HOME AND AWAY'S STEPHANIE PANOZZO Meet my LONG-DISTANCE ANCE LOVE!

ABSENCE MAKES THE HEART GROW FONDER FOR THE SUMMER BAY FAVE

- Melissa Field

For Home and Away actress Stephanie Panozzo, food is the way to her heart. So when she met talented cook Josh Kelly six years ago, and he made her a curry in his woodfired pizza oven on their first date, she knew she was “on to a good thing”.

“What can I say? I’m Italian and I love good food!” Steph tells New Idea with a big smile.

These days, Steph and Josh cherish meal times even more, because for the last three years they have been navigating a long-distance relationship.

Steph, 32, relocated to Sydney after getting cast as Eden Fowler in Home and Away while Josh, 34, remained in their hometown of Melbourne.

“It can be challenging at times,” Steph admits. “Sometimes you just want to go home and have your person be there, but we’re in a good groove with it now.”

From FaceTiming “countless” times each day to ensuring they catch up in person every two to three weeks, Stephanie says they make it work.

Stephanie first crossed paths with Josh when she was working as a receptionist at their mutual gym.