Inside Home and Away Star Ada Nicodemou’s Romance with Co-Star James Stewart
A Beloved Star On and Off Screen
For 25 years, Ada Nicodemou has been one of Home and Away’s most cherished faces. As Leah Patterson, she’s weathered heartbreak, love, and countless twists in Summer Bay. Off-screen, however, Ada’s journey has been one of immense strength and quiet resilience.
Joining the soap in 2000, Ada became a household name across Australia. Away from the cameras, she’s a proud mum, author, and advocate who has openly shared her personal highs and lows with honesty and courage.
Love Found in the Bay
After years of friendship and on-screen chemistry, Ada’s bond with fellow Home and Away star James Stewart blossomed into something more. The pair made their relationship public at the 2024 TV Week Logie Awards in Sydney, arriving arm-in-arm and stealing the spotlight with their elegant red carpet debut.
Ada stunned in a sleek black satin gown while James, who plays Justin Morgan, complemented her in a classic velvet tuxedo. Fans were delighted to see two of Summer Bay’s favourite stars together beyond the set.
In April 2025, Ada spoke openly for the first time about their romance. “It’s been a really lovely year together,” she told Stellar Magazine. “I don’t like to post a lot about us online, but I’m proud of the last year we’ve had and wanted to share that.”
A Journey Through Heartbreak
Before finding happiness with James, Ada endured one of life’s most painful losses. Married to restaurateur Chrys Xipolitas in 2007, the couple welcomed their son Johnas in 2012. Tragically, they later lost their second child, Harrison, who was delivered stillborn.
“That was definitely the lowest time in my life,” Ada shared on the Bounce Forward podcast. “It was a horror film I couldn’t escape. What got me through was Johnas — I had a two-year-old who needed me, and he gave me the courage to wake up and keep going.”
Ada and Chrys separated in 2015 but have continued to co-parent their son. Reflecting on their shared loss, Ada later said, “There will always be a hole in your heart. We will always remember that child and what could have been.”
Friendship and Strength in the Bay
Throughout her long career on Home and Away, Ada has built deep bonds with her castmates, especially Lynne McGranger, who plays Irene Roberts. The two are inseparable both on and off the set.
“We still don’t get sick of each other,” Ada told The Australian Women’s Weekly. “We have lunch together, go for walks, and even holiday together. Jimmy [Stewart] is in the dressing room next door and says, ‘You two just don’t shut up, do you?’”
Their friendship goes beyond laughter and long days on set. In 2022, Ada and Lynne launched the Breast Friends campaign to encourage women to book regular breast cancer screenings. “It doesn’t matter what age you are,” Lynne shared. “You need to check your breasts.”
A New Chapter of Love and Resilience
After years of personal trials and professional triumphs, Ada Nicodemou continues to inspire fans with her warmth and perseverance. Her relationship with James Stewart marks a new chapter filled with joy, balance, and mutual respect — a reminder that even after heartbreak, love can bloom again in the most unexpected places.