Evelyn MacGuire

Evelyn "Evie" MacGuire
Occupation	Fictional character
Known for	Home and Away

Evelyn "Evie" MacGuire is a character from the Australian television soap Home and Away, brought to life by actress Philippa Northeast. After successfully completing auditions and callbacks, Northeast moved from Melbourne to Sydney to take on the role. Evie made her first appearance on 3 September 2013 and departed the show on 24 May 2017.

Evie's introduction came alongside her twin brother Oscar (played by Jake Speer) and their aunt Hannah Wilson (Cassie Howarth), thereby expanding the family of existing character Zac MacGuire (Charlie Clausen). Her personality is depicted as kind-hearted yet determined, spirited, and grounded. Initial story arcs revolved around her and Oscar’s coerced involvement in a cult led by their father Ethan (Matt Minto), emphasizing their differing perspectives on life within the group. After being rescued and returning to Summer Bay, Evie’s first major romantic storyline involved Josh Barrett (Jackson Gallagher), which concluded due to his struggles with drug addiction.

Subsequently, Evie became involved with newcomer Tank Snelgrove (Reece Milne), whose presence prompted her to act out against her social circle and family. Their storyline included themes of unprotected sex, a narrative choice that Northeast found meaningful. Later, Evie reunited with Josh, leading to an engagement. A plotline addressing the BRCA1 gene introduced a cancer scare, followed by the deaths of Hannah and Oscar, which cast uncertainty over Evie's future. After Josh was incarcerated for the murder of Charlotte King (Erika Heynatz), producers developed a romantic connection between Evie and Matt Page (Alec Snow), culminating in their joint exit from the series.

Casting

On 25 August 2013, it was revealed that Philippa Northeast would join Home and Away alongside Jake Speer. Northeast was selected to portray Evelyn MacGuire, one of three new characters introduced as relatives of Zac MacGuire (Charlie Clausen). On her way to audition, Northeast discovered a dollar coin on the casting agent’s steps, which she interpreted as a fortuitous sign. Surprised by securing the role, she relocated from Melbourne to Sydney for filming, describing it as an opportunity that significantly advanced her career and personal growth. During callbacks, Northeast and Speer were frequently paired due to their convincing portrayal of twins. Evelyn’s debut occurred on 3 September 2013.

Characterisation and family

Evie was initially portrayed as "strong-willed". Northeast described her character as gentle with a keen sense of humour who is unafraid to voice her opinions. The actress commended the writers for crafting a multifaceted, relatable character exhibiting tomboyish qualities. She found Evie's feisty and stubborn traits enjoyable to enact, noting her clear moral compass and loyalty despite occasional lapses in judgment. Northeast also pointed out similarities in their bohemian fashion sense and highlighted Evie's wardrobe evolution following the cult storyline.

Evie is the niece of Zac MacGuire and Hannah Wilson, as well as the twin sister of Oscar (Jake Speer). Family ties are fundamental to Evie's identity, shaped by early maternal loss and witnessing her father’s difficulties. Being two minutes senior to Oscar, they share an intimate twin connection with an almost intuitive understanding.

After their father's passing, the twins encountered their half-sister Denny (Jessica Grace Smith) for the first time. Initially wary of Denny, Evie resisted building a relationship, creating tension that nearly caused Denny to leave Summer Bay. While Oscar sought reconciliation, it was Evie's conversation with Leah Patterson-Baker (Ada Nicodemou) that eventually softened her attitude.

Introduction

Evie and Oscar were introduced through a storyline involving a cult. After Hannah informed Zac that the twins and their father Ethan (Matt Minto) appeared to be under mind control, Zac went to visit them at the retreat they had relocated to. Ethan described the cult as a self-improvement group named Sanctuary Lodge. While Evie was happy at the retreat and eager to do whatever was necessary to keep her family united, Oscar chose to resist. Evie also viewed the camp as an opportunity to mend her relationship with Ethan. Upon discovering the truth about the cult, Zac sought assistance from the Braxton brothers to rescue the twins. Actor Nic Westaway, portraying Kyle Braxton, explained that Ethan was "forcing them into a life they are unhappy with," and since the Braxtons trusted Zac, they were willing to help. After rescuing the twins, Zac and the Braxtons fought their way out.

Evie considered her rescue an abduction and was displeased. Zac and Ricky Sharpe (Bonnie Sveen) took Evie camping in an attempt to reach her emotionally, but she chose to return to the cult to be with her father. Northeast remarked that Evie was unable to live without Ethan. A TV Week columnist expressed concerns about Evie's well-being as her 16th birthday approached, which she had been told would involve a "life-changing" event. Spencer Harrington (Andrew Morley) later joined Sanctuary Lodge seeking help for his bipolar disorder and became friends with Evie. When cult leader Murray Granger (Christopher Stollery) announced a "discovery weekend," Evie and Spencer realized they were being coerced into marriage. Spencer refused to comply, was taken away and assaulted, but Evie persuaded him to escape and return to Summer Bay.

Several months later, at a music festival, Ethan abducted Evie, Oscar, and Kyle, locking them inside a shipping container. Actor Speer described the experience as "terrifying and confusing," with extreme heat causing dehydration and oxygen shortage. Kyle provided comfort to the twins throughout their captivity, helping maintain their sanity.

Josh Barrett

In mid-2014, Evie entered her first romantic relationship with Josh Barrett (Jackson Gallagher). When Spencer admitted his feelings for Evie, she disclosed her affection for Josh, surprising Spencer since Josh was dating their friend Maddy Osborne (Kassandra Clementi). Maddy revealed Evie's attraction, which led to tension between Josh and Evie. Following a confrontation with Maddy, Josh spent time with Evie at the farmhouse where they shared their initial kiss. Gallagher noted this moment signaled Josh's change of heart from Maddy towards Evie. Although both acknowledged the kiss was ill-advised, they found it difficult to resist each other. Audience interest in their relationship remained high.

After Josh was assaulted by drug dealers, he turned to Evie for help instead of Maddy, raising doubts. Upon confessing to kissing Josh, Evie faced Maddy's breakup with him. In retaliation, Maddy had a one-night stand with Oscar, which angered Evie. In August 2014, Josh and Evie were kidnapped due to Andy Barrett's (Tai Hara) drug conflicts but were rescued before any harm occurred. The experience left them shaken and put strain on their relationship. Evie feared Maddy might attempt to win Josh back since they had not yet become intimate.

Their bond was further challenged when Josh cheated on Evie with Maddy. He immediately regretted it and sought forgiveness, but Evie initially refused to forgive him. Northeast described their relationship as "somewhat complicated" following the betrayal. Evie also resented Oscar's involvement with Maddy, blaming her for causing disruption in her relationship. After supporting Josh through a pregnancy scare involving Maddy, Evie chose to reconcile and they resumed their relationship. When Evie wished to lose her virginity to Josh, he hesitated, leaving her feeling rejected; however, he later surprised her romantically and they consummated their relationship.

Evie ended things after Josh revealed his drug use. Despite his attempts to win her back—including dinner dates after working on school assignments together—she insisted on remaining friends. Northeast observed that their strong connection would keep them involved in each other's lives regardless of romantic status. Eventually, they reunited; Northeast noted that overcoming these challenges made their relationship stronger. During a visit to the city, Josh unexpectedly proposed using a champagne wire fashioned into a ring, which Evie happily accepted. The proposal fulfilled Evie's desire for a committed partnership with Josh.

Tank Snelgrove

In September 2015, Evie became involved with the show's newly introduced "bad boy," Tank Snelgrove (portrayed by Reece Milne). Their initial encounter occurred when they crossed paths on the beach, with Evie being the first to engage. Milne remarked that "Evie is intrigued by his mysterious nature," while Tank found himself attracted to her purity. Their connection grew stronger during a paddle boarding session, after which Evie confided in Maddy about the positive effect Tank had on her. Josh, who knew Tank from their HSC class, cautioned Evie to be wary of him.

Their romance advanced swiftly. At Jump Rock, Tank persuaded Evie to leap off a cliff; although she hesitated, the rush of adrenaline led them to share their first sexual experience. Northeast commented that Evie felt no remorse but acknowledged it was unwise to forgo contraception. With Maddy’s encouragement, Evie took emergency contraception. Despite concerns from friends and Zac—who noticed Evie's secretive actions and evolving style—she defended her relationship, drawn to the thrill Tank embodied. Northeast later admitted that Evie should have listened to those close to her.

Tank’s conduct grew increasingly dangerous: he confined Evie in a bush house and assaulted Josh. Their volatile relationship acted as a warning for viewers. Later, Tank threatened his father Greg with a bomb, causing a school evacuation. He messaged Evie demanding she meet him or he would detonate the device. Evie escaped and confronted Tank at the Caravan Park, where he confessed the bomb threat was false and asked her to flee with him. Northeast observed that Tank appeared oblivious to the damage he had inflicted, particularly on Josh, who remained comatose.

Several months later, as Evie prepared to marry Josh, she learned Tank had been hospitalized following a prison altercation and that Zac was assisting with his parole—a move she perceived as betrayal. Northeast noted that encountering Tank reignited painful feelings due to the tragedy he had caused for her and those close to her.

Cancer scare

In February 2016, Evie was central to a storyline focusing on cancer and the BRCA1 gene. The narrative began when she discovered a lump in her breast, sparking fears of cancer because of her mother’s death from the illness. Supported by her family during this anxious period, she awaited test results. At the hospital, Nate Cooper (Kyle Pryor) reassured her that the lump was benign, providing relief alongside renewed sorrow over her mother’s passing. Following this, Hannah encouraged genetic testing for the BRCA gene within the family, though Oscar initially resisted, unwilling to confront potential outcomes.

Family deaths

During a hospital fundraising event at the Caravan Park, a confrontation between Andy and Tank caused a gas explosion. Evie experienced a panic attack and was escorted home by Zac and Leah. While Josh and Hannah survived the blast, Josh disclosed that Oscar had died. Northeast described this as Evie's most harrowing ordeal, emphasizing her difficulty coping with losing someone she shared a close bond with. Subsequently, Hannah collapsed at work due to injuries sustained in the explosion and passed away, deepening Evie's sorrow.

Northeast highlighted Evie's frustration and disbelief over losing several family members in rapid succession. The cast humorously remarked that Evie had become an even greater "curse" than Leah, who had endured widowhood twice. Northeast shared personal anxieties about her character’s future emotional journey following co-star Speer's departure from the show. Weeks after these tragedies, Evie uncovered that Josh was responsible for killing Charlotte King (Erika Heynatz)—a secret he kept while she mourned. Although furious, Evie resolved to keep Josh out of prison, initiating a key storyline for her character.

Months afterward, still grappling with Oscar’s death, Evie survived a plane crash and believed Oscar was watching over her. She attempted to convince friend Mason Morgan (Orpheus Pledger) by driving recklessly under the belief she would avoid harm; Mason reprimanded her for the reckless behavior. Seeking solace and connection with Oscar’s spirit, Evie visited the beach hoping for his presence and waded into the ocean convinced he would appear; she soon struggled with staying afloat and required rescue.

Departure

In 2016, the management team for Northeast updated her online résumé to indicate the completion of her role on Home and Away. The 18–24 March 2017 issue of TV Week confirmed that Evie would exit the show that week, departing alongside her romantic partner Matt Page, portrayed by Alec Snow. Before leaving Summer Bay, the couple held a ceremonial wedding and then relocated to Vietnam. On 24 May 2017, Evie made a brief appearance via video call to Zac, inviting him to join her and Matt in Vietnam.

Reception

Prior to the arrival of Oscar and Evelyn, Jo Casamento from The Sydney Morning Herald remarked that Summer Bay was poised for significant change with the introduction of the teenage twins Oscar and Evelyn. Kerry Harvey from Stuff.co.nz characterized Evelyn as "quite conservative". An Inside Soap writer described her as an "impressionable teenager," while another contributor referred to her as "feisty." When Josh and Evie shared their initial kiss, a reporter from the Daily Record noted that their mutual attraction had been evident for some time. Mark James Lowe of All About Soap called the kiss "ill-advised" but unsurprising given the persistent tension between them.

Stephen Downie of TV Week labeled Josh and Evie a "once adorable couple" during their initial breakup. A journalist from the Sunday Mail observed Evelyn’s acknowledgment that falling for someone like Tank was romantic yet unlikely to result in a happy ending. The Liverpool Echo highlighted Evelyn’s sense of relief after receiving a clean bill of health from cancer. Following the deaths of Hannah and Oscar, Sarah Ellis from Inside Soap commented that Evie MacGuire was arguably one of the most unfortunate characters in soap operas at that time.

External links

• Evelyn MacGuire on the Official Home and Away website