There was a moment in 2019 when Penny McNamee decided she needed to shake it up – at least on screen. She approached the producers of Home And Away and mentioned that Tori could use some fun in her life.
After all, she had endured almost two years of trauma with IVF difficulties and the loss of her daughter’s father, Robbo (played by Jake Ryan)! Today, she tells TV WEEK happily, “they certainly delivered!”
“It’s time Tori had a solid love interest, so I said to the writers, ‘He needs to be a man, a grown-up who has his life together – and they did a great job of writing the character,” Penny, 37, says. “Ditch [Davey, who plays Christian] and I have a lot of trust in each other, which helps come across in storylines.”
Fans are crazy over Tori’s new romance.
(Instagram)The steamy romance has certainly caught the attention of fans, who have taken to sharing their approval on social media and in the street!
“I get people stopping me in the street and sing out, ‘Oooh, Tori and the hot doc!’ [Laughs]. I’ve never had that reaction before, so it’s good to know people like it,” she says. “Even people on set are drawn to Ditch because he’s just such a nice guy.”
Tori is grateful Penny’s finding happiness again.
(Phillip Castleton)While her character is loved-up heading into the festive season, Penny is too. A confessed fan of Christmas, the actress is eager to decorate the house with husband Matt Tooker, son Jack, five, and one-year-old daughter Neve.
Both seem to have inherited their mother’s enthusiasm, although Penny is disappointed that be won’t be able to have all her siblings at home.
“Two of my sisters live in the US [including Packed To The Rafters actress Jessica McNamee], so they can’t come home for Christmas, which is a shame,” she says.
“We’ll still decorate the tree and have Santa come and visit,” she says with a smile. “But I’m hoping to sing at Carols In The Domain [in Sydney], however that will look this year.”
Despite the challenges of 2020, some of which Penny has seen first-hand from friends and family, she hopes people can breathe in a fresh start. Coming back to set has simply cemented her love for the job and the co-stars she’s surrounded by.
“I’m really proud of everyone on Home And Away,” she says. “We handled the ‘new normal’ well and haven’t had any incidents. I think we set a benchmark for other productions and I truly am more appreciative of this job and these people.”
As for the future, Penny hopes Christmas will herald a new era.
“I think there will be a feeling of relief that the end of this year has come, we got through it, and can start fresh in 2021 with a brighter future,” she says.
“I’ve been very fortunate, but that’s my hope for everyone.”
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