Brittany Byrnes

Brittany Anne Byrnes (born 31 July 1987 ) is an Australian actress. Her most notable acting role has been Charlotte Watsford in H2O: Just Add Water.

Personal life Byrnes was born in Australia and trained in all aspects of dance at the Bradshaw Dancers Performing Arts Academy, from the age of four. She attended Terra Sancta College in Quakers Hill, a suburb of Sydney, during her high-school years.

Career Byrnes had several guest roles in television series including Heartbreak High in 1994. She landed her first film role at the age of seven, playing the Hoggetts' granddaughter in 1995 feature film Babe. She had a guest role in horror anthology series Twisted Tales in 1996, before playing the young Helene in 1998 period miniseries The Violent Earth, opposite Claudia Karvan, Bill Hunter and Andrew McFarlane. From 1998 to 2000, she took on the role of Thea Hawkins in Search for Treasure Island.

In 2001, Byrnes played the main role of Hannah Schuler in Escape of the Artful Dodger. That same year, she secured the role of Dayna in children's TV movie When Good Ghouls Go Bad. She then went on to appear in several films including Mermaids (2003) and Swimming Upstream (2003), appearing opposite Geoffrey Rush, Judy Davis and Jesse Spencer as Diane Fingleton in the latter. She also featured alongside Sigrid Thornton in 2005 TV movie Little Oberon, which saw her nominated for the Young Actor's Award at the AFI Awards, for her performance.

Byrnes has also appeared in a number of television shows, including fantasy series BeastMaster and medical drama All Saints. From 2007 to 2008, she starred in the second season of children's fantasy drama series H2O: Just Add Water, as new girl, Charlotte Watsford. Her portrayal in H2O: Just Add Water earned her a nomination at the AFI Awards in 2008 – this time for Best Supporting Actress in a Television Drama. That same year, she appeared in the telemovie Scorched, opposite Cameron Daddo and Vince Colosimo.

Byrnes starred as Tina in Toybox, a Seven Network preschool series from the creators of Hi-5.

Byrnes eventually stepped away from acting to focus on her dance career. Since 2005, she has worked as a coach and choreographer, specialising in jazz, lyrical and hip hop. She was head coach and choreographer for Australia's first national Hip Hop team and has trained and choreographed teams for the World Championships in Florida. She has won international medals as a dancer and has also produced dance medalists as a choreographer. Byrnes has also served as an international dance judge in the USA and China.

Television Year Title Role Notes Ref 1993; 1996 G.P. Jessica Travis / Amy Hardy 2 episodes 1994 Heartbreak High Rachel Stewart Season 1, 2 episodes 1999 BeastMaster Muraki Episode: "Riddle of the Nymph" 2000 Water Rats Geena Sadler Season 5, 2 episodes 2001 Escape of the Artful Dodger Hannah Schuler 26 episodes 2007–2008 H2O: Just Add Water Charlotte Watsford Season 2, 24 episodes

Awards and nominations Year Award Category Work Result Ref 1997 Logie Award Most Popular New Talent Twisted Tales (episode #1.9: "Night of the Monster") 2005 Australian Film Institute Award Young Actor's Award Little Oberon 2008 Australian Film Institute Award Best Guest or Supporting Actress in a Television Drama H2O: Just Add Water (episode #2.25: "Sea Change")