Tahyna Tozzi

Tahyna Tozzi
Tahyna Tozzi in January 2012
Born
Tahyna Valentina Tozzi

(1986-04-24) 24 April 1986 (age 40)
Cronulla, Sydney, Australia
Occupations
  • Actress
  • model
  • director
  • producer
Years active1994–present
Known forBlue Water High (2005–2006)
Height1.73 m (5 ft 8 in)
Spouse
​
​
(m. 2014; sep. 2023)​
Children3
RelativesCheyenne Tozzi (sister)

Tahyna Tozzi is an Australian actress, director, writer and producer. She starred in several television series and film blockbusters including X-Men Origins: Wolverine, before moving into production.

Early life

Tozzi grew up in the Sydney beach-side suburb of Cronulla, with her Italian father, Nicola, Dutch model mother, Yvonne and younger sister, model Cheyenne. Her family established the Italian venue, Caffe Roma in Sydney's Kings Cross, in the 1980s.

Tozzi began modelling at eight years old, alongside her sister, appearing in high end fashion campaigns and magazines throughout the 2000s.

Career

Tozzi played Gold Coast glamour queen, Perri in ABC teen drama Blue Water High from 2005 to 2006. Following that, she starred alongside Asher Keddie in 2009 film Beautiful, her first feature, playing 17-year-old provocateur Suzy, and appeared opposite Hugh Jackman in X-Men Origins: Wolverine as Emma, a mutant able to turn her skin into diamond.

Tozzi next starred in 2010 psychological horror film Needle, opposite Michael Dorman, Travis Fimmel and Ben Mendelsohn. The following year, she starred alongside David Gallagher and Ryan Eggold in 2011 film Trophy Kids, which won Best Ensemble Cast at the Breckenridge Festival of Film.

Tozzi also performed voice acting for the character of Daina Le Guin in the 2011 sci-fi horror game Dead Space 2, for which her physical likeness was also used.[citation needed]

Tozzi then moved into producing and directing, Her directorial debut, Oren, screened at festivals internationally, winning Best International Film at the Hollywood Reel Independent Film Festival.

In 2020, she released the documentary feature, Misunderstandings of Miscarriage, inspired by her own experience of pregnancy loss. The film, also featuring Claire Holt and Deborra-Lee Furness, aimed to shatter the silence and grief surrounding pregnancy loss, through interviews with women and medical professionals across the world.[citation needed] The film premiered on STAN Australia, followed by a release on Netflix and garnered critical and audience acclaim.

In 2022, Tozzi joined her husband Tristan McManus to guest host several episodes of light news program Studio 10.

In 2024, Tozzi wrote, directed and had a starring role in the short film Bread. The following year, she directed, produced and edited ABBA & Elvis in the Outback, a documentary, where two small towns compete to revive their communities through music and celebration. The film was broadcast on SBS, before being licensed for international distribution. She has also directed the short films The Fifty and The Prelude: Lady Blue.

Tozzi is also co-founder of the all-female-led production company Neon Jane, which she established with producer Kelly Tomasich. In 2020, the pair launched the Australian Women's Film Festival, dedicated to celebrating Australian women in film and honouring those who have made significant contributions to the industry.

Personal life

Tozzi met Irish ballroom dancer Tristan MacManus in 2011, when they were set up through friends at a restaurant in Los Angeles. The pair were married on 25 January 2014 in Cronulla, after dividing much of their time between Ireland and LA.

On 5 April 2016, Tozzi gave birth to a daughter named Echo Isolde. On 14 March 2019, she gave birth to a son named Oisín Lír. Tozzi gave birth to her third child, a son named Tadhg Nuada on 3 May 2021. In 2017, the family bought a family home in Sutherland Shire.

In 2025, it was revealed that Tozzi and McManus had been separated for quite some time.

Tozzi's mother Yvonne was operated on by Dr Charlie Teo for a brain tumour in May 2013.

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes Ref
2009BeautifulSuzyFeature film
X-Men Origins: WolverineEmma Silverfox / Emma FrostFeature film
2010NeedleMary MatthewsFeature film
2011Trophy KidsQuinn ThorndikeFeature film
2013Chasing CloudsShort film
2013The Last LightJennyFeature film
2014The Ever AfterMs. SandersFeature film
JuliaSadieFeature film
2017The FiftyWalterShort film
Puppets vs. People: Wonder WomanWonder WomanShort film
2018The Prelude: Lady BlueEchoShort film
2023Finally MeLouiseFeature film
2024BreadRemiShort film
2025It Will Find YouDetective HughesFeature film
2026The Better ManDiane GoodingFeature film
TBATarantulasTBAPost-production
TBATrack TownTBAIn development

Television

Year Title Role Notes Ref
2005–2006Blue Water HighPerri Lawe27 episodes
2008The StripKristal Cade3 episodes
CSI: NYQuinci FeeneySeason 5, episode 11: "Forbidden Fruit"
2009Eleventh HourGorgeous Model (uncredited)Season 1, episode 17: "Olfactus"
CSI: Crime Scene InvestigationOlivia HamiltonSeason 10, episode 1: "Family Affair"
2011Charlie's AngelsAmanda KaneSeason 1, episode 3: "Bon Voyage, Angels"
2015Scary EndingsSashaSeason 1, episode 1: "We Always Come Back"

Video game

Year Title Role Notes Ref
2011Dead Space 2Daina Le GuinVideo game

As director / producer

Year Title Role Notes Ref
2014OrenWriter / directorShort film
2016NoomieWriter5 episodes
Boys in the TreesThird assistant directorFilm
2017The FiftyDirector / producerShort film
2018The Prelude: Lady BlueWriter / directorShort film
Patricia MooreDirector attachment / extras casting10 episodes
2020Misunderstandings of MiscarriageDirector / producer / additional cinematographyDocumentary film
2024BreadWriter / directorShort film
2025ABBA & Elvis in the OutbackDirector / producer / editorDocumentary film
TBATrack TownScreenplay / producerIn development
TBABarriersProducerIn development

Awards

Year Work Award Category Result Ref
2011Trophy KidsBreckenridge Festival of FilmBrst Ensemble CastWon
OrenIndependent Film FestivalBest International Short ReelWon
OrenHollywood Reel Independent Film FestivalBest International FilmWon

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 "Folks We Love with Tahyna Valentina Macmanus". yourzenmama.com. 21 April 2017. Retrieved 2026-08-13.
  2. ↑ Unreich, Rachelle. "Playing By Her Own Rules". tonicmag.com.au. Retrieved 2026-08-13.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Chancellor, Jonathan (4 March 2017). "Tahyna Tozzi and Tristan MacManus buy Shire home with 'Hamptons beach house feel'". news.com.au. Retrieved 2026-08-13.
  4. ↑ "Tozzi impresses in first feature film role | The Daily Telegraph". news.com.au. Archived from the original on 2009-01-23. Retrieved 2026-08-20.
  5. 1 2 3 "Tahyna Tozzi back in Sydney with Koby Abberton". The Daily Telegraph. 22 April 2008. Archived from the original on 2008-04-29. Retrieved 2009-02-09.
  6. ↑ "X-Men Origins: Wolverine". Yahoo! Movies. Archived from the original on 2012-09-26. Retrieved 2026-08-20.
  7. ↑ Pierre, Mekishana (31 July 2026). "Marvel reportedly casts Samara Weaving as 'X-Men' reboot's Emma Frost". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 2026-08-20.
  8. 1 2 "Needle set to screen at Screamfest Horror Film Festival". IF Magazine. 10 September 2010. Retrieved 2026-08-12.
  9. 1 2 3 ""Trophy Kids" premieres at 31st Annual Breckenridge Festival of Film". ppmginfo.blogspot.com. 11 June 2011. Retrieved 2026-08-13.
  10. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "About Tahyna Tozzi MacManus – Australian Film Director". tahyna.com. Retrieved 2026-08-12.
  11. 1 2 3 4 Knox, David (22 August 2022). "Tahyna MacManus to guest host Studio 10". TV Tonight. Retrieved 2026-08-12.
  12. 1 2 "ABBA & Elvis in the Outback | SEQUINS, SIDEBURNS, AND SMALL-TOWN SPIRIT". tahyna.com. Retrieved 2026-08-12.
  13. ↑ "Tahyna McManus". thisfilmstudio.com. Retrieved 2026-08-12.
  14. ↑ Doherty, Peta (25 January 2014). "Actress Tahyna Tozzi marries dancer Tristen MacManus". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 2014-01-26.
  15. ↑ Knoke, Charlotte (26 March 2024). "Tristan MacManus' beautiful family life with wife Tahyna Tozzi". nowtolove.com.au. Retrieved 2026-08-13.
  16. ↑ Licht, Marina (29 September 2025). "TV star Tristan McManus reportedly splits from actress wife Tahyna Tozzi after 10 years of marriage". nationalworld.com. Retrieved 2026-08-13.
  17. ↑ Horton, Shelly (4 October 2013). "Tozzi sisters glad to see mum on fashion tour for Spring Racing Carnival". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 2026-08-13.
  18. ↑ Lavallée, Eric (2014). "2014 Sundance Film Festival Predictions: Mark Webber's The Ever After". ioncinema.com. Retrieved 2026-08-13.
  19. ↑ "The Strip: episode guide". australiantelevision.net. Retrieved 2026-08-13.
  20. ↑ "Narrative". tahyna.com. Retrieved 2026-08-13.