Hayley Smith (Home and Away)

Hayley Smith
Other names	Hayley Lawson
Occupation	Fictional character
Known for	Home and Away

Hayley Rose Smith (also known as Lawson) is a character from the Australian television soap opera Home and Away. The role was originally played by Rebecca Cartwright from September 1998 until September 2005. Following Cartwright's departure, Ella Scott Lynch took over the part from September to November 2005.

Casting

In May 2005, Cartwright announced her decision to leave Home and Away, citing personal reasons shortly after confirming her first pregnancy. She explained that she required more flexibility during this significant period in her life and could no longer accommodate the show's demanding schedule. Although she completed filming her final scenes in June, her character continued to appear on-screen until September 2005.

The Seven Network confirmed plans to recast Hayley, highlighting the character's importance to the series. Over one hundred actresses auditioned for the role, with producer Julie McGauran commenting on the high calibre of candidates. On 5 June 2005, Ella Scott Lynch was officially cast as Hayley. Lynch expressed a mix of enthusiasm and nervousness about stepping into an already well-established role.

Storylines

Hayley is the daughter of Ken (Anthony Phelan) and Eve (Robyn Gibbes), and sibling to Will (Zac Drayson) and Nick (initially Matt Juarez, later Chris Egan). After Eve struggles with mental health issues and Ken battles alcoholism, the children enter foster care. Will eventually leaves, while Hayley runs away to live with Irene Roberts (Lynne McGranger).

She forms a friendship with Sam Marshall (Ryan Clark), leading to a romantic relationship as they both engage in graffiti tagging. They are briefly taken hostage by a drifter named Murray (Scott Major) but are rescued by Will. Following the death of their friend Brian Matthews, Ken returns; Hayley seeks to rebuild their relationship while Will remains distant. Ken settles back into the community and begins a relationship with Irene.

Hayley becomes entangled in a romantic triangle involving Sam and newcomer Mitch McColl (Cameron Welsh), ultimately choosing Mitch. Their relationship dissolves when Mitch admits to an affair with Gypsy Nash (Kimberley Cooper). Nick reenters the family fold, but tragedy strikes when Ken dies in an accident at work. Struggling emotionally afterward, Hayley is saved from an assault by Noah Lawson (Beau Brady), sparking their relationship.

Due to stress, Hayley fails Year 12 and decides to repeat it alongside Noah. She contributes illustrations for principal Donald Fisher's (Norman Coburn) children's book Letter to Byron, dedicated to his late son. At the book's launch event, Hayley imagines seeing Ken among the crowd.

Her relationship with Noah faces turmoil after she discovers him kissing Skye Patterson (Angela Keep) at her 18th birthday celebration. Noah descends into alcoholism, further complicated by Hayley's friendship with his strict mother Jill (Tracy Mann).

When Donald hosts his book launch in London, he invites Hayley, Irene, Will, and Nick. While there, Hayley meets Robbie Jamison (Rupert Evans) and dates him briefly; Robbie offers her a chance to stay in London, but she declines upon realizing her feelings for Noah. Upon returning home, she reconciles with Noah.

Hayley and Noah move into "The Palace." After she shares a kiss with housemate Josh West (Daniel Collopy), Hayley and Noah end their romantic relationship but continue living together. Her short-lived relationship with Josh ends after Alf Stewart (Ray Meagher) warns them about potential unhappiness.

Subsequently, Hayley dates Alex Poulos (Danny Raco). Their relationship becomes strained when Alex develops a steroid addiction and his ex-girlfriend Brodie Hanson (Susie Rugg) returns. Following a heated dispute, Hayley and Brodie suffer serious injuries in a car accident; Hayley experiences disfigurement and memory loss. Alex and Brodie temporarily conceal their renewed relationship from her. With Noah’s support, Hayley gradually recovers.

On her 21st birthday, Noah proposes marriage; they wed outdoors where Hayley envisions Ken’s presence as she walks down the aisle. Kane Phillips (Sam Atwell) and Kirsty Phillips (Christie Hayes) also renew their vows that same day. The marriage abruptly ends when Noah is killed during an armed siege involving Sarah Lewis (Luisa Hastings-Edge), leaving Hayley widowed.

After discovering mysterious paintings at "The Palace" that appear to be her own work despite her uncertainty, Hayley becomes confused. Kit Hunter (Amy Mizzi) later reveals she had stolen the paintings months earlier after experiencing a vision of Noah instructing her to return them.

Hayley becomes involved in another love triangle with Scott Hunter (Kip Gamblin) and Kim Hyde (Chris Hemsworth). Pregnant and unsure of the father’s identity—initially believed to be Kim—Scott steps back. Though still harboring feelings for Scott, Hayley plans to marry Kim but flees on their wedding day when labor begins. Scott finds her; she gives birth to a son named after Noah. Subsequent tests show Kim is not the father; Scott embraces fatherhood as he and Hayley leave together for a fresh start in France.

Reception

Scott Ellis and Tom Findlay from The Sun-Herald described the character as among the "most cherished figures in Australian drama." For her role as Hayley, Cartwright earned the 2005 Logie Award for Most Popular Actress and received a nomination for a Gold Logie in the same year.

After the breakup between Hayley and Noah, Jackie Brygel of the Herald Sun observed Hayley's recognition that Noah was "heading nowhere fast," which led her to end their relationship. James Joyce of the Newcastle Herald referred to Hayley as "Summer Bay's angelic blonde." Meanwhile, Rachel Browne from The Sun-Herald labeled the character as "prone to trouble," and Tony Davis of The Sydney Morning Herald described her as "a creative young widow who has dealt with a graffiti issue."

Upon Lynch's casting as Hayley, Gordon Farrer of The Age pointed out the challenge faced by both viewers and cast members in embracing the new actress in this role. He commented on the distinct change in appearance, humorously suggesting that audiences might initially perceive her as an impostor before fully accepting the recasting within the storyline.

External links

• Hayley Smith on the official Australian Home and Away website
• Hayley Smith on the official UK Home and Away website