Home and Away’s real-life couple Sophie Dillman and Patrick O’Connor reveal why they left Australia

Home and Away’s Sophie Dillman has announced she plans to start a theatre career in the U.K.

The fan favourite, 29, and her partner Patrick O’Connor, 30, who co-starred as sweethearts on the beloved soap, exited the long-running series in January.

And now the couple, who recently completed a sight-seeing jaunt around Europe, have settled in London.

Sophie, who rose to fame playing the character Ziggy Astoni on Home and Away, says she is keen to return to acting.

But Sophie’s first choice will be the stage not the small screen, reports Women’s Day, who interviewed the pair on Monday.

The fan favourite, 29, and her partner Patrick O’Connor, 30, who co-starred as sweethearts on the beloved soap, exited the long-running series in January (pictured)

The couple, who recently completed a sight-seeing jaunt around Europe, have settled in London. Pictured: Sophie and Patrick as Ziggy and Dean on Home and Away

‘I was told by an acting teacher that I don’t have the look for television because I had a fat face,” Sophie said.

‘That was a great confidence booster for a 21-year-old trying to find themselves! So I assumed I’d only be doing theatre and character work. Lo and behold, I got TV anyway. But I would love to be in theatre here.’

Since departing Australia in January Sophie and Patrick have enjoyed getaways to Italy, Scotland, Ireland and Portugal.

Sophie, who recently updated fans with her endometriosis struggle, announced that the couple have no plans to start a family just yet.

“I’m 30 [soon], Sophie said, ‘and have to think about my eggs dying, apparently!’

‘But I know that if I start a fertility journey at some point, there won’t be room for spontaneous travel.  For so long we essentially played someone else far more than ourselves. Now we just want to see the world.’

Elsewhere in the chat, Patrick revealed that the couple have been re-united with their beautiful dog, a cavoodle called Winnie, after having it flown out from Australia.

Sophie said she has no plans to start a family and wants to continue to travel

Since departing Australia in January Sophie and Patrick have enjoyed getaway’s to Italy, Scotland, Ireland and Portugal -both pictured

The couple, who played sweethearts Ziggy and Dean on Home and Away, explained to TV Week in February why they decided to leave the show after six years. 

Sophie said the couple’s characters had run out of steam after a long run on screen. 

She said: ‘We have both done everything possible with our characters and it was time to start a new chapter.’

She called the move ’emotional’ but said the pair were ready for a new challenge.