Tasma Walton

Tasma Walton (born 19 August 1973) is an Aboriginal Australian actress best known for her versatile work across television, film, and theatre. She was born in Geraldton, Western Australia, and is of Boonwurrung descent through her mother, a heritage she has proudly acknowledged throughout her career. After completing secondary education she joined local radio station 6GE, training as a production assistant and copywriter, before gaining admission to the prestigious National Institute of Dramatic Art, though she left after two years to pursue practical experience in Sydney’s vibrant theatre scene. Her early on‑screen break came in 1989 when she appeared as the love interest of Ian Moss in the music video for “Tucker’s Daughter”, and she later secured a recurring role as Rachel Watson on the long‑running soap Home and Away in 1995. The following year Walton landed the role of Constable Dash McKinley on the police drama Blue Heelers, a character she portrayed until 1999; her audition famously involved laughing when a co‑actor shouted, impressing the casting team. In addition to television, she made her film debut with Fistful of Flies in 1996 and accumulated numerous guest spots on series such as Water Rats, Sea Patrol, and The Postcard Bandit. From 2009 she played criminal profiler Claudia Leigh on City Homicide, and returned to Home and Away in 2013 as Jade Montgomery for two seasons. More recent work includes regular roles on Cleverman, the critically acclaimed Mystery Road (both the 2018 series and its 2020 second season), as well as appearances in The Claremont Murders and The Twelve in 2023. Walton’s personal life garnered media attention when she married TV presenter Rove McManus in 2009; the couple welcomed a daughter in 2013. Her contributions to Australian screen have been recognised with a Logie Award for Most Popular New Talent in 1997 and an AACTA nomination for Best Actress for Mystery Road.