Maggie Astoni is a fictional character from the Australian television soap opera Home and Away, played by Kestie Morassi.

The Astonis are Home and Away's first nuclear family to join the soap opera in 17 years, since the arrival of the Sutherlands in 2000.

She underwent courses of chemotherapy, two stem cell transplants, fought pneumonia, faced death after the cancer had spread and shaved her head.

Morassi has been praised by viewers and critics for her portrayal of the illness and was nominated for two Digital Spy Reader Awards.

Morassi's casting was revealed in early 2017 when she was pictured filming on set, while her character details were announced on 4 June.

[2] Morassi told Luke Dennehy of Herald Sun that it took some time for her to get used to the fast-paced filming schedule of the show.

[1] Seth Adamson from TV Soap detailed that the family had begun to experience drama in their city lifestyle and decided to move to Summer Bay for a quieter life.

Cocquerel told Alison James from Soaplife that Coco believes she has her condition under control and does not want her parents to know.

Maggie and Ben eventually find out the truth and the actress added that the reveal has "serious repercussions for the Astoni family.

Cocquerel told an Inside Soap reporter that she liked the Astoni family's supportive and close bond.

After various dramas in their introductory months, Ben decides that arranging the vow renewal ceremony will help their relationship.

Maggie met Ben who was the "local bad boy" and decided to leave her affluent lifestyle behind to start a family.

[16] The actress enjoyed playing the lovingly "fierce" and "strong working mother" role and believed it made the job a great experience.

The issue based storyline began following a break-in at Summer Bay High, when student Raffy Morrison (Olivia Deeble) smashes her way into the school and brings back painful memories for Maggie.

Morassi told a reporter from Inside Soap that her character suffers from a form of PTSD which developed following a break-in at a previous school.

The actress explained that Maggie is a "level-headed and fair" woman and can see that Raffy was pulling a prank that went wrong.

Morassi added that Maggie still suffers from PTSD related migraines and knowing that her original attacker was not apprehended "unnerves her".

[19] Another incident occurs when Maggie gets a flat tyre and Mick Jennings (Kristian Schmid) helps her change it.

[6][26] Ben warns Maggie that keeping secrets from Coco could also trigger her bulimia and that Ziggy would want to support her mother.

The letters bring out the harsh reality of the situation which Morassi believed her on-screen family had tried so hard not to think about.

[31] In a separate interview with Ellis (also from Inside Soap) the actress said that Maggie does not want to die but becomes more aware how important each living moment is.

While on The Morning Show, Morassi defended her character's decision claiming that it is a common reaction in cancer sufferers.

[34] Diana arrives and tells Maggie that she will pay for her to take part in cancer medical trials in Europe.

[35] A Home and Away publicist told a reporter from Soaplife that Diana is "devastated" by Maggie's decision and "the family ends up fighting among themselves".

They explained that "Maggie's heartbroken when her mum fails to return her calls, struggling at the rejection while also being in the throes of a brutal round of chemo.

Morassi received numerous messages via social media and letters written to her sharing their own cancer stories.

[22] On 13 July 2020, Morassi confirmed her exit from the serial, as Maggie and Ben leave Summer Bay for Italy.

"[35] A columnist from Inside Soap praised the character and actress stating that "Summer Bay High principal Maggie Astoni has taken to her new seaside home like a duck to water - and the same is true of star Kestie Morassi.

"[17] Sarah Ellis writing for Inside Soap believed that Home and Away had long been dominated by "disjointed clans" and that it had lacked "parent-child" plots.

"[22] Television host Larry Emdur said that many people had been vocal about Morassi deserving a Logie Award nomination for her portrayal of cancer, despite being snubbed.