Ada Nicodemou(Greek: Άντα Νικοδήμου) (born 14 May 1977)[1][2]is an Australian actress ofGreek Cypriotdescent. She began her acting career in 1994 in TV serialHeartbreak Highas Katerina Ioannou. She also starred inPolice RescueandBreakers.
Ada Nicodemou Άντα Νικοδήμου | |
|---|---|
 Nicodemou in 2018 | |
| Born | 14 May 1977 Carlton, New South Wales,Australia |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 1993–present |
| Notable work | |
| Spouse |
Chrys Xipolitas
(m.2007;sep.2015) |
| Partner | Adam Rigby (2016–2023) |
| Children | 2 |
Since 2000, Nicodemou has played the role ofLeah Pattersonin the soap operaHome and Away.She has the distinction ofbeing the third longest actor in an Australian TV soap opera,coincidently behind fellowHome and Awaycast membersRay MeagherandLynne McGranger.In 2012, she hosted reality seriesPlease Marry My Boy.
Early life
editNicodemou was born on 14 May 1977 inCarlton,a suburb of Sydney.[1][2]Nicodemou's parents were both migrants, who met in Australia.[3]Her Greek Cypriot family comes fromLimassol.[4]Nicodemou grew up inMintoalong with her younger brother.[3]Nicodemou attended The Grange Public School, and theJohnny Young Talent School,where she learned to sing, dance and act.[3]
Career
editNicodemou began her acting career in 1994 when she was cast as Katerina Ioannou inABC1'sHeartbreak High.[5]Nicodemou was 16 when she successfully auditioned for the role. She was originally contracted to play the part for 12 weeks, but this was later extended.[6]
In 1995, she joined the supporting cast ofPolice Rescueas receptionist Anastasia "Ana" Skouras.[7]Nicodemou also had a starring role onNetwork Ten'sBreakers.[8]In 1999, she played Dujour in the science fiction filmThe Matrix,and during the following year, she appeared in an episode of children's seriesBeastMaster.[8]
Nicodemou has played the role ofLeah Pattersonin the television soap operaHome and Awaysince 22 March 2000.[8]Nicodemou originally auditioned for the role ofSarah Thompsonin 1992, but Laura Vasquez was cast.[9]She was later approached by the show's producers about the role of Leah. She was not asked to audition and was offered a six-month contract, which was soon extended.[8]As of 2019, Nicodemou is one of the show's longest serving actors.[10]
In 2005, Nicodemou competed on and won the 3rd season ofDancing with the Starswith partnerAric Yegudkin.[11]From 2012, Nicodemou hostedChannel Seven's reality seriesPlease Marry My Boy.[12]She made a guest appearance in an episode ofDrop Dead Weirdin 2018.[13]
In February 2021, it was announced Nicodemou would compete on Seven'sDancing with the Stars: All Starswith her original partner Yegudkin.[14]In August 2022, Nicodemou made a guest appearance onHome and Awaypodcast,Welcome To The Bay.[15]
Nicodemou is also the author of two children's books; her first book titledJohnas The International Soccer Star,was released June 2018.[16]The picture book is about her son dreaming of becoming a soccer legend.[16]Her second bookMia Megastarwill be released in April 2024.[17]The book is loosely based on Nicodemou's life and how she became an actress.[17]
Personal life
editNicodemou married Chrys Xipolitas in 2007.[18]They separated in 2010, but reconciled the following month.[19]On 22 August 2012, Nicodemou gave birth to the couple's first child, a son.[20]In March 2014, it was announced that the couple were expecting their second child. On 7 August, Nicodemou revealed that their second son had beenstillborn.[21]
Nicodemou and Xipolitas separated in late 2015.[22]Nicodemou was in a relationship with businessman Adam Rigby from 2016 until 2023.[23][24]In July 2024, Nicodemou confirmed viaStellarmagazine that she was in a relationship with herHome and Awayco-starJames Stewart.[25]
Since 2005, Nicodemou has been an ambassador of the PixiFoto Foundation that raises funds for a Childhood Blindness Prevention program in Africa. She is also an ambassador for Save our Sons, a charity supportingDuchenne muscular dystrophyand theNational Breast Cancer Foundation.[26]She is also a supporter of theStarlight Children's Foundationand Make-A-Wish Foundation Australia.[8]
Filmography
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1994–1997 | Heartbreak High | Katerina "Kat" Ioannou | Season 1, 3–5 (main role, 90 episodes) |
| 1995 | Police Rescue | Anastasia Skouras | Season 4 (recurring role, 13 episodes) |
| 1998–1999 | Breakers | Fiona Motson | Season 1–2 (main role) |
| 1999 | The Matrix | Dujour | Feature film |
| 2000 | BeastMaster | The Nymph | Episode: "Riddle of the Nymph" |
| 2000 | Pizza | Policewoman | Episode: "Crime Pizza" |
| 2000–present | Home and Away | Leah Patterson-Baker | Season 13– (main role, 2200+ episodes) |
| 2007 | Almost | Trixie Hart | Feature film |
| 2018 | Drop Dead Weird | Ava | Episode: "The Zombie Queen" |
Awards and nominations
edit| Year | Association | Category | Work | Result | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | Logie Awards | Most Popular Personality on Australian Television | Home and Away | Nominated | [27] |
| 2002 | Most Popular Actress | Nominated | [28] | ||
| Most Popular Personality on Australian Television | Nominated | ||||
| 2006 | Most Popular Actress | Nominated | [29] | ||
| Most Popular Personality on Australian Television | Nominated | ||||
| 2022 | Most Popular Actress | Nominated | [30] | ||
| 2023 | Most Popular Actress | Nominated | [31] | ||
| 2023 | Inside SoapAwards | Best Daytime Star | Nominated | [32] |
References
edit- ^ab"Ada Nicodemou plays Leah Patterson-Baker".TVNZ OnDemand.Retrieved10 July2018.
- ^abPenwill, Alice (21–27 September 2019). "10 totally true facts about... Ada Nicodemou".Inside Soap(38): 50–51.
- ^abcConnolly, Paul (29 May 2011)."Ada Nicodemou".The Sun-Herald.Archived fromthe originalon 15 June 2012.Retrieved10 July2018.
- ^"Follow Your Roots: Ada Nicodemou's Cyprus".Expedia.1 September 2016.Retrieved10 July2018.
- ^"Heartbreak High: Where are they now?".TV Week.16 August 2017.Retrieved10 July2018.
- ^Kmaid, Joanne (22 December 2016)."Actor Focus: Ada Nicodemou".Cinema Australia.Retrieved10 July2018.
- ^"I like a man in a uniform!".TV Soap.May 1995. p. 28.
- ^abcdeEverton, Denise (17 March 2000)."Homecoming for soapie star".Illawarra Mercury.Archived fromthe originalon 18 January 2017.Retrieved10 July2018.
- ^"20 facts you didn't know about Home And Away".TV Week.12 July 2018.Retrieved15 July2018.
- ^Jolly, Nathan (1 October 2016)."Where are the Heartbreak High boys now?".news.com.au.Retrieved10 July2018.
- ^"Ada takes out Dancing With The Stars".The Age.9 November 2005.Retrieved28 April2017.
- ^Knox, David (28 November 2011)."Ada Nicodemou to host Please Marry My Boy".TV Tonight.Retrieved10 July2018.
- ^"Brand new children's comedy series Drop Dead Weird launches on the Seven Network and RTE Ireland".Ambience Entertainment. October 2017.Retrieved10 July2018.
- ^"Seven announces Ada Nicodemou as first Dancing With The Stars: All Stars contestant".Mediaweek.15 February 2021.Retrieved20 February2021.
- ^ADA NICODEMOU Joins Us! | Welcome To The Bay Ep. 6 | feat. Ada Nicodemou,12 August 2022,retrieved15 October2022
- ^abBrygel, Jackie (5 November 2018)."Home And Away's Ada Nicodemou: He's the love of my life".New Idea.Retrieved15 April2024.
- ^abParkes, Melenie (15 April 2024)."Home and Away: Will fourth time be the charm for Leah?".Stuff.Retrieved15 April2024.
- ^"Ada's big fat Greek wedding".Sunday Telegraph.18 February 2007.Retrieved31 July2009.
- ^"Love split still raw for Ada Nicodemou".The Daily Telegraph.13 April 2010.Retrieved13 April2010.
- ^"Ada Nicodemou welcomes a baby boy".Channel 5.Retrieved5 September2012.
- ^"Ada Nicodemou, Home & Away actor, announces stillbirth of son Harrison".news.com.au.7 August 2014.Retrieved10 July2018.
- ^Halliwell, Elle (18 April 2016)."Ada Nicodemou's husband Chrys Xipolitas opens up about parenting after a split".The Daily Telegraph.Retrieved10 June2016.
- ^"Home and Away's Ada Nicodemou and boyfriend Adam Rigby share their love story".TV Week.9 July 2018.Retrieved10 July2018.
- ^Estera, Christine (3 May 2024)."Home and Away star Ada Nicodemou secretly split from partner of eight years".news.com.au.Retrieved6 May2024.
- ^"Home and Away star Ada Nicodemou confirms romance with co-star James Stewart".news.com.au.21 July 2024.Retrieved21 July2024.
- ^"Ada Nicodemou".Sydney Weekender.Retrieved1 May2017.
- ^"McCune up for another Gold Logie".Australian Associated Pressvia Australian Television Information Archive. 3 April 2001.Retrieved10 July2018.
- ^"Logie nominations for 2002".The Sydney Morning Herald.3 April 2002.Retrieved10 July2018.
- ^"Gold Logie: mixed bag nominees".The Sydney Morning Herald.3 April 2006.Retrieved10 July2018.
- ^Knox, David (15 May 2022)."Logie Awards 2022: nominees".TV Tonight.Retrieved15 May2022.
- ^Knox, David (19 June 2023)."TV Week Logie Awards 2023: nominees".TV Tonight.Retrieved24 January2024.
- ^Allday, Jasmine (25 September 2023)."Inside Soap Awards 2023 winners in full as EastEnders sweep top categories".Daily Mirror.Retrieved26 September2023.
External links
edit- Ada NicodemouatIMDb
- Ada Nicodemouat the OfficialHome and Awaywebsite