Dr. Levi Fowler (Tristan Gorey) has only just come back into his sister Eden Fowler’s (Stephanie Panozzo) life on Home And Away but the formerly estranged siblings might be strangers again soon.
Eden was shocked to discover her brother was having an affair with Mackenzie (Emily Weir), bringing back painful memories of their father cheating on their mother.
“It’s all sort of really building up into a very kind of tricky and explosive brother-sister relationship,” says Panozzo.
“But this is certainly − I think − a real betrayal for Eden and I think she’s going to find it very difficult to move past this and forgive him, if she ever does.”
The siblings recently reconnected when Levi helped Mackenzie through her health crisis. As Levi grew closer with his patient, he began using Eden − unbeknownst to her − as cover for his frequent absences from home to his wife Imogen (Georgia Blizzard). But when Eden discovered his deception, she was horrified, having formed a bond with her sister-in-law.
Having now gone public with their affair, the residents of Summer Bay are becoming accustomed to Levi and Mac as a couple, however Eden isn’t so willing to accept this new relationship. After a particularly contentious disagreement, Levi “throws down an ultimatum”, telling Eden to move on from his infidelity or risk losing her brother from her life again.
“He sort of says, ‘I’ve had 10 years without you now and I can do it again’. It feels pretty intense really and not very nice at all,” says Panozzo, who has also appeared in The Newsreader and My Life Is Murder.
Prior to their reunion, the siblings hadn’t communicated since they were teenagers, after Levi chose to live with their father after their parents’ break-up.
“They had sort of healed things to a certain degree and were making amends,” says Panozzo. But the cardiac surgeon’s actions have fractured that relationship and Eden is traumatised by what she sees as a repeat of their father’s behaviour.
“I think that Eden holds Levi to account here and is really deeply disappointed and feeling really betrayed and heartbroken, because that trust is yet again broken by another man in her life.”
It’s not just Levi that has hurt Eden, her friendship with Mackenzie has also been compromised.
“I think it’s really devastating. She found a friend in Mackenzie and just found a really beautiful relationship there.”
While the people in her life may let her down, for Eden, there’s always music to lean on.
A love and appreciation for music connects Panozzo with her character. In her role on Home And Away, the actor has the unique opportunity to showcase her musical skills via resident band Lyrik. The talented singer says she hopes to release her own music someday too.
“I feel so lucky to be able to play a character that is as passionate about music as I am. I love it so much. And it’s definitely something I want to pour more of my time into outside of the Bay. But to be able to play a character that shares very similar interests is so wonderful − and makes me feel more connected.”
Panozzo says fans often want to talk to her about music − while others want to know what it’s like to kiss Nicholas Cartwright, who plays Eden’s boyfriend Cash Newman. Which is slightly awkward given that Panozzo has a partner. Panozzo and boyfriend Josh Kelly met six years ago and are in a long-distance relationship, with Panozzo living and working in Sydney and Kelly running his pizza-catering business in Melbourne.
“It can be really challenging at times,” says Panozzo of their interstate relationship, “But we’re both really committed and we do a lot of visits back and forth. We’re just making it work, which is great.”
Panozzo has been on Home And Away for two years now and says the thrill of doing what she loves every single day has yet to wear off.
“I can’t believe I’m a working full-time actor, it just blows my mind. I’m so often pinching myself. I’ll see Ray Meager (who plays Alf Stewart) walk down the hallway and I’m like ‘Oh my god!’ I still freak out and get so excited to be here every day.”
