Phoebe Tonkin – 2025 Biography, Marriage, and Career

Phoebe Tonkin, the Australian actress who rose to fame as a mermaid on H2O: Just Add Water and later as the fierce hybrid Hayley Marshall in The Originals, has built a career spanning nearly two decades. From supernatural teen dramas to prestige Netflix productions, she remains one of Australia’s most internationally recognised performers.

As of 2025, Tonkin has entered a new chapter personally and professionally. She married Bernard Lagrange in May 2025, won an AACTA Award for her role in Boy Swallows Universe, and continues to draw significant public interest around her relationships, filmography, and next career moves.

Is Phoebe Tonkin Married? Her Relationship Status with Paul Wesley Explained

• Phoebe Tonkin ranks among the most recognised Australian actresses of her generation, primarily known for supernatural television dramas.
• She married Bernard Lagrange in May 2025, after announcing their engagement in October 2024.
• Her relationship with Paul Wesley (2013–2017) remains the most searched personal-life topic, though both have long moved on.
• Her Instagram following exceeds 8 million, indicating strong personal brand equity independent of her acting roles.
• Boy Swallows Universe (2024) represents a significant career pivot toward prestige streaming content.
• She co-founded the health website Yourzenlife in 2012 with fellow actress Teresa Palmer.
• Tonkin has never had children, and no public announcements indicate otherwise.

Phoebe Tonkin and Paul Wesley: A History

Tonkin dated Paul Wesley from 2013 to 2017, a period when both were working on The Vampire Diaries — Wesley as a lead, Tonkin as a recurring guest who later became a central figure in the spin-off The Originals. Their on-screen chemistry and real-world relationship fuelled persistent rumours, including the unfounded belief that they had secretly married. No evidence supports that claim. Wesley has since married, and Tonkin has moved on.

Is Phoebe Tonkin Currently Married?

Yes. Tonkin married Bernard Lagrange in May 2025 after announcing their engagement in October 2024. Prior to that, she was not married. She dated Paul Wesley from 2013 to 2017 and later dated Alex Greenwald, the singer of Phantom Planet, but neither relationship led to marriage.

Complete Guide to Phoebe Tonkin Movies and TV Shows

Tonkin’s filmography spans Australian television, American network dramas, streaming series, and independent films. Her career began in her teens and has evolved steadily from genre fare to award-winning dramatic work.

Breakout Role: H2O: Just Add Water (2006–2010)

At 17, Tonkin was cast as Cleo Sertori, one of three teenage mermaids in the Australian children’s series H2O: Just Add Water. The show became an international hit, particularly in the UK, Europe, and Latin America, and established her as a recognisable face in youth entertainment.

The Vampire Diaries Universe: Hayley Marshall

Tonkin first appeared as Hayley Marshall, a werewolf, on The Vampire Diaries in 2012. The character proved popular enough to be carried over to the spin-off The Originals (2013–2018), where Tonkin became a series regular and one of the central figures in the show’s five-season run. Her portrayal of a fierce, protective hybrid mother is widely considered her most iconic role.

Recent Projects: Boy Swallows Universe (2024)

In 2024, Tonkin starred in the Netflix series Boy Swallows Universe, an adaptation of Trent Dalton’s acclaimed novel. Her dramatic performance earned her the AACTA Award for Best Actress, marking the most significant critical recognition of her career to date. She also appeared in Kid Snow (2024), a sports film that earned her a 2025 AACTA nomination for Best Lead Actress in a Film.

Upcoming Movies and Shows in 2025

As of mid-2025, Tonkin is listed in the cast of The 8th Day, though few details about the project have been released. No other major upcoming productions have been formally announced, though industry observers expect continued work in streaming television and Australian film.

Other notable film appearances include Tomorrow, When the War Began (2010), her feature debut; Damien Chazelle’s Babylon (2022); and the thriller Night Shift (2022). On television, she appeared in the SBS miniseries Safe Harbour (2018) and the Stan series Bloom (2019–2020), as well as guest roles on Australian staples Home and Away and Packed to the Rafters.

Does Phoebe Tonkin Have Children?

Current Status on Children

Phoebe Tonkin does not have children. Multiple credible sources confirm she has no publicly known children, and she has made no announcements regarding pregnancy or parenthood.

What She Has Said in Interviews

Tonkin has not shared detailed public statements about family planning. As a private individual who rarely discusses personal matters in depth, no reliable interview exists in which she addresses plans for children.

Phoebe Tonkin Biography: Age, Height, and Early Life

Quick Bio Facts

Born July 12, 1989, in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, Phoebe Jane Elizabeth Tonkin is 36 years old as of mid-2025. She is Australian by nationality and has a younger sister named Abby.

Physical Statistics

Tonkin’s height is commonly cited in external sources as approximately 5 ft 6 in (168 cm), though this figure has not been officially confirmed by the actress. She has naturally blonde hair and hazel eyes.

Early Life and Education in Sydney

At age four, Tonkin began training in classical ballet, hip-hop, contemporary, and tap dance. At age 12, she studied acting at the Australian Theatre for Young People (ATYP) at the Wharf Theatre. She attended Loreto Kirribilli and later graduated from Queenwood School for Girls in Balmoral, New South Wales.

Phoebe Tonkin on Instagram: Social Media and Followers

Instagram Handle and Follower Count

Tonkin’s Instagram account, @phoebejtonkin, has accumulated more than 8 million followers. She uses it as her primary public-facing platform, sharing a mix of professional updates, behind-the-scenes images, and personal snapshots.

Content Style: Professional Cinderella

Her Instagram bio reads “Professional Cinderella ✨,” a self-deprecating nod to her fairy-tale-adjacent career in supernatural dramas. The account is curated but not overly polished, offering glimpses of her daily life, travels, and work.

Other Platforms: Does She Have TikTok?

Tonkin does not maintain a widely verified or active TikTok account. Instagram remains her primary social media presence. She is also listed on standard professional platforms such as IMDB and Rotten Tomatoes.

Phoebe Tonkin Career Timeline

1. 1989 — Born in Sydney, Australia, on July 12.
2. 2005 — Made acting debut in Australian television.
3. 2006–2010 — Portrayed Cleo Sertori in H2O: Just Add Water, her breakout role.
4. 2011–2012 — Starred as Faye Chamberlain in The Secret Circle.
5. 2012 — First appeared as Hayley Marshall on The Vampire Diaries.
6. 2013 — Began relationship with co-star Paul Wesley.
7. 2013–2018 — Main role in The Originals as Hayley Marshall.
8. 2017 — Relationship with Paul Wesley ended.
9. 2024 — Starred in Netflix’s Boy Swallows Universe; won AACTA Award for Best Actress.
10. 2025 — Married Bernard Lagrange in May; nominated for AACTA Award for Kid Snow.

What Is Known and What Remains Unclear About Phoebe Tonkin

Phoebe Tonkin’s Place in Television History

Tonkin rose to prominence during the golden era of CW supernatural dramas, roughly 2009 to 2017. Her career path reflects a common trajectory for Australian actors who begin in local productions and transition to American network television. Her role as Hayley Marshall in The Originals stands out as a landmark for female werewolf and hybrid characters in genre television, a character who evolved from antagonist to protagonist over the show’s five seasons.

Her recent AACTA win for Boy Swallows Universe signals a strategic shift away from teen and young adult drama toward more mature, prestige content on streaming platforms. This mirrors a broader industry movement away from traditional network television toward Netflix and other streaming services.

The persistent public curiosity about her relationship status and whether she has children reflects a pattern common among actresses who built their careers in youth-focused entertainment. Audiences who grew up watching her on H2O and The Vampire Diaries continue to follow her personal life well into adulthood.

Sources and Quotes About Phoebe Tonkin

“Professional Cinderella ✨”

— Phoebe Tonkin’s Instagram bio (@phoebejtonkin)

“Tonkin was born in Sydney. When she was four, she attended dance courses in classical ballet, hip hop…”

— IMDB Biography

“Her accolades include an AACTA Award, in addition to a nomination for a Logie Award.”

— Wikipedia

What Is Phoebe Tonkin Doing Next?

As of 2025, no major upcoming projects beyond The 8th Day have been formally announced. Industry speculation suggests continued focus on streaming television and a potential return to Australian productions. Tonkin remains active on Instagram, indicating ongoing public engagement. Fans should monitor her official Instagram and IMDB page for future announcements. For more on prominent Australian performers, see our piece on Heath Ledger – Biography, Death, Joker Role, and Awards.

Frequently Asked Questions About Phoebe Tonkin