Phoebe Tonkin facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Phoebe Tonkin
Tonkin in 2014
Born	Phoebe Jane Elizabeth Tonkin (1989-07-12) 12 July 1989 (age 35) Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Occupation	Actress
Years active	2005–present
Works	Filmography other
Awards	Full list

Phoebe Jane Elizabeth Tonkin (born 12 July 1989) is an Australian actress. She is well-known for her roles in popular TV shows like H₂O: Just Add Water, The Secret Circle, and The Originals.

Phoebe grew up in Sydney, Australia. She started her acting journey on Australian TV. Her big break came when she played Cleo Sertori in the fantasy series H₂O: Just Add Water (2006–2010). This role made her famous and earned her a nomination for a top acting award in Australia.

She also made her film debut in the war movie Tomorrow, When the War Began (2010). After starring in the horror film Bait 3D (2012), she moved to America. There, she became even more recognized for her roles as Faye Chamberlain in The Secret Circle and Hayley Marshall in The Vampire Diaries and The Originals.

Phoebe has also directed a short film called Furlough (2016). She starred in the award-winning thriller miniseries Safe Harbour (2018) and the science fiction series Bloom (2019–2020). More recently, she appeared in the film Babylon (2022). In 2024, she received praise for her roles in the Netflix miniseries Boy Swallows Universe and the sports film Kid Snow.

Outside of acting, Phoebe is seen as a fashion icon. She has worked with big brands like Chanel and Tiffany and Co..

Early life and education

Phoebe Tonkin was born on 12 July 1989 in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. She grew up in a suburb called Mosman.

When she was four years old, Phoebe started taking dance classes. She learned different styles like classical ballet, hip hop, contemporary dance, and tap dance. At age 12, she began acting classes at the Australian Theatre for Young People (ATYP). Phoebe later graduated from Queenwood School for Girls.

Career

Starting out and becoming famous

In 2005, Phoebe Tonkin got the role of Cleo Sertori in the Australian children's TV show H₂O: Just Add Water. The show is about three teenage girls who become mermaids. Phoebe worked hard to improve her swimming skills for the role.

The series first aired on 7 July 2006 in Australia. It became very popular and was shown to over 250 million people worldwide. In 2008, she was nominated for "Best Lead Actress in a Television Series" at the Australian Film Institute Awards. The show ran for three seasons, ending in 2010.

Becoming known worldwide

Tonkin at the GQ Men of the Year Awards in 2012

Phoebe also appeared on Australian TV shows like Packed to the Rafters and Home and Away. In September 2010, she made her first movie appearance in the Australian action film Tomorrow, When the War Began. In this movie, she played Fiona Maxwell, a character who is rich and a bit uptight. The film is about a group of teenagers fighting an invading army.

In January 2011, Phoebe moved to Los Angeles to act in more international projects. In March 2011, she was cast as Faye Chamberlain in The CW's supernatural drama series The Secret Circle. The show started on 15 September 2011 and was watched by over 3.5 million people. It was about a group of young witches forming a secret coven. Critics praised Phoebe's acting, calling her a standout star. However, the show only had one season and was cancelled in May 2012.

In August 2010, Phoebe was also cast in the 3D horror movie Bait 3D. The movie was filmed in Gold Coast, Australia. It tells the story of people trapped in a supermarket with great white sharks after a huge tsunami. Phoebe worked again with her H₂O: Just Add Water co-star Cariba Heine in this film.

In August 2012, Phoebe joined the cast of The CW series The Vampire Diaries. She played Hayley, a friend of the character Tyler. She reunited with another H₂O: Just Add Water co-star, Claire Holt, who played Rebekah Mikaelson on the show.

In January 2013, The CW announced a spin-off series from The Vampire Diaries called The Originals. This show focuses on the original vampire family. Phoebe was a main character in this new series. Claire Holt also joined the cast of The Originals, making it the third time Phoebe and Claire starred together.

In 2017, Phoebe was cast in the Australian drama Safe Harbour. This four-part series is about Australians on a sailing trip who find a boat of refugees. Phoebe played a character named Olivia. The series was highly praised and won an International Emmy Award for Best TV Movie or Miniseries in 2019.

In 2018, Phoebe was cast in Bloom, a show for the streaming platform Stan. She played the younger version of Gwen Reid. In 2019, Phoebe wrote and directed her first short film, Furlough. It was shown at film festivals around the world in 2020. Since 2019, she has been part of a program that helps female directors.

Becoming an established actress

In April 2021, it was announced that Phoebe would star in a horror film called Night Shift. In 2023, she was featured in a historical fiction podcast called The Foxes of Hydesville.

In 2024, Phoebe starred as a mother in Boy Swallows Universe. This Netflix miniseries is based on a popular book. Critics loved the series, and Phoebe's performance was especially praised. The author of the book, Trent Dalton, said Phoebe's acting was "so raw and exposing and true." For her role, Phoebe was nominated for a 2024 Logie Award and a 2025 AACTA Award.

Phoebe's next movie, the drama film Kid Snow, premiered at the Sydney Film Festival in 2024. Even though the film didn't get the best reviews, Phoebe's acting was described as "compelling." Also in 2024, her film "And On The Eight Day" premiered at the Dallas International Film Festival. In February 2024, it was announced that Phoebe would star in a new series called The Dark Lake.

Other projects

Fashion

Phoebe Tonkin is often called a fashion icon. Her style choices and public appearances are widely talked about. She helps promote Australian fashion and has worked with big brands like Chanel and Tiffany & Co..

From 2015 to 2017, Phoebe was the face of a swimwear line called "Matteau Swim." She also supported the clothing brand Witchery in 2015. In September 2017, she appeared in an ad campaign for Smythson, a luxury brand.

Phoebe is a brand ambassador for Chanel. She has done photoshoots for Vogue Australia in partnership with Chanel makeup. In September 2018, she was part of a digital campaign for Chanel's Gabrielle products.

In October 2020, Phoebe launched her own clothing brand called "Lesjour!". It's a sustainable loungewear brand inspired by 1970s fashion. Phoebe said she moved back to Los Angeles to design and make the clothes there. She decided to launch her brand because her acting work was affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Advocacy

In 2012, Phoebe started a website about health with her friend Teresa Palmer called Your Zen Life. In 2015, Phoebe stepped away from the site due to her acting work.

In 2017, Phoebe supported the survey to decide if same-sex marriage should be legal in Australia. She encouraged Australians to vote for marriage equality.

Phoebe has attended several Women's Marches in 2017 and 2018. She supports women's rights, immigrant rights, and LGBTQ rights.

In 2019, Phoebe worked with the environmental group NRDC. She focused on laws to ban pesticides and protect the coast from oil spills. She also uses social media to raise awareness about climate change and ocean pollution. Phoebe has said, "Growing up I was very conscious of my environmental footprint."

Since 2015, Phoebe has been a Global Ambassador for Plan International, a humanitarian organization. In July 2024, she became a National Ambassador for their Australian branch, focusing on helping children in crisis.

Other appearances

Phoebe Tonkin appeared in the music video for Miles Fisher's song "Don't Let Go" in 2011.

Filmography

Film

Television

Other performances

• Music video: "Don't Let Go" (2012) by Miles Fisher, as Female lead
• Podcast: The Foxes of Hydesville (2023), as Adelaide Granger

Awards and nominations

See also

In Spanish: Phoebe Tonkin para niños