Biography

Summer Bay Honeys

Kate Garven
plays Jade Sutherland

Born on the 18th February 1986 in Sydney, Kate Garven joined Home and Away as Jade Sutherland.

This is Kate's first television role and she was thrilled when she got the part.

"Working on Home and Away is so much fun. The cast are great and they have made me feel like I am already part of the gang", she says.

Kate plays Jade Sutherland who moves to Summer Bay with her family from the city. Her parents Rhys (Michael Beckley) and Shelley (Paula Forrest) want their children to have a better lifestyle and decide to make the move.

Jade has two sisters, one a twin- Kirsty (Christie Hayes) and her older sister Dani (Tammin Sursok). Like all kids, this has been a major adjustment time for all the girls, having to leave all their friends behind and move to a place where everybody knows your business and the pace is that little bit slower.

Jade is pretty easygoing and adapts to the situation she is in.

"I think she is a nice person and a very sweet girl. She can be a little flighty and she always talks too much. She tends to babble on but genuinely cares for people", she says of her character.

Kate feels like she has adopted an instant family.

"We all get along so well and when we are on set we feel like a real family. I do spend so much time with the other girls and Michael and Paula. They are my second family".

Kate now studies by correspondence due to her Home and Away workload. She enjoys Design and Technology and English.

While this is her first television role, Kate has done numerous commercials since the age of 7. Kate has always had a passion for acting and did some courses at the Sydney Talent Company.

Kate has been dancing for the most part of her life. She started ballet when she 3 years of age and just started jazz this year.

In 1999 Kate was a finalist for the IA awards for ballet.

Kate lives at home with her mum, dad, older sister Emma (22), brother Matthew (19) and her other sister Lisa (16).

They share their home with their pets Mitsey, a beagle poodle, their cat Tilly and a peacock called Andrew. Kate is fortunate enough to live on 25 acres.

In her spare time Kate enjoys chatting on the Internet and listening to music. She says her musical tastes change all the time, but right now she is listening to Blink 1 8 2.

She also enjoys dancing of course and hanging out with her friends.

Kate's favourite actress is Drew Barrymore and favourite actor is Freddy Prinze Jnr.

Tammin Sursok
plays Dani Sutherland

Born on the 19th August 1983, Tammin Sursok joined Home and Away as Dani Sutherland.

Tammin was born in South Africa, Johannesburg and her family moved to Australia when she was 4 years of age.

Tammin is currently in Year 11 and studying by correspondence due to her Home and Away workload. Her favourite subjects are Art, Drama, English and History.

Tammin studied drama at school and attended the Trinity Speech and Drama college of England where she received a high distinction in her final exam.

Tammin has appeared in various commercials, including a Youth and alcohol advertisement and she started modelling a year ago and has appeared in various campaigns, print and magazine ads.

This is however, Tammin's first television role and while it was quite an audition process, Tammin is thrilled to join the show.

'I was so excited when I heard I got the part. I couldn't quite believe it. I think it will sink in when I actually watch my scenes on air. It still feels strange, I was absolutely speechless. This is something I have always wanted to do and thought if I didn't make it soon I never would- so it came at a good time', she says.

Tammin loves playing Dani Sutherland.

'I love playing her because she has a bit of an edge. She is the type of character that you can really get your teeth into. You couldn't call her boring', she says.

Tammin joined the show and became part of an instant family, not only with the cast as a whole but as part of an on screen family.

'It was really the best thing coming into a show with a group of people. I have never felt like I was on my own. You eventually find your feet and branch out but it has been a great comfort zone being with the other guys', she says.

One of Tammin's other interests apart from acting is dancing, which she has been doing since she was 6 years old.

She was involved with the Sydney Youth Musical theatre, where she studied, dancing, singing and acting.

She was also involved in all her school productions such as playing the lead in 'South Pacific', 'The Sound of Music' and 'Mid Summer Night's Dream'.

In her spare time, Tammin loves to hang out with people and describes herself as a 'people person'.

'I love to have fun and be surrounded by close friends and family', she says.

Tammin lives at home with her mum and brother Shaun and half sister Michelle.

She also shares her home with her two dogs 'Honey' and 'Smudge'.

Her favourite actress is Julia Roberts, and Catherine Zeta Jones and her favourite actor is Brad Pitt.

Her musical tastes differ dependant on her mood at the time. Tammin is into anything as long as she likes the lyrics. This can range from pop princess songs to grunge to underground bands.