Tomorrow, When the War Began: characters


Ellie Linton (Molly Daniels)

Ellie is smart, determined and fiercely loyal and a bit of a control freak. She is independent and hard-working, having been raised as an only child on her parents' cattle and sheep farm on the outskirts of Wirrawee.

Ellie organised the camping trip to Hell and following the invasion, she reluctantly takes on the role as leader alongside life-long friend, Homer. Throughout the invasion, Ellie is torn between her inner moral compass and her desire to protect her friends and family.

Homer Yannos (Narek Arman)

Homer is loud, confident and exuberant. He and his newly widowed father live and work on their farm in Wirrawee.

Homer's reputation as town prankster has set him up to be an asset to the group with his quick thinking and aptitude for risk taking. His relationship with Ellie is strong due to growing up together and he develops feelings for Fi as the series progresses.

Lee Takkam (Jon Prasida)

Lee is complex, skilful and intelligent. He has been raised to be responsible and respectful and when not studying, is helping his parents by working part-time in their restaurant. A musical kid, Lee wants to play in a band and would like to skip university and do his own thing.

Familiarity of military occupation through his father's stories makes him a solid sounding board for the inexperienced kids.

Fiona Maxwell (Madeleine Clunies-Ross)

Fi is kind-hearted, sensitive and privileged. She is the most sheltered of the group, as she has been brought up in the 'big smoke' with her wealthy parents and younger brother, Chris.

Fi is the calming force behind the group, she is surprisingly strong and willing to assist the fight against the invaders in any way she can. Fi grows and develops into a solid member of the resistance group who can be relied upon.

Corrie Mackenzie (Madeleine Madden)

Corrie is clever, reserved and adventurous. She is Ellie's best friend having spent their childhood together. She has a relationship with Kevin but is concerned it is holding her back from experiencing all the world has to offer. Pre-invasion she is thinking of busting up with Kevin as she is not ready to settle down with him and his carefully laid out plan for the future. She wants to experience more but for her these plans are cut brutally short.

Corrie grew up on a farm in Wirrawee with her mother and nurse Kath.

Kevin Holmes (Andrew Creer)

Kevin is cocky and arrogant. He is the eldest of the group and he has his life planned. He is the one who feels the most connected to the land that was taken by the invaders. His vengeful nature causes rifts between him and the group however, his loyalty to Corrie is his redemption.

Robyn Mathers (Fantine Banulski)

Robyn is passionate, logical and deeply moral. She is level- headed and committed to her Christian faith. She is attracted to Lee but when it is obvious that Ellie and Lee are becoming a couple, although she is initially hurt, she ultimately accepts the situation.

Chris Maxwell (Keith Purcell)

Chris is an angry, indulged young man, who takes his parents and privileged lifestyle for granted. In particular, he harbours resentment towards his frequently absent father with whom he shares a strained relationship and often appears indifferent towards his mother and sister. Intelligent but a loner, Chris frequently retreats into his own world and has no particular ambition in life, other than to be left alone to enjoy himself.

The invasion and his subsequent imprisonment come as a brutal shock to this irresponsible youth. Yet his time as a prisoner-of- war, harsh as it is, repairs his damaged parental relationship and serves to make him a better and stronger person.

Rachel Maxwell (Sibylla Budd)

Corrie's mum. Kath is a single mum, passionate, wilful and caring. A Critical Care Nurse at the Wirrawee local hospital, Kath grew up in Wirrawee and swore she would never stay. But after years of travelling and working as a nurse in the UK and Ireland, she found she missed the sun and so booked a ticket home. It was the night before she was meant to go, at a farewell party; she met Geoff, who is Corrie's father.

Kath and Geoff tried the long distance thing but it didn't work for them so eventually Geoff came to live in Australia. They were happy for a long time; at least she thought he was happy… but he wasn't, so Kath suggested they have a break and he head home. Kath was heartbroken when he didn't come back but kept herself together for Corrie, and moved on.

Kath notices the elderly and the mothers with small children who are lacking in basic supplies like nappies and medications and are more distressed than she is. Kath's natural instinct to protect sees her become an advocate for those who are less able than she is.

Kath is strong-willed and resourceful, but the war will show her a face of brutality she could never have imagined. Will it break her or harden her?

Kath Mackenzie (Deborah Mailman)

Ellie's mum, Jack's wife. Capable, witty, she fell in love with Jack and became a farmer. She has a natural practicality and lack of sentimentality. Liz's no-nonsense approach is thrown off-balance by the invasion.

The rules have changed and coming from a life of day-to-day routine, she struggles to understand the chaos. What she does continue to do is be supportive to all those around her.

Though she's worried sick about Ellie being on the outside, she knows her spirited daughter has reserves that will see her through. Liz tells herself it's her job to stay focussed on surviving on the inside so that she can one day be reunited with Ellie.

The war will show Liz that even against an army of invaders, she is an unflinching survivor.

Liz Linton (Alison Bell)

Ellie's mum, Jack's wife. Capable, witty, she fell in love with Jack and became a farmer. She has a natural practicality and lack of sentimentality.

Liz's no-nonsense approach is thrown off-balance by the invasion.

The rules have changed and coming from a life of day-to-day routine, she struggles to understand the chaos. What she does continue to do is be supportive to all those around her.

Though she's worried sick about Ellie being on the outside, she knows her spirited daughter has reserves that will see her through. Liz tells herself it's her job to stay focussed on surviving on the inside so that she can one day be reunited with Ellie.

The war will show Liz that even against an army of invaders, she is an unflinching survivor.

Jack Linton (Richard Young)

Father of Ellie, husband of Liz. Career farmer, tough, resilient, has passed on some of his stubbornness to his daughter. Youngest of five, Jack has another side; he grew up being indulged, is easily offended and can take things overly seriously when events don't go his way. Luckily, a combination of his hard work and passion has meant most things have gone his way. Quick to make assessments, Jack isn't always the best judge of character.

The war throws Jack's life upside down. But he soon decides he won't be broken. Jack can't stand how powerless he feels inside the camp and plots to resist and escape at every opportunity. It sees him being caught and punished, but it doesn't dim his fighting instinct.

The war will teach Jack he's isn't able to protect everyone but he can inspire people to find the courage to act.

Daniel Maxwell (Spencer McLaren)

Charismatic, adaptable, strategic. Partner in a large corporate law firm. Daniel Maxwell is used to being in charge and having people hang off his every word. Daniel's career has brought financial rewards for himself and his family, but little joy. Cemented to his career, he's been almost a ghost to his wife and has missed much of his kids' growing up.

Daniel doesn't blame himself, but he knows his absence is more than a reason for his kids' issues. The move to the country was to start a new life — he would commute and 'scale down'. Five months into the move, Daniel has shown no signs of truly committing to the agreement and as a result his marriage is well and truly on the brink.

Although used to giving orders in his professional life, the war will remind Daniel the loudest voice isn't always the smartest and he will be forced to listen without ever being offered a right of reply.

It will also remind him how much he loves his wife. But will that realisation come too late?

George Yannos (Damien Fotiou)

Homer's father. Crafty, unsentimental, realist. George inherited his farm but he's always wondered if he is a farmer at heart. Instead, he prefers the bustle of the city. So when times became tough, George became receptive to the idea of selling to the 'mega-farm' buying up land in the area; even if that meant alienating old friends and neighbours like Jack Linton.

George is no hero, no tough guy, but unlike many of the other adults, he manages to survive, even thrive in the strange atmosphere of the camp. His craftiness allows him to cultivate a relationship with a soldier that makes Jack think he has crossed the line and become a traitor. What Jack doesn't see is the way George uses this friendship with the soldier to save the kids when they clash with the army on the outside.

Homer and George have a complex relationship. Homer doesn't understand why his father won't 'lighten up', George thinks Homer is reckless — neither recognise they're still in a knot of grief after the death of Maria, George's wife and Homer's mother.

The invasion will reveal George's talent for survival at any cost. His actions will leave the audience wondering whose side he's really on and will pose the question; does self-preservation justify any means?

Umar Takkam (Alfred Nicdao)

Umar is Lee's lovable yet somewhat daggy dad and with his wife Therese, the family own the local Thai/Chinese restaurant. Although he can appear pushy and driven with Lee, Umar is a softie at heart. He's only pushy because he knows Lee is smart and he wants to get the best out of him. Umar is generous to a fault and a great host. He adores Therese, the love of his life. Everyone loves coming to his restaurant; it's the social hub for the parents of Wirrawee High.

Umar is devastated by his wife's death. She was his sun, his moon, his anchor in the community, his partner in work and home. He wants to murder, he wants to shed blood, but instead he swallows his pain and obeys the army order to cook for those who took his wife's life. Umar, however, is biding his time, looking for the perfect opportunity to exact his revenge.

The war will show Umar that staying alive is the best gift he can give his son; that resistance to tyranny comes in many forms.

The Colonel (James Stewart)

Educated and multi-lingual, the Colonel is a career officer and highly intelligent. Although not sadistic by nature, he is a dedicated soldier and takes his post as a representative of the invading army as a life or death mission, so will not hesitate to use violence or torture against those who would seek to cause unrest or rebel against the invaders.

A family man, who in his private moments enjoys the finer things in life, such as classical music, good wine, food and comfortable surroundings, his warmer side will ultimately always be subservient to the ruthlessness required by his position.