Bree Cameron
Bree Cameron is a fictional character from the Australian television soap opera Home and Away, played by Juliet Godwin. She was introduced after the sudden departure of actor Harley Bonner, who played Dr. Logan Bennett. Godwin auditioned a number of time for Home and Away, but upon receiving the character brief for Bree, she was excited to send in an audition tape. Following an additional round of auditions, Godwin's agent informed her she had secured the role. She filmed her first scenes on-location at Palm Beach, and made her debut as Bree during the episode broadcast on 9 August 2022. Bree is characterised as kind, caring, laidback, and compassionate. She is also a surfer, something that Godwin had started learning before she was cast. Bree is passionate, confident, and committed to her career in medicine. Godwin carried out her own research into the medical terms that her characters uses and spoke with the serial's medical adviser. Bree's first scenes see her treating Constable Cash Newman after he is shot on duty.
As the character settles into Summer Bay, it emerges that she is the victim of domestic violence at the hands of her husband Jacob Cameron. Godwin felt grateful for the storyline and hoped it would bring awareness and help other women in Bree's situation. She carried out extensive research and spoke with survivors and psychologists. Viewers can see there are issues in Bree and Jacob's marriage from the start, as Jacob clearly dislikes her being friends with other men. Her situation also affects her job when she accuses Dean Thompson of abusing his partner, but it prompts her to report Jacob to the police. The couple's story concludes with Bree killing Jacob in self-defence, after he takes her out to the bush and continues to abuse her. Bree is left with severe PTSD from the situation, and the scriptwriters included scenes of Bree struggling to regain her identity in the aftermath, which reflected real life.
Writers established a close friendship between Bree and musician Remi Carter and he becomes a confidante during her domestic violence storyline. Eventually their friendship develops into a romance, and Godwin admitted that she loved them as a couple. She said Remi helped Bree to see what true love looked like. After Bree kills Jacob, her relationship with Remi suffers as she reveals that she had sex with Jacob to "mollify" him. She also learns she is pregnant and makes the decision to have an abortion, which Remi supports. They face further challenges, including her reluctance to be intimate and Remi's kiss with another woman. In early 2024, Bree ends the relationship when Remi refuses to give up his motorbike. Bree is given a new love interest, director Nelson Giles, while Remi dates actress Stevie Marlow. The relationships form a "love square", and there are a number of instances in which Remi and Bree are forced to interact. The couple eventually reconcile, following Stevie's death and Nelson's exit.
The on-screen death of Felicity Newman leads to a new issue-based storyline for Bree, as she fears making a mistake leading to the death of another patient. Godwin said Bree starts to doubt her ability as a doctor and she becomes overly cautious. She starts acting erratically, working longer shifts, and struggles to sleep. Tahlia Pritchard of Yahoo! Lifestyle believed Felicity's death had also caused Bree's past PTSD to flare up again. When Bree freezes in a loop of thoughts about her abilities, it almost kills Alf Stewart as she accidentally withholds medication. Bree eventually seeks professional help and receives an OCD diagnosis. One of the character's final storylines saw her stabbed by a patient. On 15 July 2025, Godwin's departure was confirmed when a photo of her farewell dinner was posted on social media. Her final scenes aired on 6 November 2025, as Bree leaves the Bay for a new job.
The scene in which Bree kills Jacob was nominated for the OMG Soap Moment at the Digital Spy Reader Awards. The domestic violence plot was branded "one of the most important storylines Home and Away had tackled" by Georgie Kearney of 7News. Rachel Choy of Punkee criticised Bree and Remi's break-up after everything they had been through, while viewers praised Bree's OCD storyline for its realism.
Casting
In March 2022, Godwin was photographed filming her first on-location scenes at Palm Beach, New South Wales, where the serial's exterior scenes are usually shot. Her casting as the show's new doctor was officially confirmed on 19 July 2022. The character was introduced following the sudden departure of Harley Bonner, who played Dr. Logan Bennett, the head of the emergency department at the local hospital. Godwin had previously auditioned for various Home and Away characters. She told Tamara Cullen of TV Week that her agent sent her the audition details Bree, and after reading the character brief, she was "super-excited" to send in an audition tape. Godwin commented "I mean she's a pretty incredible act. I had a lot of fun putting down the audition tape." Following a second round of auditions, Godwin was given the role. She learned of her casting while she was in her bedroom putting on a face mask for a night in. She said her agent called her and she "did a happy dance." She admitted that winning a role on Home and Away was "a dream come true", and told Stephanie McKenna of PerthNow: "The fact that I'm able to wake up and go to set every day and do what I love is such a gift. I'm really grateful for this opportunity. Everyone there is so lovely. I get to work with really talented actors, and it's always a fun vibe." Godwin made her first appearance as Bree on 9 August 2022.Development
Characterisation and introduction
The serial's producers billed Bree as "laid-back, kind and caring", but that she was also hiding something behind her "bubbly demeanour". Godwin's description of Bree was similar as she called her "a laidback, compassionate doctor who loves a laugh." She also said Bree had a "heart of gold", and was "considerate and smart as a whip." Godwin admired her character's "work ethic and also her friendliness", adding that Bree tries to bring "a lovely positive atmosphere" to whatever situation she finds herself in. Outside of the hospital, Bree is "a surfer chick". Godwin admitted that she loved that aspect of her character, as she had been getting into surfing as it was her partner's hobby. She started learning some time before being cast and told Alice Penwill of Inside Soap that while she was not a "seasoned professional" like Bree, she made up for her lack of technique with "passion and gusto."The character is "passionate" about her job as a doctor and thinks that "hard work and compassion" is the key to helping people in need. During her appearance on The Morning Show, Godwin told Larry Emdur and Kylie Gillies that Bree is "very confident and very committed" to her job. She will just deal with a problem and "get to the bottom of it." Godwin carried out her own research into the medical terms that Bree uses and she also spoke with the show's medical adviser. Discussing Bree's fictional backstory, Godwin explained that she was born and raised in Newcastle. Upon seeing a job vacancy at the Northern Districts Hospital, she is quick to relocate to Summer Bay for a much needed "fresh start". Godwin said that for Bee, Newcastle and Summer Bay are both laid-back places where she can help those in need and go surfing in her spare time. Godwin also said that her character does not know anyone in the town, but she is "excited" to join in with the community and "slow down."
Of the Bree's arrival, Godwin stated: "At first, she settles into the Bay well – she loves her new home, the epic surf and the welcoming locals. But as weeks go by, we learn there's rather more to Bree's story." Godwin was excited for viewers to see what else Bree "has in store for them" and said that it was "inevitable" that there would be drama. Godwin told Stuff's Kerry Harvey that she was learning "more and more" about Bree as the months went on. She compared it to reading a book which kept her guessing what would come next. During the character's first episode, she is called upon to treat Constable Cash Newman after he is shot while on duty. Larry Emdur joked that she was "thrown in the deep end" with the storyline, but Godwin enjoyed being part of some "high action" scenes. She also thought it showed viewers that Bree would work hard and fight for her patients. Bree gives Cash's sister Felicity Newman "an optimistic outlook" on his condition, but later admits to paramedic Xander Delaney that it might have been "false hope."
Marriage and domestic violence
The character was billed as hiding "a big secret" as part of an issue-based storyline, and it slowly emerges that she is the victim of domestic violence at the hands of her husband Jacob Cameron. When asked how she felt coming into the show with storyline, Godwin told Alice Penwill of Inside Soap: "When I was first told about Bree, I felt grateful that I had the opportunity to tell such an important tale. I want to do this story justice, tell it to the best of my ability, and hopefully it can help women who are in Bree's situation." Godwin later called it an "intense but really important" storyline and explained that from an actor's perspective, it would "be rewarding", while also bringing awareness to the issue. In order to portray the story as authentically as possible, Godwin carried out extensive research, which included talking to people involved with White Ribbon Australia and listening to stories from survivors and psychologists. She also took part in the Walk for Women's and Girls Emergency Centre. Speaking to Georgie Kearney from 7News, she stated "From what I could gather from my research, there is a feeling that women can get where they feel quite stuck because, sadly, what happens is not only physical violence but there's a lot of emotional abuse. And that will wear someone down and make someone second guess themselves, live in fear and make them want to keep this secret."Godwin felt that her character, a successful doctor, was the "perfect vehicle" to show that domestic abuse can happen to anyone. Penwill pointed out that Bree is a different person when she is at work compared to when she is at home, which Godwin said was a deliberate depiction. She reiterated that domestic violence "doesn't discriminate" and often women put on "a strong face" so no one knows what is going on at home. She continued "They are working professionals who are fantastic at what they do, but then they go home to a nightmare." Jacob's introduction occurs while Bree is sharing breakfast with her new friend Remi Carter. It is clear that Jacob is not happy to see Bree with another man, and Godwin commented that viewers can see there are issues in their relationship instantly. Remi is also shown to be wary of Jacob, who is "intimidating" towards him.
Bree's home life starts to affect her job when she accuses Dean Thompson of abusing his pregnant partner Ziggy Astoni. The storyline sees Ziggy admitted to the hospital after a fall. Bree hears an over-protective Dean urging Ziggy to be more careful, as this is the second time she has fallen, while Ziggy apologises. Godwin said the tone Dean's uses is "triggering" for Bree and "alarm bells start ringing." She also said that after Bree notices a bruise on Ziggy's leg, it confirms "in her mind" that she is being abused. Bree then opts to keep Ziggy in the hospital, while reporting Dean to the police for domestic violence. Godwin explained: "Bree has far too often experienced having to make excuses for her own injures – she won't sit back and watch someone else suffer in silence." Bree's actions leave Dean and Ziggy confused, especially when Dean is barred from seeing Ziggy. When she overhears him asking his sister Mackenzie Booth to keep an eye on Ziggy because he cannot, this leads her to realise she has got the situation completely wrong. Godwin said Bree is "heartbroken" by her mistake and realises that Dean is nothing like Jacob. This then "propels her" to report her own situation to the police.
Jacob is banned from contacting Bree, but he later breaches this to intimidate her, leading Remi to warn him off. Towards the end of the season, Jacob continues to watch Bree "like a hawk" and when he learns Remi and Bree are dating, he "storms" into her hotel room and demands that she leaves the Bay. He manages to overpower Remi and ties him to a chair, before giving Bree a "terrifying" ultimatum – leave with him or watch him smash Remi's hands with a hammer ending his music career. Rowland said that Remi would rather Jacob smash both his hands as long as he does not use the hammer on Bree. After injuring Remi, Jacob abducts Bree. When Home and Away resumed in January 2023, it emerges that Bree has been missing for a number of days. As the episode unfolds, viewers see that Bree and Jacob are camping out in remote bushland. As Jacob holds Bree in "what he considers a loving embrace", it is clear to viewers that she is "petrified" of him. Godwin explained that Bree has no idea what Jacob is planning, and she has had to leave the man she loves injured and alone. Godwin said Bree is "living her worst nightmare." As Bree writes a letter to Remi, Jacob catches her and in his rage, he strikes her and knocks her unconscious. When she wakes up, Jacob is digging what appears to be a grave.
Bree ends up killing Jacob in self-defence, leaving her traumatised. Cullen branded it "a kill-or-be-killed moment". Bree's guilt about Jacob's death is apparent throughout her police interview, despite reassurance from Rose Delaney that it is not her fault. Godwin said Bree's "world shatters" when she realises that Jacob is dead and knowing she has taken a life, it "cracks her identity." Meanwhile, Bree's relationship with Remi suffers as she hides the fact that she had sex with Jacob during her ordeal in order to stay safe. Godwin told Cullen: "Bree felt she didn't have a choice – it was her way of protecting herself and keeping Jacob's temper at bay." Talking to The Daily Telegraph's Lisa Woolford, Godwin explained that her character would have to go through "a healing journey" before being able to move on with her life, as she had "quite severe PTSD". Knowing that victims of domestic violence struggle to regain their identity after leaving their partner, the writers incorporated this into Bree's story, but also added in some "sprinkles of hope". Woolford added that at the end of filming each day, Godwin made sure to leave her character's trauma behind, but she was aware that there were a lot of women in real life who could not "clock off" from similar situations.