An Aussie soap star-turned-Hollywood actress has made the big trip back home after living in Los Angeles for 18 years.
Nicky Whelan, 43, first shot to fame on Neighbours playing Pepper Steiger from 2006 to 2007, but quickly left the popular series to make it big in the US.
Now the 72 Hours star has returned to Melbourne after jobs dried up in LA and she split from her partner, Sydney bar manager Steven Hiles, reported Herald Sun on Wednesday.
‘There are so many productions being made here and nothing being made in LA,’ Nicky admitted, revealing she’s already enlisted local talent agents to look for work Down Under.
‘I have been in LA for 18 years so I’ve nearly spent half my life there. I was like 25 or 26 when I moved but I’m really drawn to being back home at the moment.’
Nicky then made the shock confession, ‘I’m single so I can travel and I’m like a gypsy,’ hinting she had split from Steven who she was last seen cuddling up to in September.
An Aussie soap star-turned-Hollywood actress has made the big trip back home after living in Los Angeles for 18 years
She debuted her romance with the tattooed bar manager at RIXX Eyewear’s eight birthday at Bar Bambi in Melbourne at the time.
Before that, the pair had been spotted getting close and personal outside Barney’s Beanery in West Hollywood earlier this year.
They appeared completely engrossed in each other, sharing intimate moments that didn’t go unnoticed by onlookers.
Nicky and Steven were understood to have been going strong after sharing their first photo together to social media in December last year—though it seems they have since split.
Nicky was previously linked to actor Frank Grillo, but the couple called it quits on their relationship after dating for about 18 months.
In November, Frank was asked by a photographer outside West Hollywood restaurant Craig’s if he was dating the Aussie actress, and he said: ‘No, that’s over. I’m single.’
Nicky married former NFL player Kerry Rhodes in October 2017, but they separated six months later.
As for her move back to Melbourne, Nicky said she would still be based in LA, but admitted spending more time in Australia ‘suits my lifestyle’.
Nicky Whelan, 43, (pictured) first shot to fame on Neighbours playing Pepper Steiger from 2006 to 2007, but quickly left the popular series to make it big in the US
Now the 72 Hours star has returned to Melbourne after jobs dried up in LA and she split from her partner, Sydney bar manager Steven Hiles (left), reported Herald Sun on Wednesday
She also said she wants to ‘give my love to Melbourne’ after she was left heartbroken when her French bulldog died.
The blonde beauty famously played the role of Pepper Steiger in Neighbours from 2006 until 2007.
She went on to carve out a career for herself in Los Angeles, and has starred in movies such as Hall Pass and The Wedding Ringer.
Earlier this year, Nicky revealed the drastic measures she took to improve her health following her doomed marriage to retired NFL player Kerry.
The Australian actress separated from Kerry, 41, in October 2017, just six months after saying ‘I do’.
After their split, Nicky revealed to the Talk Scary To Me podcast that she gave up several things, including sex for two years, in order to ‘reset’ her body and lifestyle.
‘I took two years off everything. Like I just threw cigarettes and alcohol—not that I was really ever a drinker, I was a bit of a heavy smoker,’ she said.
‘Overnight, I stopped all that and I didn’t date, touch, go out with, speak to, have sex, do nothing, for two years.’
The Chosen star said it was the best decision she’s ever made for her mind and body.
