Penny McNamee

Penny McNamee (born 17 March 1983) is an Australian actress, best known for originating the role of Nessarose in the Australian premier of Wicked, playing Dr. Tori Morgan in Home and Away and writing the Stage Stars book series for Scholastic.

McNamee played MTV reporter Rachel in the Australian premiere production of MJ the Musical.

Early and personal life Penny McNamee was born in Sydney to Peter and Helen McNamee. She has three sisters, including actress Jessica McNamee, and a younger brother. Through her sister Rebecca, she is the aunt of actress Teagan Croft. Her cousin, Madelaine Collignon, is a news presenter for Prime7.

McNamee married Matt Tooker, director of a marketing agency, in 2009. They have a son. McNamee gave birth to their second child, a daughter, in March 2019.

Career Theatre McNamee starred opposite Lucy Durack, Todd McKenney and Shane Jacobson in the critically acclaimed Neil Simon play, the Odd Couple at both the Comedy Theatre in Melbourne and the Theatre Royal in Sydney.

McNamee is perhaps best known on stage for her portrayal of Nessarose in the original Australian cast of Wicked for which she won the 2009 Green Room Award for Best Female in a Featured Role. The show opened on 12 July 2008, in Melbourne, where it ran for 13 months, closing on 9 August 2009. It then transferred to Sydney from 12 September 2009. McNamee played her final performance at the Capitol Theatre on 12 March 2010.

McNamee originated the role of Jennifer Gabriel in Cameron Mackintosh's production of The Witches of Eastwick. The show opened at the Princess Theatre in Melbourne and McNamee was nominated for a Mo Award for Best New Talent.

McNamee played the lead role of Jerusha Abbott in John Caird and Paul Gordon's musical Daddy Long Legs. Based on the book of the same name, Daddy Long Legs played at the Florida Studio Theater.

McNamee portrayed Donna in the Australian premier of Hurlyburly for the Griffin Theatre Company, Sydney. McNamee starred alongside Alex Dimitriades.

McNamee has performed in Carols in the Domain for Channel 7, Carols by Candlelight for Channel 9 and on Good Morning Australia.

In 2025, McNamee starred as MTV reporter Rachel in MJ the Musical in Sydney.

Film McNamee completed filming on John Duigan's Australian feature film Careless Love, in which she played the role of Carol. The film was in postproduction in 2011 and was released in 2012.

In 2006, McNamee starred as Melissa in the Lionsgate US feature film See No Evil.

Television Her guest roles on various US and Australian series including Blue Bloods (CBS), Elementary (CBS), Political Animals (USA), All Saints, White Collar Blue and Satisfaction.

in 2010, McNamee played the role of Hope in Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg's HBO miniseries The Pacific. McNamee and Isabel Lucas play best friends who fell in love with American soldiers during World War II.

McNamee was cast in the supporting role of Ruth Crockett in the Warner Bros. miniseries Salem's Lot starring Rob Lowe. The series was aired on TNT in the USA.

In November 2015, McNamee was announced to have joined the cast of Seven Network soap opera Home and Away, as Tori Morgan, a doctor at the Northern Districts Hospital. She was introduced on 5 May 2016 during the Caravan Park explosion storyline. McNamee was nominated for the Best New Talent Logie Award for her role as Tori. She made her final appearance on 27 September 2021, after more than five years in the series. McNamee reprised the role for a guest appearance in April 2024.

Filmography

Film Year Title Role Type 2003 Fuel Hitchhiker Short film 2006 See No Evil Melissa Beudroux Feature film 2007 Hammer Bay Alice Blakely Short TV film 2008 The Tourist Girl from Back Home Short film 2012 Careless Love Carol Feature film 2013 Monkeywrench Vanessa Short film 2014 See No Evil 2 Melissa Beudroux (uncredited) Feature film

Television Year Title Role Type 2003 White Collar Blue Alicia Moore (guest role) TV series, season 2, 1 episode All SaintsSusie Chambers TV series 2004 Salem's Lot Ruth Crockett TV miniseries 2006 headLand Charlie Cooper (recurring role) TV series, 8 episodes 2010 Satisfaction Shop Assistant (guest role) TV series, season 3, 1 episode The Pacific Hope (guest role) TV miniseries, 1 episode 2012 Political Animals TV miniseries 2013 Elementary Vivian Tully (guest role) TV series, season 1, 1 episode Blue Bloods Marie Grasso (guest role) TV series, season 3, 1 episode The Harringtons TV series 2016–2021, 2024 Home and Away Tori Morgan Seasons 29–34 (main cast), Season 37 (guest)

Podcast Year Title Role Type 2022 The Younger Man Podcast Series

Writer YearTitleRoleType 2023–Home and Away Writer TV series, 2 episodes