The Sydney-born star is currently experiencing the absolute zenith of her professional and creative life.
Coming off her historic AACTA Award win for her staggering work in Netflix’s Boy Swallows Universe, a newly minted marriage to Bernard Lagrange, and the roaring summer streaming success of her new Paramount+ romantic drama Two Years Later, Tonkin has completely transcended her early supernatural darling typecasting. She has proven that raw dedication to the craft can shatter any industry ceiling. To celebrate her big day, we are diving deep into the archives to look back at the five exceptional performances that define her incredible journey.
The 5 Definitive Roles of Phoebe Tonkin
1. Frances “Frankie” Bell in Boy Swallows Universe (2024) — Her Dramatic Masterpiece
The absolute artistic pinnacle of her career. Adapting Trent Dalton’s critically adored, semi-autobiographical novel, this Netflix miniseries required Tonkin to shed every single remnant of Hollywood glamour. Playing Frankie, a deeply loving but severely struggling, drug-addicted mother navigating the dangerous criminal underbelly of 1980s Brisbane, Tonkin’s performance was raw, visceral, and overflowing with an uncompromising heart. Her tour-de-force work completely captivated critics worldwide, earning her the 2025 AACTA Award for Best Lead Actress in a Drama Series and solidifying her status as a premiere prestige actor.
2. Hayley Marshall in The Originals & The Vampire Diaries (2012–2018) — The Supernatural Queen
For a generation of fantasy enthusiasts, Tonkin will always be the fierce alpha hybrid queen of New Orleans. Introduced as a wild, free-spirited werewolf in The Vampire Diaries, her character Hayden “Hayley” Marshall quickly evolved into the emotional backbone of its highly successful spin-off series, The Originals. Over five seasons, Tonkin flawlessly handled the complex, high-stakes evolution of a lonely orphan transitioning into a protective mother and political leader. Her fierce screen presence and vulnerability turned Hayley into one of the most beloved, permanent fixtures of the entire CW supernatural mythos.
3. Cleo Sertori in H2O: Just Add Water (2006–2010) — The Nostalgic Phenomenon
The cultural milestone that launched it all. At just 16 years old, Tonkin landed her very first professional television role as Cleo Sertori, a shy, awkward teenager who accidentally transforms into a mermaid with the power to manipulate water. Ironically, Tonkin was not a strong swimmer when she was originally cast, working tirelessly during pre-production to master the underwater choreography. Alongside her real-life best friend Claire Holt and Cariba Heine, Tonkin anchored a global childhood staple that continues to retain a massive, viral status across modern social media platforms.
“While I wasn’t the most confident swimmer initially, working through that fear to bring Cleo to life taught me early on that the best roles are always the ones that push you entirely out of your comfort zone.” — Phoebe Tonkin
4. Emily in Two Years Later (2026) — The Modern Anti-Rom-Com Return
Her newest, freshest creative triumph. Premiering on Paramount+ on June 4, 2026, this highly praised romantic drama series sees Tonkin star opposite Brenton Thwaites as Emily, a thirty-something woman whose intense, daily public-commute flirtation is abruptly halted by the global pandemic. Reconnecting unexpectedly two years down the line, the duo embark on an impulsive series of eight dates to decide if they truly belong together. The series showcases Tonkin’s exceptional capacity for grounded, realistic romance, blending mid-30s existential anxiety with a beautifully dry, mature wit.
5. Fiona Maxwell in Tomorrow, When the War Began (2010) — The Blockbuster Breakout
Before she took over American network television, Tonkin proved her blockbuster action mettle in this gritty, high-stakes Australian cinematic adaptation of John Marsden’s iconic YA novel. Playing Fiona Maxwell, a wealthy, pampered city girl forced to transform into a survivalist guerilla fighter after a foreign military invades her country, Tonkin stole every scene she was in. Her character’s transition from a naive, terrified teenager into a brave, tactical rebel added a brilliant layer of human growth to the explosive action-thriller.
