Home and Away’s Sophie Dillman ‘cried every day’ after shock exit

Sophie Dillman and Patrick O’Connor have quit the show.

Fans were upset on Monday when Home and Away actors Patrick O’Connor (Dean Thompson) and Sophie Dillman (Ziggy Astoni) announced they would be leaving the program. The couple said on Instagram that their exit tale will air over the coming “few weeks” after months of rumors.

After spending six years working on the venerable Australian soap, Sophie has now confessed that their final month of filming was incredibly traumatic. The real-life couple’s on-screen relationship would have ended in October of last year because the show shoots around five months in advance.

I won’t lie: It was incredibly difficult, says Sophie to Yahoo Lifestyle. “I think I sobbed during the last month of work every day. It’s a rather big family.

The actors and crew of the show spend a lot of time together because episodes are produced at a breakneck clip. Sophie is aware that the close relationship she has with her co-stars is quite exceptional.

“Everyone is so modest, I know that’s a cliche. And everyone is striving to achieve the same thing and wants everyone to be successful. And I’m not sure whether I’ll ever find that in a workplace again,” she acknowledges.

Sophie joined the show in 2017 as Ziggy Astoni, and fans instantly took to her sassy and headstrong character. Falling in love with her real-life partner Patrick, who also plays her onscreen boyfriend, further cemented her status as a firm fan favourite.

While she did find her final days filming full of emotion, she says she was so “lucky” to have spent the last six years on the show.

It was quite difficult. But it was also incredibly great because it gave you a chance to step back and appreciate all the good opportunities you’ve had.

The actress continues, “I’ve had such a tremendous run with storylines, publicity opportunities, and working with such incredible actors.

The vivacious actress backed Sarah Roberts’ (Willow Harris) most recent movie Wog Boys Forever alongside Courtney Miller (Bella Nixon) in October of last year, demonstrating Sophie and Patrick’s friendship with their former co-stars. She assures us that the friendships she has established on the show will “last forever”.

She concludes, “I really couldn’t express my gratitude to Home and Away enough for the opportunity; I was just so fortunate.

Sophie and Patrick’s future plans

Home and Away’s golden couple spent their time after finishing filming with family and friends, with Sophie joking that she “napped a lot” over the summer.

“We [were] chilling out and spending time in the sunshine…we [hadn’t] been able to do that for a while so [it was] good,” she tells us.

The couple has been on the road a lot this year and was seen in Japan before flying to Ireland. Traveling has always been a top priority for Sophie and Patrick, although in the past it has been challenging due to Home and Away’s demanding production schedule.

“We haven’t really got the chance to do a good stretch of travel because we have worked so hard during this period of time. So that’s what we’re hoping to achieve,” the celebrity tells us before adding that they are thinking of permanently relocating abroad.

“I want to take some time to focus on me after working so hard for so many years.”