When we call, actress Sophie Dillman is in her car, laughing on the phone speaker, and letting TV WEEK know where she is. “It’s not the best weather for the beach, and I’m just now driving up to it. But I suppose we’re back to it now!”
She returned to the Home and Away set for the first time this week at midday. The trip to Palm Beach in Sydney’s north, which is where the made-up town of Summer Bay is located, is well-known to Sophie. Sophie has enjoyed some routine and stability over the course of her many seasons as Ziggy Astoni on the enduring drama, which is a rare gift for actors.
The drive, however, seems a little different in 2022. The world appears different, and Sophie herself acknowledges that she has changed. The Queenslander, like many Australians, has felt the effects of the worldwide pandemic, and as a result, the holiday vacation she took with her boyfriend and co-star Patrick O’Connor “didn’t feel quite long enough.” She does, however, give thanks for what she has.
I’m very fortunate; my cup is overflowing, she says. “I have not yet fallen ill from COVID-19, and no one in my close family has. I hadn’t been home in a year, so it was amazing to see everyone. I feel more at home when I’m with my family.”
Sophie, who currently lives with Patrick, who plays Dean Thompson on the show, is tuned in to the fast-paced life in Sydney despite her strong ties to her home state of Queensland. “I find I get impatient in Brisbane now,” she jokes. Additionally, she is currently a fifth season of Home And Away.
Similar to her on-screen persona Ziggy, Sophie exudes a contagious smile and inspiring assurance. It can be found in the tiniest of settings, like chatting after exercise. sitting on the couch with Patrick or chatting with friends – She says, “I love hearing Paddy’s enthusiasm for what we do and our future.
This wasn’t always the case, though. The challenge the actress faced on the shores of Summer Bay led her to spend a long time figuring out who she wants to be. The path she now travels on with such ease was not always smooth.
When asked if she has changed since her 2017 debut, Sophie responds, “Yes [I have], absolutely – hugely.” “When I was hired by H&A, I believe I was about to turn 25. I was still very young and hadn’t really undergone any significant personal development.” My entire life had been spent in institutions; I attended school, earned two university degrees, and when I moved to Sydney, I worked as a nurse for a year. I learned what independence entailed.
There was a palpable sense of joy during her debut season as mechanic Ziggy. Sophie was eager to demonstrate her abilities in what she refers to as a “Am I dreaming?” scenario with wide eyes. Advice on how to handle media attention came thick and fast, and then the walls started to close in.
There were key moments, she says, “where I remember being unhappy or sad, or taken back and vulnerable… that all happened.” But I had a fantastic network of allies. I don’t recall if it was the story or the pictures in one of the first articles about me, but I remember being extremely upset. One of my close friends, Raechelle Banno, who portrayed Olivia in H&A from 2015 to 2018,
, gave me a gift, and discussed the entire incident in a letter to me. I made the decision to pay attention to the advice I had received from various sources, and as a result, I have survived largely undamaged.
Sophie is giving back now that she has gained experience and five years later.
“I try to share the same advice with every new cast member because it helped me. I’ll always be appreciative, she says.
Sophie, an ambassador for Endometriosis Australia and a person affected by the condition, is quickly emerging as a role model for other women, whether it be in the entertainment industry or outside of it. She thinks the benefit completes the circle.
“My mother, a nurse, is an example to me. She is fantastic at helping people, solving problems, and maintaining calm, according to her. “When I have an emergency, she is the first person I call. But my girlfriends are, too; to name a few, they work as nurses, economists, economists, lawyers, business owners, optometrists, and bankers. They really do inspire me.
“I wish I had seen more women standing up for other women when I was growing up in the 1990s. It’s awesome to see women achieve cool things. It will be worthwhile if I can even help one person.
Sophie’s development continues with a 2022 mantra to “be kind” to herself and others. It might never be finished, but that’s alright. Her goal is to have just enough to keep her feet on the ground, not to have everything.
My mother taught me to always try to put things into perspective, the woman says.
“The world is worn out and there is a lot of anxiety right now. Over time, I’ve undoubtedly developed both personally and as a woman. I feel at ease in my own skin and more confident in my identity, my goals, and the people I choose to be around. I’m moving forward incrementally.
