Phoebe Tonkin is a homegrown star who’s gone from Aussie kids’ TV to carving out a successful career in Hollywood.
Hailing from Sydney, Tonkin, 35, landed a role in the now-iconic teen supernatural series H2O: Just Add Water back in 2006, at the young age of 15, that made her an instant star.
She portrayed the mermaid Cleo Sertori in the hit show, alongside Aussie co-star and close friend Claire Holt, who she went on to star alongside in The Vampire Diaries and The Originals.
Watch the video above.
READ MORE: Inside Phoebe Tonkin’s ‘secret’ wedding to Bernard Lagrange
The show helped put Tonkin on the map. She went on to add other iconic shows to her acting belt, including Home and Away and Packed to the Rafters, before hitting the big time in front of US audiences with The CW vampire shows.
The actress also rubs shoulders with Hollywood’s biggest stars, often seen at major events like the Vanity Fair Oscars party.
Cleo: The role that started at all
Landing the part of mermaid Cleo came with a bit of luck for Tonkin – and lots of swim lessons.
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“I was a really bad swimmer,” she told W Magazine in an interview only recently.
“In fact, I think I came last in the school for swimming, so I had to do six weeks of swim training to be able to play a mermaid
The show now has a renewed global following, thanks to clips going viral on social media and appearing on the streaming platform, Netflix.
“I have seen a lot of the TikToks online where everyone makes fun of my accent, in particular the way I say the word ‘water’ and ‘oh no,'” she added to W Magazine.
The path from H2O to Hollywood
In January 2011, Tonkin made the move to the LA and hasn’t looked back since.
In 2019, she appeared in the Stan series Bloom, but soon moved to Hollywood movies with 2022’s Babylon, co-starring Margot Robbie, and the upcoming action film, The 8th Day.
Last year, she won the AACTA for Best Lead Actress in a Drama Series for Boy Swallows Universe.
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She previously reflected on her friendship with co-star Holt and said she helped her settle into her new life in the U.S.
“I was 15 years old when I met Claire; she was 16. We were both in the Gold Coast, for years,” she reportedly said at a fan event in 2014.
“And then, when I moved to L.A., I actually stayed on Claire’s couch when I was auditioning.
“She really showed me the ropes of Los Angeles.”
During her time on The Vampire Diaries and The Originals, Tonkin dated co-star Paul Wesley from 2013 to 2017.
They went their separate ways after four years.
Hollywood celebrities who fell in love with Aussies
‘Happily ever after’
This week, Tonkin made headlines for marrying art dealer Bernard Lagrange in a ‘secret’ wedding in New York.
with stars in attendance including her friends Lara Bingle, Holt, Margot Robbie and Samara Weaving.
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Her The Vampire Diaries co-star Nina Dobrev was also in attendance.
While she hasn’t addressed the headlines, Tonkin’s friends have shared images confirming the wedding.
“Happily ever after,” a friend captioned one post from the star-studded nuptials.
Tonkin confirmed her engagement in October last year and showing off her diamond engagement ring.
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