Ada Nicodemou

Nicodemou was born on 14 May 1977 in Carlton, New South Wales.[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]

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]

Nicodemou also had starring roles on Police Rescue, and Network Ten's Breakers.[7] In 1999, she played Dujour in the science fiction film The Matrix. The following year, she appeared in an episode of children's series BeastMaster.[7]

Nicodemou has played the role of Leah Patterson (nee Poulos) in the television soap opera Home and Away since 22 March 2000.[7] Nicodemou originally auditioned for the role of Sarah Thompson in 1992, but Laura Vasquez was cast.[8] 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.[7] As of 2019, Nicodemou is one of the show's longest serving actors.[9]

In 2005, Nicodemou competed on and won the 3rd season of Dancing with the Stars with partner Aric Yegudkin.[10] From 2012, Nicodemou hosted Channel Seven's reality series Please Marry My Boy.[11] She made a guest appearance in an episode of Drop Dead Weird in 2018.[12]

In February 2021, it was announced Nicodemou is a contestant on Seven's Dancing with the Stars: All Stars and will compete with her original partner Aric Yegudkin.[13]

In August 2022, Nicodemou made a guest appearance on Home and Away podcast, Welcome To The Bay.[14]

Nicodemou married Chrys Xipolitas in 2007.[15] They separated in 2010, but reconciled the following month.[16] On 22 August 2012, Nicodemou gave birth to the couple's first child, a son.[17] In March 2014, it was announced that the couple were expecting their second child. On 7 August, Nicodemou revealed that their second son, Harrison, had been stillborn.[18]

Nicodemou and Xipolitas separated in late 2015.[19] Nicodemou has been in a relationship with businessman Adam Rigby since 2016.[20]

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.[21] She is also a supporter of the Starlight Children's Foundation and Make-A-Wish Foundation Australia.[7]

• Ada Nicodemou at IMDb
• Ada Nicodemou at the Official Home and Away website