O co-stars Claire Holt and Cariba Heine. Tonkin's credits include appearances on the Australian series Packed to the Rafters and the film Tomorrow, When the War Began. She has appeared in various commercials, including ones for Vauxhall Motors and Chic Management. Tonkin also models, and has been in various photo shoots for catalogs and magazines such as Girlfriend.
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 which premiered on 15 September 2011 to over 3.5 million viewers. The series follows a group of young witches whom are a part of a secret coven. Tonkin has received acclaim from critics being referred to as the breakout star of the series; she was featured on Variety's list of "new faces to watch" and named one of 2011's breakout TV stars by E! Online. The Secret Circle, however, had only one full season as it was cancelled on 11 May 2012.
In August 2010, Tonkin was cast in the 3D horror film Bait. Filming took place on Australia's Gold Coast and follows a group of strangers who are trapped in a supermarket after a freak tsunami with a pack of great white sharks. The film was released in Australia in September 2012.
In August 2012, Tonkin was reported as being cast in the TV series The Vampire Diaries in a recurring role as Hayley, a friend of Tyler, joining her co-star from H2O: Just Add Water and her best friend; Claire Holt, who portrays Rebekah Mikaelson.
Filmography
| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 2006 - 2010 | H2O: Just Add Water | Cleo Sertori |
| 2009 - 2010 | Packed to the Rafters | Lexi |
| 2010 | Tomorrow, When the War Began | Fiona Maxwell |
| 2010 | Home and Away | Adrian Hall |
| 2011 - 2012 | The Secret Circle | Faye Chamberlain |
| 2012 | Bait | Jaime |
| 2012 - 2013 | The Vampire Diaries | Hayley Marshall-Kenner |
| 2013 - 2018 | The Originals | Hayley Marshall-Kenner |
| 2014 | The Ever After | Mabel |
| 2015 | Stalker | Nicole Clark |
| 2015 | Take Down | Amy Tilton |
| 2016 | Cul-de-Sac | Mom |
| 2017 | Pillow Talk | Sonja |
| 2018 | Safe Harbour | Olivia Gallagher |
| 2018 | The Affair | Delphine |
| 2018 | Final Stop | The Girl |
| 2019 | The Place of No Words | Phoebe |
| 2019 - 2020 | Bloom | Young Gwen |
| 2020 | Westworld | Penny |
| 2022 | We Are Gathered Here Today | Brenda Stone |
| 2022 | Babylon | Jane Thornton |
| 2023 | Transfusion | Justine |
Gallery
