OK! Magazine Australia - July 02, 2018

this character – it was meant for me!’ So when

I auditioned, I just gave it my all. It’s witty,

funny and revolves around ive females and

delves into all of their relationships. It’s nice to

be on a show that revolves around inspirational

women, written by women for women

• but guys will love it, too.

So tell us what you

got up to in LA...

I inished Neighbours late

last year and was going

to take a year of because

I had been on Neighbours

for just over four years; a big

stint. So I said, ‘I’m going to

take a year of and go set up i

LA to see if I even like it, and

if I want to live there.’ I wasn’t

even auditioning much, I was

just living. It was nice having

so much time during the

day to just go for a walk;

I hadn’t had that for so many

years. But when this job

came along, I was like, ‘Shit,

I have got to do this!’ I will go

straight back after we inish ilming.

To work or to just enjoy LA?

I’m just going with the low at the moment.

When you’re fully relaxed, you’re not worrying

about the next step – everything comes to you.

Tell us about your character, Tahlia...

Tahlia’s built an empire in her own right. She

is a model and an entrepreneur – she has

fragrance lines! But she’s also a social climber.

In the beginning, we see more of a stereotype

and then we delve deeper. I was out with

Jonathan Brown [former Brisbane Lions

player] and Kylie Brown last night, and I was

like, ‘OMG, I am literally playing you, Kylie!’

And they are gorgeous, I love them.

Your love interest is played by Jackson

Gallagher. You’ve met before, right?

We worked together a couple of years ago

and got along so well! When I got the job it

was a secret and he obviously got the job

as well, but couldn’t say anything. We were

talking online and I thought, ‘his is weird,

I haven’t spoken to you in two years!’

worked it all out. I love him!

nd you look so gorgeous

together, everyone will

be wondering whether

life is imitating art...

No comment! [Laughs]

Have you ever dated

a footballer in real life?

ctually haven’t dated

otball player. I’ve got a lot

footy friends, though. I’ve

always been in long-term

relationships, so this is

the irst time I’ve been

a free lady for a while. I’m

constantly travelling, so it

makes it hard to properly

settle down. I’m heavily

focused on work right now.

OLYMPIA IS OPEN TO PAIGE

MAKING A COMEBACK

Ater four years as Paige Novak on the

long-running soap, the Melbourne native

would love to revisit Erinsborough. ‘I’m

always open toNeighbours

for a while and I love everyone there,’ she! I was there

explains. Keen to flex her acting muscles

and take on new challenges, Olympia let

to spread her wings overseas. ‘You know,

it was just time for me to move on,’ she

reveals. ‘But I will always be open to

reappearing and visiting Ramsay Street

again. So the doors are never closed!’

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NEIGHBOURS

RETURN

ST LOVER I’VE HAD!’

Valancereveals

‘Couldn’t have asked

for a better on-screen

lover. Best I’ve ever

had,’ Olympia says

of co-star Jackson

Paige’s on-off

relationship with

Mark Brennan

(Scott McGregor)

captivated

viewers

Olympia’s

character Paige

fell pregnant

and gave birth

on the show

TEXT BY ALI CROMARTY

WHAT’S

COOKING?

Khanh Ong is slaying on

MasterChef this season, and

it’s thanks to his BFF Olympia.

‘He always makes ridiculous

meals so I recommended he

try out for MasterChef.

and it’s been so fun

to watch!’