Dana Matheson

''Home and Away'' is an Australian television soap opera. It was first broadcast on the Seven Network on 17 January 1988. The following is a list of characters that appear in 2023, by order of first appearance. All characters are introduced by the soap's executive producer, Lucy Addario. The 36th season of ''Home and Away'' began airing from 9 January 2023. Mali Hudson made his debut in the same week. His sister Elandra was introduced in February. Kahu Parata arrived in April. Sisters Harper Matheson and Dana Matheson made their first appearances in August. Levi Fowler made his debut in November.

Mali Hudson

Mali Hudson, played by Kyle Shilling, made his first appearance on 11 January 2023. The character and Shilling's casting details were announced on 5 December 2022. ''Home and Away'' marks his first television role. Shilling is from the Wiyabal clan of the Bundjalung people. He hoped his casting would serve as inspiration to other Aboriginal viewers, like himself when he was younger. He stated: "If I had seen someone like me on a popular TV show when I was a kid, I would have been more driven as a young person to want to better myself and explore acting. As Indigenous people, we are always categorised as athletes; there was never any other avenue I thought I could go down. When you feel like you’re stereotyped your whole life, that has a huge effect. Looking back on my 10-year-old self, if I had seen someone like Mali Hudson on such a big series, I would have wanted to be him." Upon winning the role, Shilling was told that the writers and producers wanted to work his character around what he did in his audition and who he was. His character and storylines were developed alongside an Aboriginal script consultant, who also helped with the creative decisions for Mali and his introduction.

Shilling described Mali as being "fun, he's cheeky, he cares for his family". It was also teased that Mali has a connection to an established character, which was later confirmed to be Dean Thompson (Patrick O'Connor). The pair are old friends and Shilling commented "You see their friendship blossom again after reconnecting on screen, it's a great story." In his first scenes, it is established that Mali is a surfboard shaper, who helps design and build the surfboards for Dean's shop. Dean introduces Mali to his partner Ziggy Astoni (Sophie Dillman) and John Palmer (Shane Withington), who invites Mali to join the surf lifesaver team. Dean and Ziggy later realise that Mali has "a specific reason" for visiting the Bay, but he keeps it to himself.

Elandra Hudson

Elandra Hudson, played by Rarriwuy Hick, made her first appearance on 28 February 2023. Hick confirmed her casting on her social media on 26 February, writing "The cat's out the bag. Guess who's visiting Summer Bay." Details about her character and storyline were revealed in the 4–10 March 2023 issue of ''TV Week''. Elandra is the sister of Mali Hudson (Kyle Shilling), who was introduced in January. The siblings are reunited when Elandra pays him a visit in Summer Bay, where he has recently moved to. She initially accuses him of moving to the Bay for "a fling" after catching him with Rose Delaney (Kirsty Marillier), who she then invites out to lunch. It emerges that Mali did not tell his family about his move and they want him to come home. However, Rose makes Elandra see what Mali brings to the town and opens up about her feelings for him. After "a heart-to-heart" with Mali, Elandra realises that the Bay is a fresh start for her brother.

Elandra comes to Summer Bay to see her brother Mali, but interrupts him and Rose Delaney, who has spent the night with him. She asks Mali why he moved away without telling the family, before letting him show her around town. She accepts his decision to stay in the Bay, but says that he will have to tell their mother soon. Elandra later tells Mali to get back together with Rose when they break up. She also calls Rose to say that her brother should never have broken up with her. Elandra joins Mali when he introduces Rose to their mother, Victoria Hudson (Ursula Yovich). When Victoria takes Rose off to talk alone, Elandra tells Mali that she is angry with him. Over lunch, Victoria asks Rose what she does for a living and upon learning Rose is a police officer, Victoria wants to leave and tells Malo that his father would be ashamed of him. Elandra advises Mali to talk to their mother, while explaining to Rose that their brother has been in trouble with the police before, which has led to racial profiling of the whole family. She takes her mother home, after Victoria invites Rose to meet the rest of the family one day.

Mali and Elandra's brother Iluka Hudson (Dion Williams) comes to stay with Mali, after stealing money from the Allen gang. Mali contacts Elandra, after Iluka is forced to leave with the Allens. When she arrives, she tells him the Allen's place has gone dark, while he says that Nat Allen (Claire Lovering) was cold when Levi Fowler (Tristan Gorey) was stabbed. Mali wonders what they will do to Iluka. Elandra helps him tidy the house until Theo Poulos (Matt Evans) brings an injured Iluka home. Elandra thanks Theo and tells him that they will take care of Iluka, however, when he starts coughing up blood, Elandra gets Mali to call an ambulance. The pair tell Bree Cameron (Juliet Godwin) that Iluka fell down the stairs, but she figures out that he was attacked. Bree later tells them that Iluka has some internal bleeding, but he should be fine. Elandra overhears Mali arranging to meet the Allens to finish things, and she tries to talk him out of it. Elandra tells Iluka that Mali is not happy with him and that he told her about the money. Iluka warns her that Nat has changed and they need to stay far away from that family. Elandra calls Rose, who, along with her colleagues, break up the fight between Mali and the Allen brothers. When Mali turns up at the hospital, he tells Elandra that she was the only one who knew where he was going, but she counters that she was not going to lose him and only cares that her brothers are alive. She adds that she does not trust what Mali is going to do next.

Kahu Parata

Kahu Parata, played by Jordi Webber, made his first appearance on 13 April 2023. Webber's casting was confirmed shortly before his first appearance. His character was introduced as a cousin of Tane Parata (Ethan Browne), whose on-screen family had all departed the series. After turning up unexpectedly in Summer Bay Kahu is invited to stay with Tane and his new wife Felicity Newman (Jacqui Purvis), who was hoping their honeymoon period would last longer. However, she welcomes Kahu after seeing how much his presence pleases Tane. In an interview with Tamara Cullen of ''TV Week'', Webber stated "Tane and Kahu have always been close. As soon as they catch up again, they click and jive right where they left off." Kahu later asks for a job at Tane's gym, leaving Felicity to wonder how long he is planning to stay. Purvis said that her character likes Kahu, but she is still in the honeymoon phase and does not want anyone to take Tane away from her. Tane eventually offers Kahu a temporary job at the gym, before learning Kahu has no qualifications as a trainer, which could jeopardise his business. Describing his character, Webber said "Kahu hasn't quite learned the value of honesty, working hard and trust. He has a carefree attitude. He's this cheeky, fun, mischief, surfie, rolling stone who comes into town and brings the music." He found it fun to play out his character's "'no care' attitude". Cullen commented that Kahu could prove to be a "loose cannon" and wondered what his real reason for coming to the Bay was.

Kahu surprises his cousin Tane and his wife Felicity with an unannounced visit to the Bay. He admits that he needs a break and catching up with Tane in New Zealand made him realise how much he missed him. Tane invites Kahu to stay with him and Felicity, interrupting her plans for a romantic evening. In the morning, Kahu tells the couple that he plans to spend the day with Tane, but when Tane says that he needs to find a new trainer for the gym, Kahu offers to take the job.

Harper Matheson

Harper Matheson, played by Jessica Redmayne, made her first appearance on 10 August 2023. Redmayne's casting details were announced along with that of Ally Harris', who plays Harper's younger sister Dana Matheson on 2 August 2023. The pair were billed as having a connection to an established resident of Summer Bay and will be involved in "a mysterious storyline." Redmayne relocated to Sydney from Melbourne for the role and stated "Everyone was extraordinarily warm and welcoming. And I'm very fortunate to enter a really great company of people because it is really easy to come to work every day." She described her character as being "very protective" of Dana and willing to go "above and beyond" to protect her. She also said Harper was "quite empathetic, and very set in her ways. I think Harper is the kind of rigid sister and Dana's the more fluid, lives-life-on-the-edge sister."

Harper arrived in Summer Bay in August of 2023 and responded to Irene Roberts (Lynne McGranger) advertisement for a room to rent. Harper introduced herself as a social worker on leave, presenting herself as friendly and professional.

Dana Matheson

Dana Matheson, played by Ally Harris, made her first appearance on 10 August 2023. Harris' casting details were announced along with Jessica Redmayne's, who plays Dana's older sister Harper Matheson on 2 August 2023. The siblings have a connection to an established character and will be involved in "a mysterious storyline" following their arrival. Harris relocated to Sydney from Perth for filming and she was grateful to do it alongside Redmayne, who also had to relocate. Harris knew the cast a little and admitted that she had previously auditioned for some of their roles. She told Georgie Kearney of '' 7Life'' that she knew Juliet Godwin (Bree Cameron) "slightly" as they both came from Perth and attended the same school. She found the cast and crew to be very welcoming and recalled being told that they were like a family during her callback for the role, which she found to be true. Describing her character, Harris thought Dana was the opposite of her more "rigid" sister. She explained "Dana is definitely a little bit more idealistic and maybe more of a romantic kind of thinker than Harper is." She believed that their clashes stemmed from their differing values and "ways of approaching a situation."

Levi Fowler

Levi Fowler, played by Tristan Gorey, made his first appearance on 7 November 2023. The character and Gorey's casting details were announced on 29 October 2023. When Gorey learned about the audition, he became "attached" to the character immediately and sent in a self-tape, before undergoing a chemistry test. After he won the role, Gorey relocated to Sydney from Perth for filming. He stated "I think Sydney is where I need to be right now. And I'm loving every minute of it." Gorey later commented that he was "ecstatic" to join ''Home and Away''.

Levi is a Cardiothoracic surgeon, who has only recently qualified. He comes to Summer Bay to help save "a ''Home and Away'' favourite". Gorey later explained that his character is involved in a lengthy "really high-stakes storyline" that he believed would have viewers "gripped". Gorey described his character as "a driven, headstrong individual who believes hard work pays off." Levi loves his job and enjoys the opportunity to test himself. Gorey also said "Levi is a very passionate individual, who goes above and beyond for his patients." Upon his arrival, Levi introduces himself to Bree Cameron (Juliet Godwin), who is assured by his confidence. Dana Matheson (Ally Harris) "sings his praises" as he also saved her life. Of the patient he is treating, Gorey said "The stakes are high, and if Levi can't figure out what the problem is, there may be serious consequences for one of Summer Bay's most-loved characters." The character in question was revealed to be Mackenzie Booth (Emily Weir), who appears to have suffered a heart attack. Tamara Cullen of ''TV Week'' reported that Levi has links to other characters in the Bay, which results in "an explosive showdown." It later emerges that Levi is the brother of Eden Fowler (Stephanie Panozzo), from whom he has been estranged since their parents divorced, as Eden believes Levi took their father's side and abandoned the family. When the siblings later come face-to-face, the subject of their father comes up and they argue, with Eden declaring that the meeting was a mistake. For his portrayal of Levi, Gorey received a nomination for the Logie Award for Most Popular New Talent in 2024.

Others

References

External links

Characters and cast
at 7plus

{{Home and Away characters, year

#, 2023
*, Home and Away
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