Home And Away stars ‘WHY WE HAD TO QUIT'

Real-life lovebirds Sophie Dillman and Patrick O’Connor discuss life after soap stardom

- Tamara Cullen

They may have arrived in Summer Bay separately, but Sophie Dillman and Patrick O’Connor are departing as one. In an emotional announcement, the real-life couple, who play Ziggy Astoni and Dean Thompson in Home And Away, have decided to leave the long-running drama.

When we catch up with the actors to say goodbye, the weight of their decision has just begun to sink in. Sophie, who joined the show in 2017, reveals she and Patrick found leaving their characters behind “incredibly hard”, but they knew now was the right time.

“We have both done everything possible with our characters and it was time to start a new chapter,” says Sophie, 30. “It’s bittersweet and emotional, but we realise how lucky we are to have had such an incredible run.”

For Patrick, who came into the series in 2018, turning 30 last year was a significant milestone that confirmed he was ready to move on.

“Sophie and I were 24 when we started on Home And Away,” he explains. “It’s a huge commitment and a massive chunk of my life. I felt I changed into six different people in the time we were there. There’s a lot of growth both as an actor and a person. It’s a great place to work, but I was ready.”

After several conversations in their Sydney home, the devoted couple chose to uproot their lives and move overseas, marking a farewell to both Summer Bay and Australia. Sophie says, “You’ve got to take those chances when they come.”