Untitled Document

Rebecca Cartwright

Biographical Information

THE ACTRESS

Rebecca Cartwright was born on the July 23 1983, and plays Hayley Smith, Will's sister who has come to Summer Bay in search of him.

Rebecca is no stranger to television, having notched up various extra and speaking roles on both television and film, including Police Rescue, Heartbreak High, Water Rats and Totally Wild.

She in fact had a stint on Home and Away in 1991 as an extra.

Rebecca has done catalogue work, voice-overs for various corporations/commercials and has been involved in television commercials since 1998, including Kellogg's, Pizza Hut, K.F.C, Colgate, Coca-Cola, Milo and Chrysler Jeep.

Rebecca has a variety of interests, the most prominent being dancing - jazz, tap, ballet and street dancing, which she has been doing most of her life. She also loves swimming, roller skating, ice skating, horse riding, aerobics and acrobatics.

Rebecca trained at the Creative Dance Academy from 1987 to 1992 and then enrolled at the Australian College of Entertainment for Dance from 1993 to 1995, where she was awarded Junior Student of the Year in 1994 and Junior Drama Student of the Year in 1995. In 1997 she joined Masque National Institute for Performing Arts where she was awarded Student of the Year.

Rebecca has been involved with professional performances since 1993. She has performed in pantomimes, Christmas concerts and the NSW Premier's Concert at the Sydney Entertainment Centre in 1994.

Her credits also include entertainment for the Sydney Blues Baseball team 1994 to 1995 and 1995 to 1996 season, and for the Parramatta Rugby League, Eastern Suburbs Rugby League, Western Suburbs Rugby League, Bulldogs Rugby League and the Sydney Royal Easter Show.

The most exciting performance however, she says, would have to be at Disneyland, California. In 1996 and 1997 Rebecca was given the opportunity to perform on stage at Disneyland with the Australian College of Entertainment.

Rebecca now tries to juggle school, her role on Home and Away - and dancing of course. But this is a dream come true for Rebecca, who says, 'Everyone has been so nice, the cast are great and I am loving every moment of it, even the early starts'.

One other thing... Rebecca absolutely adores Winnie the Pooh; in fact, her room is filled with everything from Winnie the Pooh dolls to bags, keyrings and even pencils. She comes to work with a Winnie the Pooh bag with keyrings hanging off it, and inside is her Winnie the Pooh organiser, pencil case with Winnie the Pooh pencils, and she wears Winnie the Pooh earrings.

Rebecca lives at home with her mum, dad, older brother Sean, older sister Kristy, her two dogs Abbey and Gizmo, and their horse Denni.

Rebecca first appeared on Home and Away as Hayley on 28 September 1998.

THE CHARACTER

Hayley Smith is the younger sister of Will Smith (played by Zac Drayson), and comes to Summer Bay to find her brother Will, having been split up earlier. Hayley and her younger brother Nick had been placed in a foster home, but finding her foster parents too strict, Hayley decided to run away to find her big brother, an so arrived in Summer Bay.

Hayley is innocent to look at with her long blonde hair and angelic features. She appears to be gentle and caring and she works hard to keep these appearances up. In reality she is tough and blindingly quick to figure out the most advantageous option. If Hayley doesn't like someone she will certainly let them know. But she loves Will and wants to be with him - she just has to win over Irene who has to decide whether she will take her in.