{{short description|Australian actress, television presenter and singer (born 1983)}} {{redirect2|Bec Cartwright|Rebecca Hewitt|her album|Bec Cartwright (album)|the politician|Rebecca Hewett}} {{Use Australian English|date=July 2025}} {{Use dmy dates|date=October 2019}} {{Infobox person | name = Bec Hewitt | image = Bec Cartwright Hewitt US Open.JPG | birth_name = Rebecca June Cartwright | other_names = Bec Cartwright | birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1983|07|23}} |birth_place = Sydney, New South Wales, Australia | spouse = {{marriage|Lleyton Hewitt|2005}} | children = 3, including Cruz | relatives = Jaslyn Hewitt-Shehadie (sister-in-law)<br>Glynn Hewitt (father-in-law) | occupation = {{flat list| *Actress *television presenter *singer }} | years_active = 1988–2006; 2018–present | module = {{Infobox musical artist | embed = yes | genre = {{flatlist| *Pop *power pop }} | label = Warner Music Australia }} }}
'''Rebecca June Hewitt''' ({{née}} '''Cartwright'''; born 23 July 1983) is an Australian actress, television presenter and singer. From 1998 to 2005, Hewitt played Hayley Smith Lawson on the soap opera ''Home and Away''. As Bec Cartwright, Hewitt released an eponymous pop music album in 2002. In 2005, she married professional tennis player Lleyton Hewitt.
==Career== Cartwright began her acting career at age 5 for television commercials. In 1992, she made her mainstream television debut on an episode of ''Police Rescue''.<ref name="official bio"/>{{Primary source inline|date=March 2026}} She has also guest starred in ''Water Rats'' and ''Roar''.
She won her breakout role and best-known role to date in 1998, portraying Hayley Smith Lawson on ''Home and Away''. Cartwright became a series fan favourite and earned herself numerous Logie Award nominations until 2005. In the same year, Cartwright earned a Most Popular Actress win.<ref name="official bio"/>{{Primary source inline|date=March 2026}} She coincidentally fell pregnant within months of her 'Home and Away' character, and then left the series to become a full-time mother. For a short period of time, Ella Scott Lynch replaced her as Hayley before the character departed the series in the 2005 season finale.
In 2002, Cartwright signed a recording contract with Warner Music Australia and East West Records. Her debut single "All Seats Taken" was released 18 November 2002 and peaked at 10 on the ARIA Music Charts. Her follow-up singles "On the Borderline" and "A Matter of Time" both failed to match the same success, both charting only the Top 30. Her self-titled debut album was released on 16 June 2003 and, despite high expectations, charted only at 21 and was certified Gold. The album was met with mixed reviews, with ''Smash Hits'' giving the album two out of five stars. In 2004, Cartwright ended her partnership with Warner Music.{{Citation needed|date=March 2026}}
Cartwright was announced as a contestant in the first season of ''Dancing with the Stars''. She and her partner Michael Miziner won the first season on 23 November 2004. The couple returned in an opening performance in a dance routine during the second-season premiere.{{Citation needed|date=March 2026}}
She hosted ''Abba Mania'', which premiered in November 2006 on Nine Network. The special was met with controversy surrounding the fact that the only celebrity performers were Nine Network personalities. Hewitt's performance was met with largely negative reviews.{{Citation needed|date=March 2026}}
In 2018, Hewitt announced her return to television, 13 years since she left ''Home and Away'', with the new Nine Network travel series ''Helloworld'' for the first two seasons.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.newidea.com.au/bec-hewitt-confirmed-as-host-of-new-travel-show-hello-world|title=Bec Hewitt confirms huge news|work=New Idea Magazine|access-date=12 October 2018}}</ref> The series premiered on 7 October with Hewitt hosting in Episode 1 in Queensland – Hamilton Island.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.newidea.com.au/bec-hewitt-stress-ahead-of-tv-return|title=Bec Hewitt's stress ahead of TV return|work=New Idea Magazine|access-date=12 October 2018}}</ref>
==Personal life== Cartwright was born in Sydney on 23 July 1983, the youngest child of Darrel and Michelle Cartwright. She has an older brother and sister.<ref name="official bio">{{cite web|title=Rebecca (Bec) Hewitt|url=http://www.lleytonandbechewitt.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=35&Itemid=61|work=Lleyton & Bec Hewitt|access-date=5 November 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110210155900/http://www.lleytonandbechewitt.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=35&Itemid=61|archive-date=10 February 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref>{{Primary source inline|date=March 2026}} After a four-year relationship with fellow ''Home and Away'' co-star Beau Brady, Cartwright and Brady were briefly engaged.<ref>{{cite news|last=Maley|first=Jacqueline|title=Bec's Beau tells why they split|url=http://www.smh.com.au/lifestyle/people/becs-beau-tells-why-they-split-20101004-164ev.html|access-date=5 November 2010|newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald|date=5 October 2010|author2=McKenny, Leesha|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101009143007/http://www.smh.com.au/lifestyle/people/becs-beau-tells-why-they-split-20101004-164ev.html|archive-date=9 October 2010|url-status=live}}</ref>
Soon after the end of her engagement, Cartwright began a relationship with tennis player Lleyton Hewitt. On 5 May 2005, the couple announced they were expecting their first child. The pair married on 21 July 2005; the wedding was at the Sydney Opera House, and their reception took place at Taronga Zoo. The event attracted much media attention, with Bec and Lleyton selling exclusive coverage of the day to magazine ''New Idea''.<ref>{{cite web|title=Game, set and match for Bec and Lleyton|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200507/s1419554.htm|work=ABC News|access-date=5 November 2010|date=21 July 2005|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100407220903/http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200507/s1419554.htm|archive-date=7 April 2010|url-status=dead}}</ref> Fellow actresses and friends Ada Nicodemou and Kate Ritchie were bridesmaids. Commemorative stubby holders were given as gifts to all guests.
On 29 November 2005, Cartwright gave birth to a daughter at Sydney's North Shore Private Hospital. Before her birth, a contract was made with women's magazine ''Woman's Day'' involving regular diaries from Bec and exclusive photos and interviews of the family for the first two years of Mia's life. The couple attracted much criticism for the observation that they had effectively "sold" their daughter to the highest bidder. On 11 December 2008, Hewitt gave birth to a baby boy whom the couple named Cruz Lleyton Hewitt.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://au.lifestyle.yahoo.com/b/newidea/20164/bec-and-lleyton-welcome-baby-boy/ |title=Bec and Lleyton Welcome Baby Boy |work=New Idea |year=2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081218002415/http://au.lifestyle.yahoo.com/b/newidea/20164/bec-and-lleyton-welcome-baby-boy/ |archive-date=18 December 2008 }}</ref> Their third child, a daughter, was born on 19 October 2010.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.heraldsun.com.au/entertainment/confidential/lleyton-hewitt-and-bec-hewitt-confirm-they-are-expecting-third-child/story-e6frf96o-1225870461172|title=Lleyton Hewitt and Bec Hewitt confirm they are expecting third child|work=Herald Sun|date=24 May 2010}}</ref>
In February 2009, after revelations about Hewitt's previously unknown offshore income and bank accounts were revealed during a legal battle with his former management company, Octagon Sports Marketing, the couple relocated to a $3.8 million home at the Old Fort Bay estate in Nassau, Bahamas.<ref>{{cite web|title=Lleyton and Bec Hewitt buy $3.8m home in Bahamas|url=http://www.news.com.au/entertainment/celebrity/lleyton-and-bec-hewitt-buy-38m-home-in-bahamas/story-e6frfmqr-1225731834505|work=The Daily Telegraph|access-date=5 November 2010|date=10 June 2009}}</ref>
==Filmography==
===Television=== {| class="wikitable" ! Year ! Title ! Role ! Notes |- | 1992 | ''Police Rescue'' | Emma | Season 2, episode 9 |- | 1997 | ''Water Rats'' | School Girl | Season 2, episode 8 |- | 1997 | ''Roar'' | Young Caitlin | Season 1, episode 9 |- | 1998–2005 | ''Home and Away'' | rowspan="2"|Hayley Smith / Hayley Lawson | Season 11–18 (main role) |- | 2002 | ''Home and Away: Secrets and the City'' | Video special |- | 2004; 2021 | ''Dancing with the Stars'' | Contestant | Season 1 (winner); season 18 |- | 2004 | ''Home and Away: Hearts Divided'' | Host | Video special |- | 2005 | ''Home and Away: Romances'' | Herself | Video special |- | 2018 | ''Endless Summer: 30 Years of Home and Away'' | Herself | TV special |- | 2018 | ''Helloworld'' | Presenter | Season 1, episode 1 |- | 2022 | ''This Is Your Life: Ray Meagher'' | Herself | 11 October 2022 |- | 2023 | ''Time & Place'' | Kylie | TV series |}
===Film=== {| class="wikitable" ! Year ! Title ! Role ! Notes |- | 2024 | ''13th Summer'' | Kate Robinson | Film |}
==Discography== ===Albums=== {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" |+ List of studio albums ! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:14em;"| Title ! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:20em;"| album details ! scope="col" colspan="1"| Peak chart positions |- ! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;"| AUS<br> |- ! scope="row"| ''Bec Cartwright'' | * Released 16 June 2003 * Label: East West Records (2564604002) * Formats: Compact Disc, streaming | 21 |- |}
===Singles=== {| class="wikitable" !scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:6em;"|Year !scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:12em;"|Song !scope="col" rowspan="1" style="width:6em;"|Peak Positions !scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:12em;"|Certifications !scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:12em;"|Album |- !width="40"|<small>AUS</small><ref name=aus>{{cite book|last=Ryan|first=Gavin|title=Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010|year=2011|publisher=Moonlight Publishing|location=Mt. Martha, VIC, Australia|edition=pdf|pages=50}}</ref> |- |align="center" rowspan=1|2002 |"All Seats Taken" |align="center"|10 | * ARIA: Gold<ref name=aus/> |rowspan="3"| ''Bec Cartwright'' |- |align="center" rowspan=2|2003 |"On the Borderline" |align="center"|29 | |- |"A Matter of Time" |align="center"|26 | |}
==Awards and nominations== {| class="wikitable" |- ! Year ! Award ! Category ! Work ! Result ! Ref. |- | 2001 | rowspan="6"|Logie Awards | Most Popular Actress | ''Home and Away'' {{small|(Season 13)}} | {{nom}} | align="center"|<ref>{{cite web| title=Logie Awards (2001)| url=http://www.australiantelevision.net/awards/logie2001.html| website=australiantelevision.net| access-date=30 August 2023}}</ref> |- | 2004 | Most Popular Actress | ''Home and Away'' {{small|(Season 16)}} | {{nom}} | align="center"|<ref>{{cite web| title=Logie Awards (2004)| url=http://www.australiantelevision.net/awards/logie2004.html| website=australiantelevision.net| access-date=30 August 2023}}</ref> |- | rowspan="2"|2005 | Most Popular Actress | rowspan="2"|''Home and Away'' {{small|(Season 17)}} | {{won}} | align="center"|<ref name="Logies05">{{cite web| title=Logie Awards (2005)| url=http://www.australiantelevision.net/awards/logie2005.html| website=australiantelevision.net| access-date=30 August 2023}}</ref> |- | Most Popular Personality on Australian Television | {{nom}} | align="center"|<ref name="Logies05" /> |- | rowspan="2"|2006 | Most Popular Actress | rowspan="2"|''Home and Away'' {{small|(Season 18)}} | {{nom}} | align="center"|<ref name="Logies06">{{cite web| title=Logie Awards (2006)| url=http://www.australiantelevision.net/awards/logie2006.html| website=australiantelevision.net| access-date=30 August 2023}}</ref> |- | Most Popular Personality on Australian Television | {{nom}} | align="center"|<ref name="Logies06" /> |}
==References== ;General *[https://smh.com.au/news/People/Lleyton-and-Bec-defy-critics-with-romance/2005/02/07/1107625142564.html Hewitts' engagement announcement] by The Sydney Morning Herald * Reports from [https://web.archive.org/web/20050723024054/http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200507/s1419554.htm ABC] (Australia) and [http://today.reuters.co.uk/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=sportsNews&storyID=2005-07-21T111543Z_01_KWA140442_RTRUKOC_0_LIFE-AUSTRALIA-WEDDING.xml Reuters]{{dead link|date=January 2025|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} regarding her marriage to Lleyton * [https://web.archive.org/web/20070929120458/http://www.musicsquare.net/charts/song/2355 ''On the Borderline'' peak position]
;Specific {{Reflist}}
==External links== {{Commons category|Bec Hewitt}} * {{IMDb name|id=0142201|name=Rebecca Cartwright}}
{{S-start}} {{Succession box|title=''Dancing with the Stars (Australia)'' winner|before=''N/A''|after=Tom Williams & Kym Johnson|years=Season 1 (Late 2004 with Michael Miziner)}} {{S-end}}
{{Silver Logie Award for Most Popular Actress on Australian Television}} {{Dancing with the Stars (Australia)}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Hewitt, Bec}} Category:1983 births Category:Australian expatriates in the Bahamas Category:Australian soap opera actresses Category:Dancing with the Stars (Australian TV series) winners Category:Living people Category:Logie Award winners Category:Actresses from Sydney Category:21st-century Australian singers Category:21st-century Australian women singers