Where is Tessa James now? Home and Away star reemerges as she opens up about heartbreaking cancer diagnosis and her VERY different career change: ‘My life stopped’

Tessa James had all the makings of a rising Australian TV star until she received a shock cancer diagnosis at the age of 23—so where is she now?

The former Home and Away star, 34, who got her start on Neighbours in 2006 before moving to the rival soap, discovered she had Hodgkin’s lymphoma in 2014.

Despite being at the height of her career, Tessa said ‘her life stopped’ and she made the difficult decision to step away from acting, reported Mamamia on Friday.

‘My life stopped, to be honest. I think for any 23-year-old, their life is moving pretty quickly,’ she told the publication.

‘You’re working a lot of things out, you’re trying new things, you’re just busy, making the most of your life. And my life just stopped.’

Tessa went on to say she began asking herself if she could manage balancing a successful acting career with her cancer treatments.

Tessa James, 34, had all the makings of a rising Australian TV star until she received a shock cancer diagnosis at the age of 23 —so where is she now? Pictured on Home and Away

She turned to stars like Delta Goodrem, who was also diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma in 2002, for inspiration.

But after six months of chemotherapy, which saw her become completely cancer-free in 2020, she made the decision to step away from acting for good.

Known best for playing the role of Nicole Franklin on Home and Away from 2008 to 2011, Tessa also starred in Beaconsfield, Love Child, and Spin Out.

But her rise to stardom came to a grinding halt in 2014 when she discovered a lump above her collarbone while pursuing an acting opportunity in Los Angeles.

Now the ex actress has transitioned into the world of interior design, following in the footsteps of her mother and sister who are interior architects.

Tessa is currently the Director and Head of Communications at AKI Design, a boutique interior design studio she runs with her family.

But she says the career change wasn’t entirely due to her cancer diagnosis and subsequent recovery.

‘While I was having my children, I really felt this kind of heavy shift in what I was able to give to my career,’ she said.

The former Home and Away star who got her start on Neighbours in 2006 before moving to the rival soap, discovered she had Hodgkin’s lymphoma in 2014

She went on to explain she was unable to give as much to her acting career because she ‘wanted to give a lot to her children’.

Tessa married former NRL star Nate Myles in 2011, and the pair share sons Saynt, six, Jaguar, three, London, two, and their newborn, who they secretly welcomed in 2024.

The lovebirds announced they were expecting to welcome their fourth child back in January last year.

The couple told The Saturday Telegraph at the time Tessa was just weeks away from giving birth to their new addition.

‘I am feeling really good. I have three other busy boys, so I don’t have time to feel anything but good,’ Tessa said.

She then explained the couple like to keep their life very private and not share many details on social media.

‘I think consciously not sharing too much is really nice. It’s important to keep something private. That is very sacred for us,’ she added.

Tessa first met Nate through their mutual friends Jodi and Braith Anasta in 2009 and got engaged to him the following year.

Despite being at the height of her career, Tessa said ‘her life stopped’ and she made the difficult decision to step away from acting. Pictured with husband Nate Myles

They tied the knot in 2011 before welcoming their first child in December 2017.

Tessa’s pregnancy came three years after she was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma at age 23.

Nate stood by Tessa’s side throughout her health struggles and chemotherapy.

‘I was extremely lucky. I got through what happened to me and a lot of people don’t,’ she told Elle Australia in December 2017.

‘For Nate and me, it was our first real challenge as a couple and it was hard and not nice, and not glamorous and very confronting.’

She added: ‘But at the same time, life’s not going to be perfect and we are so much better because of it.’

Tessa James had all the makings of a rising Australian TV star until she received a shock cancer diagnosis at the age of 23—so where is she now? The former Home and Away star, 34, who got her start on Neighbours in 2006 before moving to the rival soap, discovered she had Hodgkin’s lymphoma in 2014. Despite being at…