Phoebe Tonkin is an Australian actress best known as Hayley Marshall in The Vampire Diaries and The Originals, and Cleo Sertori in the children’s series H2O: Just Add Water. She first won attention in Australia as a teenage mermaid, and she became a star of American supernatural television, playing a werewolf who becomes a hybrid.
At 37, Tonkin remains one of Australia’s most recognisable television actresses. She played Faye Chamberlain in The Secret Circle (2011–2012), Gwendolyn Reid in the Stan series Bloom (2019–2020), and Gale Van der Walt in the action film Boy Kills World (2024). She was previously in a relationship with actor Paul Wesley.
Quick Facts
| Full Name | Phoebe Jane Elizabeth Tonkin |
| Date of Birth | 12 July 1989 |
| Age | 37 years old (as of November 2026) |
| Birthplace | Sydney, New South Wales, Australia |
| Height | 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Former Partner | Paul Wesley (2013–2019) |
| Nationality | Australian |
Who Is Phoebe Tonkin?
Phoebe Tonkin is an Australian actress who first came to attention as Cleo Sertori in the children’s series H2O: Just Add Water (2006–2010), in which she played a teenager who becomes a mermaid. She then starred in the Australian film Tomorrow, When the War Began (2010), in which she played Fiona Maxwell, and in the shark thriller Bait (2012).
Tonkin is best known internationally as Hayley Marshall, a werewolf, in the CW series The Vampire Diaries (2012–2013) and its spin-off The Originals (2013–2018), in which she played the character for five seasons. She also played Faye Chamberlain, a witch, in The Secret Circle (2011–2012), and Gwendolyn Reid in the Stan drama Bloom (2019–2020).
Early Life & Background
Phoebe Jane Elizabeth Tonkin was born on 12 July 1989 in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, the daughter of Nicholas Tonkin and Jannyfer Tonkin. She grew up in Sydney and attended the Queenwood School for Girls in Balmoral, where she first performed on stage. She trained in dance from a young age, studying classical ballet, hip-hop, contemporary dance and tap.
Tonkin began acting as a teenager, appearing in the Australian television series H2O: Just Add Water, in which she played Cleo Sertori, and she studied at the Australian Theatre for Young People (ATYP) in Sydney. She then moved to the United States to pursue a career in Hollywood, and she was cast in The Secret Circle in 2011.
Career
After H2O: Just Add Water, Tonkin was cast as Fiona Maxwell in Tomorrow, When the War Began, an Australian film based on John Marsden’s novel, and as Jaime in the shark thriller Bait (2012). She then moved to Los Angeles, where she was cast as Faye Chamberlain in The Secret Circle, opposite Britt Robertson and Thomas Dekker.
In 2012 Tonkin joined the cast of The Vampire Diaries as Hayley Marshall, a werewolf who becomes pregnant with Klaus Mikaelson’s child. She then starred in the spin-off The Originals, in which she played Hayley for five seasons, and her character became a hybrid, a werewolf-vampire.
In recent years Tonkin has played Gwendolyn Reid in the Stan series Bloom (2019–2020), in which she played a woman who takes a youth-restoring berry, and Gale Van der Walt in the action film Boy Kills World (2024), opposite Bill Skarsgård. She has also appeared in the Australian film The Ever After (2014), in which she played Alice.
Facts About Phoebe Tonkin
- She played Cleo Sertori in the children’s series H2O: Just Add Water (2006–2010).
- She played Faye Chamberlain in The Secret Circle (2011–2012).
- She played Hayley Marshall in The Vampire Diaries and The Originals (2012–2018).
- She played Gwendolyn Reid in the Stan series Bloom (2019–2020).
- She played Gale Van der Walt in the action film Boy Kills World (2024).
Frequently Asked Questions
How old is Phoebe Tonkin?
Phoebe Tonkin was born on 12 July 1989, making her 37 years old as of November 2026.
Where is Phoebe Tonkin from?
She was born in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, and she attended the Queenwood School for Girls in Balmoral.
Who is Phoebe Tonkin’s partner?
She was previously in a relationship with actor Paul Wesley from 2013 to 2019. No current partner has been publicly confirmed.
What is Phoebe Tonkin best known for?
She is best known for H2O: Just Add Water, The Secret Circle, The Vampire Diaries, The Originals, Bloom and Boy Kills World.
What is Phoebe Tonkin doing now?
She played Gale Van der Walt in the action film Boy Kills World (2024) and continues to work in film and television.