Ada Nicodemou (Greek: Άντα Νικοδήμου) (born 14 May 1977) is an Australian actress of Greek Cypriot descent . She began her acting career in 1994 in TV serial ''

Heartbreak High ''Heartbreak High'' is an Australian television program created by Michael Jenkins and Ben Gannon that ran from 1994 to 1996 on Network Ten and 1997 to 1999 on the ABC, for seven series. It was also partially funded from 1996 by BBC2, with so ...

'' as Katerina Ioannou. She also starred in ''

Police Rescue ''Police Rescue'' is an Australian television series which originally aired on ABC TV between 1989 and 1996. It was produced by ABC and Southern Star Xanadu in association with the BBC. Apart from the 61 episodes, there was a 90-minute pilo ...

'' and '' Breakers''. In 2000, Nicodemou joined the cast in the soap opera ''

Home and Away ''Home and Away'' (often abbreviated as ''H&A'') is an Australian television soap opera. It was created by Alan Bateman and commenced broadcast on the Seven Network on 17 January 1988. Bateman came up with the concept of the show during a trip ...

'' as Leah Patterson, which gives her the distinction of being the third longest actor in an Australian TV soap opera, coincidently behind fellow Home and Away cast members

Ray Meagher Raymond Francis Meagher (born 4 July 1944) is an Australian actor, who has appeared in Australian film and television since the mid-1970s. He is notable as the longest continuing performer in an Australian television role, portraying Alf Stewa ...

and Lynne McGranger She hosted reality series ''

Please Marry My Boy ''Please Marry My Boy'' is an Australian reality television series which premiered on the Seven Network on 30 January 2012. The show is hosted by Ada Nicodemou and produced by Granada Australia ITV Studios Australia is an Australian televis ...

'' in 2012.

Early life

Nicodemou was born on 14 May 1977 in Carlton, New South Wales. Nicodemou's parents were both migrants, who met in Australia. Her Greek Cypriot family comes from

Limassol Limassol (; el, Λεμεσός, Lemesós ; tr, Limasol or ) is a city on the southern coast of Cyprus and capital of the district with the same name. Limassol is the second largest urban area in Cyprus after Nicosia, with an urban population ...

. Nicodemou grew up in

Minto Minto may refer to: Places Antarctica *Mount Minto (Antarctica) Australia *Minto, New South Wales, a suburb of Sydney ** Minto railway station * Minto County, Western Australia * Parish of Minto, New South Wales Canada * Minto City, British C ...

along with her younger brother. Nicodemou attended The Grange Public School, and the Johnny Young Talent School, where she learned to sing, dance and act.

Career

Nicodemou began her acting career in 1994 when she was cast as Katerina Ioannou in

ABC1 ABC TV, formerly known as ABC1, is an Australian national public television network. It is owned and operated by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, and is the flagship ABC Television network. The headquarters of the ABC TV channel an ...

's ''

''. 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. Nicodemou also had starring roles on ''

'', and

Network Ten Network 10 (commonly known as Ten Network, Channel 10 or simply 10) is an Australian commercial television network owned by Ten Network Holdings, a division of the Paramount Networks UK & Australia subsidiary of Paramount Global. One of five ...

's '' Breakers''. In 1999, she played Dujour in the science fiction film ''

The Matrix ''The Matrix'' is a 1999 science fiction action film written and directed by the Wachowskis. It is the first installment in ''The Matrix'' film series, starring Keanu Reeves, Laurence Fishburne, Carrie-Anne Moss, Hugo Weaving, and Joe Pantolia ...

''. The following year, she appeared in an episode of children's series '' BeastMaster''. Nicodemou has played the role of Leah Patterson (nee Poulos) in the television soap opera ''

'' since 22 March 2000. Nicodemou originally auditioned for the role of Sarah Thompson in 1992, but Laura Vasquez was cast. 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. As of 2019, Nicodemou is one of the show's longest serving actors. In 2005, Nicodemou competed on and won the 3rd season of ''

Dancing with the Stars ''Dancing with the Stars'' is the name of various international television series based on the format of the British TV series '' Strictly Come Dancing'', which is distributed by BBC Studios, the commercial arm of the BBC. Currently the forma ...

'' with partner

Aric Yegudkin Aric Yegudkin is an Australian choreographer and professional dancer born on 14 November 1985. Yegudkin is best known as a professional dancer on the Dancing with the Stars (Australian TV series), Australian Dancing with the Stars. Early life Y ...

. From 2012, Nicodemou hosted Channel Seven's reality series ''

''. She made a guest appearance in an episode of ''

Drop Dead Weird ''Drop Dead Weird'' is an Australian-Irish children's comedy drama television series screening on the Seven Network's digital channel 7TWO from 6 November 2017. This Australian/Irish co-production was created by Sally Browning and Dean Cropp. ...

'' in 2018. 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. In August 2022, Nicodemou made a guest appearance on

podcast, Welcome To The Bay.

Personal life

Nicodemou married Chrys Xipolitas in 2007. They separated in 2010, but reconciled the following month. On 22 August 2012, Nicodemou gave birth to the couple's first child, a son. 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 Stillbirth is typically defined as fetal death at or after 20 or 28 weeks of pregnancy, depending on the source. It results in a baby born without signs of life. A stillbirth can result in the feeling of guilt or grief in the mother. The term i ...

. Nicodemou and Xipolitas separated in late 2015. Nicodemou has been in a relationship with businessman Adam Rigby since 2016. 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 Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is a severe type of muscular dystrophy that primarily affects boys. Muscle weakness usually begins around the age of four, and worsens quickly. Muscle loss typically occurs first in the thighs and pelvis fol ...

and the National Breast Cancer Foundation. She is also a supporter of the

Starlight Children's Foundation Starlight Children's Foundation is a nonprofit organization founded in 1982. Starlight's programs include providing hospital wear, games, and deliveries to hospitalized children. The programs are provided directly to children through Starlight's ne ...

and Make-A-Wish Foundation Australia.

Filmography

Television

Film

Awards and nominations

References

External links

*
Ada Nicodemou
at the Official ''Home and Away'' website {{DEFAULTSORT:Nicodemou, Ada 1977 births Australian people of Greek Cypriot descent Australian people of Greek descent Dancing with the Stars (Australian TV series) winners Living people 20th-century Australian actresses 21st-century Australian actresses Australian film actresses Actresses from New South Wales Australian soap opera actresses