Actress Sophie Dillman is in her car, on phone speaker, laughing as she tells TV WEEK her whereabouts when we call. “I’m just driving up to the beach now and it’s not ideal beach weather. But I guess we’re back at it!”
It’s mid-morning and her first week back on the set of Home And Away. The drive to Palm Beach in Sydney’s north – home to the fictional town of Summer Bay – is familiar territory for Sophie. Years of playing Ziggy Astoni on the long-running drama has afforded Sophie some routine and stability – for actors, a rare gift.
But in 2022, the drive feels a little different. The world looks different, and by her own admission, Sophie is different. Like many Australians, the Queenslander has felt the weight of the global pandemic – so much so, the holiday break she took with her boyfriend and on-screen partner Patrick O’Connor “didn’t feel quite long enough”. But she counts her blessings for what she has.
As with her on-screen character Ziggy, Sophie has a beaming smile and empowering confidence.
(Image: TV WEEK)“I’m very lucky – my cup is full,” she says. “No-one in my immediate family is sick [from COVID-19] and I am, thus far, healthy. I haven’t been home in a year, so to see everyone was incredible. Being around my family brings me back to my roots.”
While the ties to her home state are strong, Sophie is tuned in to the fast-paced life in Sydney – “I find I get impatient in Brisbane now,” she jokes – and currently lives with Patrick, who plays Dean Thompson on the show. She is also now in her fifth season in Home And Away.
As with her on-screen character Ziggy, Sophie has a beaming smile and empowering confidence. It’s found in the smallest of places: after a workout, chatting with friends or sitting on the lounge with Patrick – “I love hearing Paddy’s passion for what we do and our future,” she says.
Sophie and Patrick are pictured with their co-stars Georgie Parker and Emily Symons.
(Image: Instagram)However, this wasn’t always the case. The actress has worked on who she wants to be for a long time – a challenge she faced on the shores of Summer Bay. The road she knows so well now was once a little rocky.
“Yes [I’ve changed], absolutely – hugely,” Sophie says when asked if she’s a different person from her debut in 2017. “I think I was turning 25 when I got the job on H&A. I was very young and hadn’t really done any major growth as a person yet.
“I’d been institutionalised my entire life: I went to school, completed two university degrees, and when I moved to Sydney, there was a year where I worked as a nurse. I found out what independence was.
“Then I landed Home And Away and was still learning about being an adult – with the added pressure of potentially being in the public eye and how people view you. It was a huge learning curve.”
Sophie lives with her boyfriend Patrick, who plays Dean Thompson on the show.
(Image: Seven)In her first season as mechanic Ziggy, there was an overwhelming sense of joy in the air. A wide-eyed Sophie was eager to prove herself in what she calls an “Am I dreaming?” scenario. Advice came thick and fast on how to handle media attention and soon after, the walls began closing in.
“There were defining moments where I remember being unhappy or sad, or taken back and vulnerable… that all happened,” she recalls. “But I had an incredible support network.
“One of the first articles that came out about me – I don’t remember if it was the story or the photos – but I got really upset. Raechelle Banno [who played Olivia in H&A from 2015 to 2018], who is one of my dear friends, gave me a gift and wrote me a letter about the whole situation. I chose to listen to advice I’d been given from various people and, because of it, I’ve come out relatively unscathed.”
Five years on and more experienced, Sophie is paying it forward.
“Every time someone new comes on set, I try to tell them the same thing, because it saved me. I’m forever grateful,” she says.
Whether it’s within the entertainment industry or out, Sophie, who’s an ambassador for Endometriosis Australia and is personally affected by the condition, is fast becoming a role model for other women. The benefit, she believes, comes full circle.
“My mum [who works as a nurse] is my role model. She’s great at problem-solving, helping and keeping people calm,” she says. “She’s the first person I call in an emergency. But so too are my girlfriends – they’re nurses, economists, lawyers, business owners, optometrists, bank workers, to name a few. I find them so inspiring.
Sophie, who’s an ambassador for Endometriosis Australia and is affected by the condition, is fast becoming a role model for other women.
(Image: TV WEEK)“When I was growing up in the ’90s, you didn’t see a lot of women supporting other women, and I wish I’d had that. It’s great seeing women do cool things. If I can help just one person, it’s worth it.”
With a 2022 mantra to “be kind” to herself and others, Sophie’s evolution continues. It may never be complete, but that’s OK. Her aim isn’t to have everything, just enough to keep her feet on the ground.
“I always try to put things into perspective – my mum taught me that,” she says.
“There’s a lot of anxiety out there right now and the world is exhausted. I’ve definitely grown as a person and as a woman over time. I feel comfortable in my skin and more sure of who I am, who I want to be, and who I want to surround myself with. I’m taking it one step at a time.”
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