Fans of the long-running Australian soap Home and Away are celebrating as two of its beloved stars have announced their engagement. Actors Sophie Dillman and Patrick O'Connor, who famously fell in love while playing on-screen couple Ziggy Astoni and Dean Thompson, are set to marry.
A Romantic Beach Proposal
Sophie Dillman, 32, shared the joyful news on social media with a gallery of photos capturing the intimate moment. The proposal took place on a scenic Sydney beach in the lead-up to Christmas, where Patrick got down on one knee. Sophie captioned the romantic snaps, "'Home has always been with you", accompanied by a diamond ring and a love heart emoji.
The announcement firmly puts to rest any speculation about a split, which had swirled earlier in the year. The couple, who moved in together before the Covid-19 pandemic, have been in a relationship since 2019, mirroring the timeline of their characters' romance on the show.
From Co-stars and Friends to Life Partners
In an interview with The Daily Telegraph, Sophie revealed that the secret to their successful relationship was building a strong friendship first. "Our characters got together – and then we did," she explained. She described the unique blessing of getting to "hang out" with her "best mate all the time".
The news was met with an outpouring of congratulations from fans and colleagues alike. Their Summer Bay co-star Georgie Parker commented, "Oh sweethearts, huge love to both of you. Could NOT be happier for you."
Sophie's Advocacy and Health Journey
Earlier in 2025, Sophie spoke publicly about her decade-long journey with endometriosis to raise awareness of the condition. As defined by the NHS, endometriosis involves cells similar to those in the uterine lining growing elsewhere in the body, causing symptoms like severe period pain, heavy bleeding, and fatigue.
She detailed to 7News how she managed her symptoms while filming, often relying on a hot water bottle. "Those days, they can hurt, being on your feet all day, running up and down, changing costumes," Sophie said, noting that costumes sometimes didn't fit during a flare-up. She would walk around set with her hot water bottle, even tucking it into her trousers, and colleagues would hand it back to her between takes.
Sophie has "permanent scarring" on her stomach from long-term use of the hot water bottle. She received an official diagnosis after persistently urging doctors to test what they initially thought was just scar tissue. "I said 'no, I want you to test it, I think it is endometriosis'," she recalled. Her persistence paid off, and the tests confirmed it.
Sophie returned to Home and Away for several episodes in 2025, after previously starring on the show from 2017 to 2023.
