Matilda Hunter is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Home and Away, played by Indiana Evans. She made her first on-screen appearance on 21 January 2004. Matilda is the daughter of Beth and Jack Hunter and sister to Scott, Kit, Robbie and Henry. Matilda departed on 24 July 2008 to go to university. Casting Evans was filming the television show Snobs when she was asked to audition for the role of Matilda on Home and Away. Her agents told her that she had won the part and Evans said "I had been watching Home and Away for quite a while, so joining the cast was quite weird. The show is so fast-paced and at first it was overwhelming but at the same time was quite laid back." In April 2008, it was announced that Evans was to leave Home and Away after she turned down the producers offering to renew her contract. Development Characterisation Matilda is described as a "bit of a snobby brat" who can also be a "drama queen". However, she is not necessarily mean. Matilda is angry when her mother begins dating another man shortly after her father Jack Hunter (Ian Lind) dies. After she settles in the Bay, Matilda develops some "desperate" crushes on some of the boys in the area. Channel Seven said these are all learning curves for Matilda. Kidnap Matilda begins partying and befriends Callan Sherman (Kain O'Keeffe). She is later hospitalised when she is hit by a car during a night out. Shortly after, Callan encourages Matilda to leave the hospital and go to a party, where he slips a date rape drug into her drink. However, before he can assault her, Ric Dalby (Mark Furze) appears and pulls him away. Of his character's involvement, Furze stated "Matilda has been going off the rails lately, and Ric has been trying to bring her into line. And as soon as he heard that Matilda was at a party with Callan, Ric knew that she was in danger. That's why he tracked her down." As Ric and Callan fight, a drowsy Matilda leaves the party and gets into a stranger's car. As Ric is blamed for Matilda's disappearance, a search party is organised to find Matilda. Furze said Ric feels bad because he thinks she will not be herself due to the drug Callan gave her. He attempts to join in the