Emma Gilbert, portrayed by Claire Holt, left the show “H2O: Just Add Water” after the second season to explore the world with her family. She did not return for the third season, and her character’s absence was explained within the show’s narrative.
In the Australian television series “H2O: Just Add Water,” Emma Gilbert is one of the three original main characters who, along with Cleo Sertori and Rikki Chadwick, turns into a mermaid with special powers after an encounter with water from the mystical Moon Pool on Mako Island. Emma possesses the ability to freeze water, and throughout the first two seasons, she plays a crucial role in the trio’s adventures and their efforts to keep their mermaid identities a secret.
Actress Claire Holt, who played Emma, decided to leave the series after the second season to pursue other acting opportunities. As a result, the show’s writers had to find a way to explain her character’s absence in the storyline. They did so by having Emma go off-screen on a world trip with her family, which allowed the show to continue without her in the third season. Emma’s departure opened the door for the introduction of a new character, Bella Hartley, played by Indiana Evans, who became the third mermaid alongside Cleo and Rikki.
While Emma’s character did not return to the series, Claire Holt went on to have a successful acting career, including roles in “The Vampire Diaries” and its spin-off series “The Originals,” where she played the character Rebekah Mikaelson.