Fans of Home and Away were simply pleased to witness Tessa James from a totally different standpoint, a decade and a half after her disappearance from the limelight. Tessa was the one who made the lives of people in Summer Bay easier by walking her scenes right in the middle of them. Keep scrolling to learn more.
Home And Away Star’s Life Far From Summer Bay
Tessa James became a popular face to the soap’s viewers during her teenage years. She was often seen in the iconic Summer Bay school uniform. Elsewhere at that time, acting was her world, and she even got many opportunities. However, that momentum paused in 2014. She was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma at just 23.
She found a lump above her collarbone, and she called it life-stopping. Instead of acting, she focused on survival and treatments. And it was during this period that she reached out to singer Delta Goodrem. Delta had the same cancer years earlier. So Tessa wanted huidamce and reassurance.
Chemotherapy became her reality for six months. Her daily activities of going to castings and filming were changed by hospital visits and days spent recovering. However, she defeated cancer in 2020. It was a horrible ordeal, but it totally transformed her, and she hasn’t returned since. She is still very secretive and quietly continues her work without showing off.
Elsewhere, she hardly ever posts on Instagram, and when she does, it is with little or no makeup, and she portrays herself as a calm and natural person. However, it was completely different to her television image from years ago. Fans who see her posts often comment on how different, yet grounded, she looks now.
A New Career And A Full Family Life
When she left acting, her life took a turn that was more aligned with her family. Seeing the example of her mom and sister, who are interior architects, she returned to school and began a new chapter of her life in the design industry. It wasn’t a temporary hiatus or a side hustle. It actually became her new career.
Currently, she is the Director and Head of Communications at AKI Design. It is the family business where she has the most influence behind the scenes, away from the public glare, but deeply engaged in the creative process.
Her personal life also expanded along with her professional change. In 2011, she tied the knot with Nate Myles, and as of now, they are blessed with four sons. For more Home and Away spoilers and updates, keep following Soap Opera Daily.