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Ada Nicodemou

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Ada Nicodemou
Άντα Νικοδήμου
Nicodemou in 2018
Born (1977-05-14) 14 May 1977 (age 47)
Carlton, New South Wales, Australia
OccupationActress
Years active1993–present
Notable work
Spouse
Chrys Xipolitas
​
​
(m. 2007; sep. 2015)​
PartnerAdam Rigby (2016–2023)
Children2

Ada Nicodemou (Greek: Άντα Νικοδήμου) (born 14 May 1977)[1][2] is an Australian actress of Greek Cypriot descent. She began her acting career in 1994 in TV serial Heartbreak High as Katerina Ioannou. She also starred in Police Rescue and Breakers.

Since 2000, Nicodemou has played the role of Leah Patterson in the soap opera Home and Away. She has the distinction of being the third longest actor in an Australian TV soap opera, coincidently behind fellow Home and Away cast members Ray Meagher and Lynne McGranger. In 2012, she hosted reality series Please Marry My Boy.

Early life

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Nicodemou was born on 14 May 1977 in Carlton, a suburb of Sydney.[1][2] Nicodemou's parents were both migrants, who met in Australia.[3] Her Greek Cypriot family comes from Limassol.[4] Nicodemou grew up in Minto along with her younger brother.[3] Nicodemou attended The Grange Public School, and the Johnny Young Talent School, where she learned to sing, dance and act.[3]

Career

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Nicodemou began her acting career in 1994 when she was cast as Katerina Ioannou in ABC1's Heartbreak 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 of Police Rescue as receptionist Anastasia "Ana" Skouras.[7] Nicodemou also had a starring role on Network Ten's Breakers.[8] In 1999, she played Dujour in the science fiction film The Matrix, and during the following year, she appeared in an episode of children's series BeastMaster.[8]

Nicodemou has played the role of Leah Patterson in the television soap opera Home and Away since 22 March 2000.[8] Nicodemou originally auditioned for the role of Sarah Thompson in 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 of Dancing with the Stars with partner Aric Yegudkin.[11] From 2012, Nicodemou hosted Channel Seven's reality series Please Marry My Boy.[12] She made a guest appearance in an episode of Drop Dead Weird in 2018.[13]

In February 2021, it was announced Nicodemou would compete on Seven's Dancing with the Stars: All Stars with her original partner Yegudkin.[14] In August 2022, Nicodemou made a guest appearance on Home and Away podcast, Welcome To The Bay.[15]

Nicodemou is also the author of two children's books; her first book titled Johnas 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 book Mia Megastar will be released in April 2024.[17] The book is loosely based on Nicodemou's life and how she became an actress.[17]

Personal life

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Nicodemou 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 been stillborn.[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 via Stellar magazine that she was in a relationship with her Home and Away co-star James 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 supporting Duchenne muscular dystrophy and the National Breast Cancer Foundation.[26] She is also a supporter of the Starlight Children's Foundation and Make-A-Wish Foundation Australia.[8]

Filmography

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Television and film roles
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

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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 Soap Awards Best Daytime Star Nominated [32]

References

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  1. ^ a b "Ada Nicodemou plays Leah Patterson-Baker". TVNZ OnDemand. Retrieved 10 July 2018.
  2. ^ a b Penwill, Alice (21–27 September 2019). "10 totally true facts about... Ada Nicodemou". Inside Soap (38): 50–51.
  3. ^ a b c Connolly, Paul (29 May 2011). "Ada Nicodemou". The Sun-Herald. Archived from the original on 15 June 2012. Retrieved 10 July 2018.
  4. ^ "Follow Your Roots: Ada Nicodemou's Cyprus". Expedia. 1 September 2016. Retrieved 10 July 2018.
  5. ^ "Heartbreak High: Where are they now?". TV Week. 16 August 2017. Retrieved 10 July 2018.
  6. ^ Kmaid, Joanne (22 December 2016). "Actor Focus: Ada Nicodemou". Cinema Australia. Retrieved 10 July 2018.
  7. ^ "I like a man in a uniform!". TV Soap. May 1995. p. 28.
  8. ^ a b c d e Everton, Denise (17 March 2000). "Homecoming for soapie star". Illawarra Mercury. Archived from the original on 18 January 2017. Retrieved 10 July 2018.
  9. ^ "20 facts you didn't know about Home And Away". TV Week. 12 July 2018. Retrieved 15 July 2018.
  10. ^ Jolly, Nathan (1 October 2016). "Where are the Heartbreak High boys now?". news.com.au. Retrieved 10 July 2018.
  11. ^ "Ada takes out Dancing With The Stars". The Age. 9 November 2005. Retrieved 28 April 2017.
  12. ^ Knox, David (28 November 2011). "Ada Nicodemou to host Please Marry My Boy". TV Tonight. Retrieved 10 July 2018.
  13. ^ "Brand new children's comedy series Drop Dead Weird launches on the Seven Network and RTE Ireland". Ambience Entertainment. October 2017. Retrieved 10 July 2018.
  14. ^ "Seven announces Ada Nicodemou as first Dancing With The Stars: All Stars contestant". Mediaweek. 15 February 2021. Retrieved 20 February 2021.
  15. ^ ADA NICODEMOU Joins Us! | Welcome To The Bay Ep. 6 | feat. Ada Nicodemou, 12 August 2022, retrieved 15 October 2022
  16. ^ a b Brygel, Jackie (5 November 2018). "Home And Away's Ada Nicodemou: He's the love of my life". New Idea. Retrieved 15 April 2024.
  17. ^ a b Parkes, Melenie (15 April 2024). "Home and Away: Will fourth time be the charm for Leah?". Stuff. Retrieved 15 April 2024.
  18. ^ "Ada's big fat Greek wedding". Sunday Telegraph. 18 February 2007. Retrieved 31 July 2009.
  19. ^ "Love split still raw for Ada Nicodemou". The Daily Telegraph. 13 April 2010. Retrieved 13 April 2010.
  20. ^ "Ada Nicodemou welcomes a baby boy". Channel 5. Retrieved 5 September 2012.
  21. ^ "Ada Nicodemou, Home & Away actor, announces stillbirth of son Harrison". news.com.au. 7 August 2014. Retrieved 10 July 2018.
  22. ^ Halliwell, Elle (18 April 2016). "Ada Nicodemou's husband Chrys Xipolitas opens up about parenting after a split". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 10 June 2016.
  23. ^ "Home and Away's Ada Nicodemou and boyfriend Adam Rigby share their love story". TV Week. 9 July 2018. Retrieved 10 July 2018.
  24. ^ Estera, Christine (3 May 2024). "Home and Away star Ada Nicodemou secretly split from partner of eight years". news.com.au. Retrieved 6 May 2024.
  25. ^ "Home and Away star Ada Nicodemou confirms romance with co-star James Stewart". news.com.au. 21 July 2024. Retrieved 21 July 2024.
  26. ^ "Ada Nicodemou". Sydney Weekender. Retrieved 1 May 2017.
  27. ^ "McCune up for another Gold Logie". Australian Associated Press via Australian Television Information Archive. 3 April 2001. Retrieved 10 July 2018.
  28. ^ "Logie nominations for 2002". The Sydney Morning Herald. 3 April 2002. Retrieved 10 July 2018.
  29. ^ "Gold Logie: mixed bag nominees". The Sydney Morning Herald. 3 April 2006. Retrieved 10 July 2018.
  30. ^ Knox, David (15 May 2022). "Logie Awards 2022: nominees". TV Tonight. Retrieved 15 May 2022.
  31. ^ Knox, David (19 June 2023). "TV Week Logie Awards 2023: nominees". TV Tonight. Retrieved 24 January 2024.
  32. ^ Allday, Jasmine (25 September 2023). "Inside Soap Awards 2023 winners in full as EastEnders sweep top categories". Daily Mirror. Retrieved 26 September 2023.
[edit]
Preceded by Dancing with the Stars (Australia) winner
Season 3 (Late 2005 with Aric Yegudkin) 		Succeeded by
Grant Denyer & Amanda Garner
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