Eden Fowler
Eden Fowler is a fictional character from the Australian television soap opera Home and Away, played by Stephanie Panozzo. She is one of four characters, along with Bob Forsyth, Remi Carter and Kirby Aramoana, who were introduced to the show as members of the fictional band Lyrik. They were introduced following the departure of four cast members that same year. After learning of the role, Panozzo sent in a self-tape to the show's casting producers, before she was invited to Sydney for an audition. However, she could not fly after testing positive for COVID-19, which left her fearing she had lost the role. The producers invited her to audition over a Zoom call instead and her agent later informed her that she had secured the role. Panozzo relocated to Sydney from Melbourne a week later. She made her first appearance during the episode broadcast on 4 July 2022. Like the rest of Lyrik, Eden was given an immediate link to the show and its characters through her friendship with Felicity Newman, but writers also established a former romantic connection between Eden and Felicity's brother, Cash Newman.
Panozzo described her character as a "wild child", someone who speaks her mind and "wears her heart on her sleeve". Panozzo believed that she and Eden would be friends in real life and joked that if someone wanted a good night, they should go to Eden's. She also liked her character's style and actually added some of Eden's clothing to her own wardrobe. Panozzo also felt fortunate to play someone who shared similar interests and a passion for music. The role also allowed her to show off her own music and singing skills. Producers soon explored the romantic connection between Cash and Eden, with them becoming a couple after various challenges, including Felicity's opposition, Cash's personal struggles, and Eden's involvement in a dramatic car crash which formed the 2022 season finale. Knowing the couple were supposed to have a strong history, Panozzo and Cartwright worked together to create authenticity. Panozzo thought the characters had good chemistry, despite being quite different from one another. The relationship is tested again when Eden pretends they are engaged and Cash realises he is not ready for that level of commitment.
The character played a prominent role in the 2023 season finale, as she is kidnapped by two brothers who have also critically injured Remi. Following the end of the episode, Seven Network launched an ad campaign to keep viewers engaged with the show during the break, which consisted of posters, social media posts and on-air promo spots, as well as a phone number allowing fans to hear Eden's supposed last phone call. The campaign received a mixed reaction from viewers, but was a success for the network. In the opening episodes of 2024, Eden is eventually rescued, while Remi recovers in hospital. Writers began further exploration of the character's fictional backstory with the introduction of her brother Levi Fowler. It emerges that the pair have been estranged for some time, after Levi seemingly sided with their father after he had an affair and divorced their mother. The siblings try to repair their relationship, until Levi has an affair with Mackenzie Booth. Panozzo said that for Eden it is "a real betrayal". It forces her to relive "painful memories" of her father's actions, leaving her "traumatised". Panozzo also pointed out that Eden's friendship with Mac is also broken, which is equally as devastating. The Fowler family was expanded in 2024 and 2025 with the introductions of Eden's father James "Jimmy" Fowler, younger sister Abigail Fowler and mother Debra Fowler. Panozzo enjoyed meeting more of Eden's family and creating an interesting dynamic.
Casting
On 29 June 2022, it was announced that the fictional band Lyrik, made up of four new characters – bassist Eden Fowler, lead vocalist Bob Forsyth, lead guitarist Remi Carter and keyboardist Kirby Aramoana – would be introduced to Home and Away in the coming weeks. The group's arrival followed the departure of four cast members from the serial earlier that year. When the role came up, Panozzo "jumped at the chance to audition" for it. Due to the COVID-19 lockdown in Melbourne, Panozzo had to create a self-tape to send to the casting producers. She received a call back and was invited to Sydney, where the show is filmed, for an audition, however, she was unable to attend after testing positive for COVID-19. Panozzo admitted that she was "devastated" by the situation, as she thought she had lost the role, but she was given the chance to audition over a Zoom call. She was "thrilled" when she learned she had been cast, saying "My agents FaceTimed me, which they never do, and they said I booked the role. I was absolutely blown away and beyond excited. It was a very surreal and incredible feeling." Panozzo relocated to Sydney a week later. She made her debut as Eden during the episode broadcast on 4 July 2022. Panozzo later stated that she grew up watching Home and Away and described being part of the show as "a dream come true" and "a blessing". She also felt fortunate to be part of the show, which she called "an incredible opportunity and training ground", as it helped improve her acting and music skills. She said "It's like a boot camp for young actors in Australia. Its been such a ball and as a character, Eden is so, so fun to explore." After two years in the role, Panozzo admitted that she was still thrilled to be working full-time and "excited" to be on set every day.Development
Characterisation and introduction
Panozzo felt that she and her character would be friends, but she joked that "Eden's so much cooler than I am." She called her "fun", "fiery" and "loyal as hell". Panozzo liked that her character enjoys making people laugh and that she "wears her heart on her sleeve". She thought that if someone was after a good night, they should "go to Eden's." Panozzo told Kerry Harvey of Stuff that she was a fan of her character's style and admitted to adding some of Eden's clothing to her own wardrobe, saying "My personal wardrobe is so boring. I look at Eden and think, 'Why do I not think about buying this kind of stuff? It's so cool'." Panozzo shares a love for music with her character, and she felt fortunate that she could play someone who was equally "passionate" about it. The role allows Panozzo to show off her own music and singing skills, and she hoped to release her own music in the future. She said "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."Lyrik arrive in Summer Bay from the city and play an impromptu gig outside Felicity Newman and Tane Parata's house. Purvis explained that the group are old friends from Felicity's past, but Eden is her best friend and they are really close. She said that the band would bring music to the Bay and cause a bit of trouble. Felicity's partner Tane initially wants the band to leave, but she brings him around, until they take over the house. The band's arrival coincides with Felicity becoming co-owner of Salt, the local bar and restaurant. Purvis said that her character comes up with the idea to have Lyrik play the relaunch of Salt, furthering their integration into the Bay. It soon becomes clear that Bob "has big plans" for Lyrik that do not include them staying the Bay. He and Kirby are also in a "rocky" relationship, while Eden and Remi are best friends, who enjoying teasing one another.
As well as the link to Felicity, writers established a connection between Eden and Felicity's brother Cash Newman, as it emerges that they dated before their arrivals in the Bay. Joe Julians of Digital Spy said this development causes some controversary among their friends and family. Upon seeing Cash at the end of Lyrik's performance in Salt, Eden jumps into his arms and he is forced to tell Felicity about their romantic history. She then warns Eden away from him as he has a fiancée Jasmine Delaney, who at the time had left the Bay. Eden apologises to Cash for any hurt she caused him and they agree to be friends, however, a hug between them is misinterpreted by Felicity.
Relationship with Cash Newman
The relationship between Eden and Cash was explored towards the end of the season, as they have a one-night stand, which they later repeat. Purvis said Felicity is worried that Eden will hurt her brother again and tries to keep them apart. She told Alice Penwill of Inside Soap: "Before they got to the Bay, Eden and Cash had a fling – he was more into it than Eden was, and she left him. Flick is adamant that Eden will do it again." Penwill pointed out that Cash is the one trying to initiate a relationship between himself and Eden, to which Purvis replied that Felicity does not know that and believes it is all down to Eden. When Felicity catches the pair together, Purvis said that her character "feels she's been let down by her friend." Cash and Eden are later forced to work together when Felicity and Tane become engaged and begin planning the wedding. The awkwardness between the pair increases when Felicity tries to "play cupid" during a meeting. Panozzo explained that her character struggles to work alongside Cash and that being around him is "painful" for her, but she powers through for Felicity's sake.As the storyline progresses, Cash decides that he and Eden have to stay away from one another and not be friends, so that he can get his life together, following a recent shooting in the line of duty and the break up with his girlfriend. A TV Week writer noted that Eden only agrees "to save face", but she appears devastated. Panozzo stated "This really hurts her. Not only does she feel the rejection of unrequited love, but now Cash doesn't even want to see her. But she understands it's ultimately for the best." Another TV Week writer stated that it was obvious Eden and Cash had fallen for each other, but neither appeared willing to do anything about it. Felicity becomes involved again as she changes her hens night plans, so that the women end up in the same nightclub where Tane's bucks party is being held. Eden realises Felicity has set her and Cash up, so she drinks to hide her "humiliation", while he believes she changed the plans in order to get him to say that he has feelings for her too. As Eden and Cash have "a strong history and connection", Panozzo and Cartwright worked together to create authenticity and she hoped viewers would be "excited" with where the storyline was going.
The serial's season finale centred on Felicity and Tane's wedding day and ended on a cliffhanger with Eden and Felicity's lives in danger. As the pair are driving to the wedding venue, their ute crashes and the episode ends with Eden and Felicity trapped in the car. Panozzo explained "Felicity and Eden have jumped in a car and someone has tampered with the brakes. I can say that there is a car crash that happens, and it’s very, very intense. It's massive." She was excited to be involved in the dramatic storyline, and said that filming the scenes with the stunt performers and fire was "fun". In the season premiere, which Panozzo described as "very drama-filled" and "high-stakes intense", both Eden and Felicity are rescued, but Eden is critically injured and placed in a coma. Cash is "beyond despair" as he sits beside Eden's hospital bed. TV Week's Tamara Cullen observed "For Cash, the thought of losing the woman he loves – without having the chance to tell her how he feels – is crushing."
During the show's 8000th episode, Felicity and Tane marry with Eden and Cash as witnesses. The end of the episode sees Cash waking up with a hangover and noticing Eden is wearing the engagement ring he bought for his former girlfriend. Cash is led to believe that he drunkenly proposed to Eden, while she uses the opportunity to play a joke on him and pretend they are engaged. This development tests the strength of the couple's relationship. Cullen said Cash loves Eden, but he knows that he is not ready for that level of commitment. When Eden tells him the truth about the engagement, she quickly notices Cash's relieved reaction and realises how he really feels about marriage, which leaves them both questioning the future of their relationship. Susannah Alexander of Digital Spy wrote "Eden's pride soon feels wounded" and she is left wondering why Cash thinks the idea of marrying her is "so intolerable." Alexander also reported that in a bid to show Eden that he loves her and is ready to make "happier memories" with her, Cash gives her a charm bracelet and gets rid of the engagement ring.
In early 2024, Panozzo told a writer for New Idea that the couple "have great chemistry" and she was "really proud" that it came across to viewers, while Cartwright praised their working relationship. Eden's reaction to being taken camping highlighted the couple's lack of shared interests, but Panozzo believed they would last, saying "Eden and Cash have such a beautiful relationship. They are quite different in many ways, but they actually really complement each other. He grounds her and she brings that bit of craziness into his life." She thought that they worked well because they were "the missing piece for each other". In scenes broadcast in August 2024, Cash proposes to Eden, who is left questioning if it is something he truly wants, as he recently "freaked out" at the idea of marriage. Panozzo told Wade Sellers of TV Week that her character is "thrown" by the proposal, explaining "She thinks Cash isn't thinking straight and is making a rash decision because of everything going on with Felicity." Recalling Cash's negative reaction to Eden's prank proposal storyline, Panozzo said Eden is also left questioning Cash's motives. Sellers reported that after seeking advice from Remi and Felicity, who urge her to be honest with Cash, Eden is still conflicted. Panozzo stated "Cash really is the love of her life, but if Eden says no, she could lose him. But if she says yes, she could end up like her parents: divorced, broken-hearted and with a broken family. That scares her."
The death of Felicity in August 2024 impacts Cash and Eden heavily. After attending the funeral together, Cash tells Eden that their engagement is off. Cartwright said that for Cash, he cannot bear to lose anyone else, so he "cuts free the person closest to him." A couple of months later, Eden was given a new love interest in the form of her sister's counsellor Tim Russell. After Cash tells Eden of his plans to leave the Bay, she is "crushed" and accepts that they are not getting back together. Panozzo stated "She'd do anything to have Cash stay. But she also knows how stubborn and determined Cash is." Eden invites Tim out for a beer and later kisses him. Panozzo said her character knows Tim is kind and seems to care about her, so she sets out to have "a carefree, fun – and very sexy – fling."