You probably remember the first time she walked onto the screen in The Vampire Diaries. She was a bit of a wildcard, right? A messy, manipulative werewolf just looking for her family. But then The Originals happened. Suddenly, she wasn’t just a guest star; she was the heart of a literal bloodline. If you’re asking who played Hayley in The Originals, the answer is Phoebe Tonkin.
She's an Australian actor who didn't just play a role—she basically grew up with the character.
It’s weird to think about now, but Hayley Marshall wasn't always a fan favorite. When she first appeared in Mystic Falls, fans were... let's say skeptical. They were protective of the "Klaroline" ship and didn't love this new wolf getting in the way. But Phoebe Tonkin brought something gritty to the role. She made Hayley feel like a survivor long before we knew about the Labonair bloodline or the Crescent Curse. Honestly, she's the reason the character worked at all. Without her specific blend of "don't mess with me" energy and genuine vulnerability, The Originals might have just been a show about three grumpy siblings in suits.
Why Phoebe Tonkin was the perfect choice for Hayley Marshall
Phoebe Tonkin wasn't exactly a newcomer when she landed the gig. For a lot of us, she was already "mermaid royalty." Before she was running through the bayou, she was Cleo Sertori on the Australian hit H2O: Just Add Water. It’s kind of funny to think about the transition from a teenage girl who turns into a fish when she touches water to a hybrid queen ripping out hearts in New Orleans.
She also starred in The Secret Circle, another CW supernatural drama. That show got canceled way too soon, but it did one very important thing: it put her on the radar of Julie Plec and the TVD casting team.
The thing about Phoebe is that she has this incredible "resting intensity." Even when she isn't saying anything, you can see the wheels turning. That was crucial for Hayley. In the early seasons of The Originals, Hayley was often the only person willing to tell Klaus Mikaelson to shut up. You need a certain level of screen presence to stand up to Joseph Morgan's performance, and Phoebe had it in spades. She played Hayley with a constant chip on her shoulder, which made total sense for an orphan who had been kicked from foster home to foster home.
The evolution of the character (and the actor)
When The Originals kicked off in 2013, the stakes shifted. Hayley went from being a plot device to being the mother of the world's first Tribrid.
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Phoebe’s performance had to shift too.
She went from playing a girl looking for her past to a woman fighting for her daughter's future. Think about the physical demands of that role. She spent years filming in the heat of Georgia (which stood in for New Orleans), often covered in fake blood, mud, or both. She’s spoken in various interviews, including pieces with Entertainment Weekly, about how grueling the night shoots were. It wasn't just about looking pretty in a leather jacket; it was about the physicality of the fight scenes.
A quick look at Phoebe Tonkin’s career highlights:
- H2O: Just Add Water (2006-2010): The Aussie breakout where she played Cleo.
- The Vampire Diaries (2012-2013): The introduction of Hayley Marshall.
- The Originals (2013-2018): The core of her career for five seasons.
- Bloom (2019): A darker, more mature turn in an Australian sci-fi series.
- Boy Swallows Universe (2024): A critically acclaimed Netflix series where she plays a much more grounded, gritty role as a mother struggling with addiction.
She’s really moved away from the "CW star" label and into some seriously heavy-hitting dramatic work lately. If you haven't seen her in Boy Swallows Universe, you're missing out. It shows a range that we only got glimpses of during Hayley’s most emotional moments in the Mikaelson compound.
The "Kennett" and "Haylijah" of it all
We can't talk about who played Hayley in The Originals without talking about the chemistry. Chemistry is one of those things you can't fake. You either have it or you don't. Phoebe Tonkin had it with basically everyone.
Her real-life friendship with Claire Holt (who played Rebekah Mikaelson) started back on the set of H2O. That history made their onscreen bond feel lived-in. They felt like sisters because, in a way, they grew up in the industry together.
Then there was "Haylijah."
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The relationship between Hayley and Elijah (Daniel Gillies) was the slow-burn backbone of the show. It was tragic, frustrating, and incredibly romantic. Phoebe and Daniel played off each other beautifully. She was the fire; he was the ice. Her ability to show Hayley’s internal conflict—wanting to be a good person while being surrounded by monsters—was what made those scenes work. She never played Hayley as a victim. Even when she was dying (spoiler alert for a show that ended years ago, I guess), she went out on her own terms.
What Phoebe Tonkin is doing now
Since The Originals wrapped its fifth and final season in 2018, Phoebe hasn't slowed down. But she’s been choosy.
She launched a clothing line called LESJOUR! during the pandemic, which focused on sustainable, chic loungewear. It’s very "effortless Australian style," which fits her vibe perfectly. She’s also become a bit of a fashion icon, frequently appearing at Chanel shows and in high-end editorials.
But acting remains her primary thing.
She’s moved into producing, too. She’s been very vocal about wanting to tell stories that aren't just about "the girl next door." She wants complicated, messy, sometimes unlikable women. That started with Hayley and has continued through her recent work in films like Transfusion and Night Shift.
Common misconceptions about Hayley Marshall
People often forget that Hayley was actually a villain—or at least a very dark anti-hero—when she first showed up. Remember the 12 hybrids she set up to be slaughtered by Klaus? Yeah, she did that.
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Phoebe Tonkin never shied away from that side of the character. She didn't try to make Hayley "sweet." She leaned into the selfishness because it made the eventual redemption feel earned. By the time we get to the series finale of The Originals, Hayley is the moral compass of the family. That’s a massive arc for an actor to pull off over six years of television.
Another thing? The accent.
Phoebe is Australian, but Hayley is as American as they come. Most fans didn't even realize she was an Aussie until they saw her in an interview. That might seem like a small detail, but maintaining a consistent accent for 100+ episodes while delivering high-intensity emotional dialogue is a skill. It’s one of those "invisible" parts of acting that makes a performance feel seamless.
Final thoughts on the legacy of the Wolf Queen
So, if you were wondering who played Hayley in The Originals, now you know it was Phoebe Tonkin—and she was much more than just a face on a poster. She brought a level of grit and maternal ferocity to a genre that sometimes relies too heavily on "damsel in distress" tropes. Hayley was never a damsel. She was the one doing the saving.
If you’re looking to dive deeper into her work or want to revisit the world of the Mikaelsons, here are a few things you can do next:
- Watch Boy Swallows Universe on Netflix: This is Phoebe’s best performance to date. It’s a massive departure from the supernatural world and shows her true range as a dramatic actor.
- Track the "H2O to The Originals" pipeline: If you’re a fan of Phoebe and Claire Holt, watching their early work in H2O: Just Add Water is a trip. It’s wholesome, silly, and shows just how far they’ve come as performers.
- Listen to her interviews on the "Women in Film" circuit: Phoebe is very insightful about the transition from being a child actor in Australia to a lead in a major US franchise. She often discusses the pressures of the industry and her move into producing.
- Re-watch Season 4, Episode 13 of The Originals: This is arguably one of her strongest episodes, showing Hayley’s sacrifice and her complicated relationship with her own identity. It’s a masterclass in how to play a character who has lost everything but still finds the strength to fight.
Phoebe Tonkin didn't just play Hayley Marshall; she defined her. And even though the show is over, her impact on the "TVD Universe" is something fans are still talking about years later. She took a character people were supposed to hate and turned her into the heart of a dynasty. That's not just good casting—that's great acting.