Home And Away sweetheart Sophie Dillman won’t be spending Valentine’s Day being wined and dined by boyfriend and co-star Patrick O’Connor this year.
But don’t worry, their enviable relationship isn’t on the rocks – she’s just prioritising the amazing women in her life.
“There’s a group of my friends that always go to a big all-you-can-eat Italian restaurant and celebrate the gals,” Sophie tells Now To Love of her ‘Galentine’s Day’ plans.
They’ll spend the evening chatting up a storm and swapping love life horror stories, though the 28-year-old actress doesn’t have any to share about Patrick.
Sophie Dillman says she’s lucky to have no dating “horror stories” about boyfriend Patrick O’Connor.
(Image: Instagram)
“I actually don’t have any horror stories. I mean, I’ve been hideously alone for a number of Valentine Days, but I’ve had no horror stories so I guess I’m very lucky,” she laughs.
Home And Away fans have long been in awe of Sophie and Patrick’s on-screen chemistry, which turned into a beautiful real-life romance.
And while it’s easy to imagine the TV stars living a life of glitz and glamour, Sophie says her favourite dates with Patrick are surprisingly low-key.
“I love a home cooked meal. When I’ve had a really big day at work, coming home and my partner having cooked dinner is my favourite thing in the world,” she tells us.
“He’s a very good cook. We’ve had some great meals together.”
Sophie says her favourite dates with Patrick are surprisingly low-key.
(Image: Instagram)Of course, some relationship milestones call for something a little extra special and the couple have made the most of their own Aussie backyard for romantic getaways.
Though they’re not escaping this Valentine’s Day, Sophie and Patrick had one of the most “magical” long weekends of their life at Hyams Beach in Shoalhaven a few years back.
“I have never seen such beautiful water and such a great little town, great little pub, beautiful vibes. I highly recommend it!” the actress says.
But road trips – even one as short as the three-hour drive from Sydney to Hyams Beach – can seriously test a couple, as Sophie well knows.
WATCH: Behind the scenes with Sophie Dillman and Patrick O’Connor. Story continues after video.
Arguments over directions, music and terrible car singing are pretty common but unlike some couples, she and Patrick manage to keep the peace on long drives.
“Patty and I are really lucky, we’ve done a fair few road trips together and we seem to do alright. I don’t think we’ve ever had any really major fights,” she laughs.
“My beautiful Mazda has the screen that shows you where you’re going at all times, so there can be no confusion [about directions]. And if there is confusion, it’s only the driver’s fault.”
That’s especially true if Patrick’s the one driving, of course!
The couple also spend plenty of time filming Home And Away on location at Palm Beach, where Sophie says there will be lots of heart shaped chocolate going around today.
She’ll be sharing the love with her co-stars, including Lynne McGranger and Ada Nicodemou, and even thinks her character Ziggy would be feeling the romance.
“I think she will definitely be spending it [Valentine’s Day] with Dean [Patrick’s character], they’ll probably go for a surf and have pizza and beer. That’s their dream,” Sophie says.
Fans have known her as Ziggy since 2017, but the laid-back star says she identifies more with a very different movie character, especially when it comes to love.
WATCH: Ziggy and Dean’s love drama on Home And Away. Story continues after video.
“I just feel like I am Bridget Jones,” she laughs, referring to Renee Zellweger’s character in 2001 rom-com Bridget Jones’ Diary.
“She’s lovely but real, she makes mistakes, she’s down to earth and he [Mark Darcy, played by Colin Firth] loves her exactly the way she is.”
Does this mean Sophie has a bit of a celebrity crush on Colin Firth, we wonder? Nope!
“I’ve actually got a really strange crush on Kevin James. Kevin James and James Corden are two huge crushes of mine,” she admits bashfully.
Sophie’s planning a red Galentine’s Day outfit to match her car.
(Image: Instagram)“I also think they would be excellent companions on Valentine’s Day. They’re funny, they’re witty, they’re always going to be up for a good time.”
Sophie confirms that yes, Patrick does know about these bizarre crushes and yes, he teases her about them regularly.
As for her Galentine’s Day dinner tonight, Sophie already has her outfit planned and its colour coordinated to match the romantic theme, as well as her ruby red Mazda.
But most importantly, her outfit “also gives you enough room to eat as much as you want” – Sophie really is a woman after our hearts!
Mazda Ambassador Sophie Dillman loves to take her Mazda3 on all her romantic weekends away.
