He’s the Australian actor who has soared to international fame thanks to his starring role in Netflix’s raunchy new series Sex/Life.
But Adam Demos, 36, wasn’t simply born into the world of Hollywood, a setting worlds away from his humble beginnings as a labourer in Wollongong, NSW.
The self-proclaimed bogan didn’t start acting until he was 23, but his brave decision to follow his dreams is now reaping rewards.
From ‘bogan from the Gong’ to international fame: Inside Adam Demos’ rise to worldwide success after starring in Netflix’s raunchy new series Sex/Life
Early career
Unlike many in the industry, Adam didn’t learn acting from a young age.
In fact, when he enrolled in his first acting course at the age of 23 he kept it a secret from his friends because he was so scared of being mocked.
‘I told them I was working overtime because I didn’t want my mates knowing I was trying acting, it was so foreign to all of us,’ he told the Daily Telegraph in 2018.
Before he took the big step, Adam worked with his father in the demolition industry for years after high school, before eventually working as a labourer at the Port Kembla steelworks in Illawarra.
Late bloomer: Adam only enrolled in an acting course for the first time when he was 23 – and kept it a secret from his friends because he was scared of being mocked
He even did a stint as a glass collector at Hotel Ravesis in Bondi.
‘I’m just a bogan from the Gong,’ he said in same interview.
‘I don’t think that’s a bad thing – actors come from all walks of life.’
But despite theatre never being ‘part of his world’, he couldn’t get the idea of being on stage out of his mind and decided to sign up for a six-week course on Saturdays at the Screenwise acting school in Sydney.
‘I remember when I was about 23, working in the steelworks, and I’d come home from a s**ty day and I thought “I’m either going to commit to this (job) or I should just try acting, because I can’t stop thinking about it”,’ he said of his decision.
Luckily enough, Adam was a natural on stage.
Big break
Rise to fame: Adam went on to star in a number of small roles, including one episode of Home and Away in 2009 (pictured) and as a ‘school kid’ in 2010’s Underbelly
Adam began starring in a number of small roles including a brief stint in Home and Away in 2009 and playing a ‘school kid’ for one episode of Underbelly in 2010.
He beat 300 other hopefuls to land the role of ‘Solo Man’ in the famous ad for the soft drink brand in 2012, telling the Illawarra Mercury at the time ‘he’s a pretty iconic Australian character.
‘He hasn’t been on television for over 10 years and yet everybody knows him. For me to be able to play him is huge.’
Bigger projects: Adam even beat 300 other hopefuls to land the role of ‘Solo Man’ in the iconic advert for the Australian fizzy drink brand in 2012
But his big break came when he landed the role of Nate Baldwin in the ABC drama Janet King, and starred on the show for seven episodes.
While on-set, he discovered Lifetime’s series UnREAL was looking specifically for an Australian actor.
Despite having minimal experience in Hollywood, Adam swiftly landed the part as August Walker and flew out to Vancouver to film.
The American drama is set behind the scenes of a fictional reality dating show, with Adam securing the role of a contestant competing for the affections of a blonde bachelorette named Serena.
Star of the show: While on-set, he discovered Lifetime’s series UnREAL was looking specifically for an Australian actor. Despite having minimal experience in Hollywood, Adam swiftly landed the part as August Walker and flew out to Vancouver to film
Growing resume: After the show’s success, Adam landed another huge role in a Netflix movie in 2019 – Falling Inn Love, alongside singer Christina Milian (pictured)
After the show’s success, Adam landed another big role in a Netflix movie – Falling Inn Love, alongside singer Christina Milian in 2019.
In the movie, Adam played local contractor Jake Taylor, who steps in to save the day after city girl Gabriela, played by Christina, unintentionally bags a money pit in a ‘Win an Inn’ competition.
This major role for the streaming giant certainly put him on the map, and he soon won the lead role in Netflix’s raunchiest new show, Sex/Life.
Sex/Life
Raunchy: Adam’s most recent project saw him land the lead role as Brad Simon in Netflix’s Sex/Life, alongside his on and off-screen girlfriend Sarah Shahi
Adam plays the lead role of Brad Simon in Netflix’s Sex/Life.
The story follows a suburban wife (Sarah Shahi) who is married with children but can’t get the thought of her wild past with her ex-boyfriend (Adam) out of her mind.
Thanks to one saucy shower scene – which involved Adam being completely naked – the Aussie actor became an overnight sensation with many shocked fans being quick to comment on the size of his appendage.
Many even said the package was so large that they wondered if it was a prosthetic or somehow edited.
Series creator Stacy Rukeyser has even been questioned about the actor’s private parts, telling website Collider that Adam didn’t have a body double in the nude scenes.
Eye-popping: Thanks to one saucy shower scene – which involved him being completely naked – Adam became an overnight sensation with many fans being unable to help but comment on the size of his appendage
Love is in the air! It wasn’t just acting success that Adam found on the show, as he also fell in love with his co-star, Sarah
‘I can tell you what Adam Demos says about it which is, a gentleman never tells. So, we are leaving that up to the viewer’s imagination,’ she said.
It wasn’t just acting success that Adam found on the show – he also fell in love with his co-star, Sarah, 41.
He told The Daily Telegraph: ‘What I will say and I am always happy to say, is that I am a lucky man and it is happy days.’
Sarah also opened up about their romance in an interview with Entertainment Tonight, where she said: ‘It was great casting, I’ll put it that way.
‘Without sharing too many details because there is a part of my relationship that I protect and that’s for me and him only, I’m very grateful that I met him.
‘He’s hands-down one of the best humans I’ve ever met, and I’m grateful to be on this ride in general – but to be able to share it with him is special as well.’
It’s love! Sarah recently opened up about their romance in an interview with Entertainment Tonight, where she said: ‘It was great casting, I’ll put it that way’