Hollywood movie stars, mothers and blushing brides: What is the cast of H2O: Just Add Water up to now? As the show celebrates 18 year anniversary

It has been 18 years since H20: Just Add Water graced Australian television screens.

The beloved Channel Ten television series followed three teenagers — Emma, Cleo and Rikki — who transform into mermaids whenever they come into contact with water.

Airing back in 2006 and running for three seasons, H20: Just Add Water was a huge success in Australia and paved the way to Hollywood stardom for several of its stars, including Phoebe Tonkin, Claire Holt and Luke Mitchell.

A third series aired due to worldwide popular demand before the show ended in 2010 and the cast have since bid farewell to Mako Island and moved onto bigger productions.

Here's what the stars of H20: Just Add Water are up to now.

Phoebe Tonkin as Cleo

Phoebe Tonkin was only 15 when she landed her first acting role on the the show, playing shy teen Cleo Sertori.

The now 34-year-old has since scored major roles in both Australia and Hollywood.

After the show, Phoebe landed her first movie role in Tomorrow, When the War Began in 2010, before taking on brief and minor castings in Home and Away and Packed to the Rafters.

In 2011, Phoebe jetted to Los Angeles to pursue her acting career before being cast as Faye Chamberlain in the CW supernatural drama series The Secret Circle, which was cancelled in 2012.

She then went on to star in The Vampire Diaries as Hayley, reuniting with her H2O co-star Claire Holt, who portrayed Rebekah Mikaelson on the show.

The pair also starred in The Vampire Diaries' spinoff series, The Originals.

Phoebe returned to Australia and starred in several critically-acclaimed series, including Safe Harbour and the Stan Original Series Bloom.

Her most recent and notable role was in the Netflix series Boy Swallows Universe, where she plays drug-addicted mother Frances Bell.

Her next role is in The Dark Lake, where she portrays main character Gemma. The show is currently in pre-production.

Off-screen, the actress is well-known in the fashion industry and has partnerships with major brands like Chanel and Tiffany & Co.

The Sydney-born star made an appearance at the Vanity Fair Oscars After Party back in March, wearing a stunning pink and red Oscar de la Renta gown. 

She is friends with several Aussie stars, like Lara Worthington and fellow actress Teresa Palmer. 

Claire Holt as Emma

Claire Holt left H2O after the end of the second season to embark on her Hollywood career.

The 36-year-old was filming Messengers 2: The Scarecrow, with her mermaid character's departure explained as travelling with her family.

In 2011, Claire was cast as Rebekah Mikaelson in The Vampire Diaries alongside her H2O co-star Phoebe Tonkin, and later reprised the role for the spinoff The Originals.

She went on to participate in several roles in US television before being cast as Kate in the underwater survival horror film 47 Meters Down in 2017.

Claire continues her friendship with her co-star Phoebe Tonkin and regularly shares photos of the them catching up together.

Claire became engaged to long-time boyfriend, television producer Matt Kaplan, in July 2015, before tying the knot almost a year later.

In 2017, Matt filed for divorce, citing 'irreconcilable differences'. Months later Claire announced her engagement to real estate exec Andrew Joblon.

She married Andrew on August 2018 and the lovebirds went on to welcome three children together — sons James, five, and Ford, eight months, and daughter Elle, three.

Claire revealed in a moving Instagram post in 2018 she'd suffered a miscarriage, sharing a photo of herself in hospital after undergoing surgery and writing in the caption that she felt 'broken' after losing her baby.

In 2019, Claire announced she's become a US citizen.

The actress recently made a dazzling appearance at Cannes Film Festival, wearing a white Georges Chakra gown at the Horizon: An American Saga premiere.

She also stunned in a racy black Alberta Ferretti dress on the Shrouds red carpet.

Cariba Heine as Rikki

Cariba Heine played Rikki Chadwick on H2O: Just Add Water.

The South African-born actress, 35, also starred in surfing television series Blue Water High as Bridget Sanchez in 2007.

Cariba later took on minor roles in several Australian television shows and films, including nine episodes of the children's drama Dance Academy.

She also got her big break in the US starring in Everyone Is Doing Great in 2021, alongside fellow Australian actor Alexandra Park.

In June, Cariba tied the knot with longtime boyfriend Matthew Pongrass in a lavish wedding in Tuscany, Italy.

She confirmed the news in an Instagram post on June 25, captioning the post, 'We did.'

The pair had been dating for some time before Matthew popped the question in 2022.

Angus McLaren as Lewis

Angus McLaren became a household name not long after his stint on H2O.

With some acting experience under his belt prior to playing Cleo's boyfriend Lewis McCartney, the 35-year-old was a child actor in the early 2000s and appeared on TV shows like Neighbours, The Saddle Club and Silversun.

Following his stint on the mermaid series, Angus went on to win over hearts of Australians on the beloved Channel Seven series Packed to the Rafters, where he portrayed Nathan Rafter.

Despite his success he went on to further study when the show ended in 2013.

But he made a return to television in 2018 as Lance Salisbury on Home and Away and also appeared in one episode of the Stan Original Series Bloom, reuniting with Phoebe Tonkin.

He most recently reunited with his Packed the the Rafters castmates for the spinoff Back to the Rathers, which aired in 2021.

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