Ada Nicodemou says if the pandemic taught her anything — it was to “slow down”.
In between her long-standing stint on Summer Bay and being mum to her young son, the Home and Away veteran told Today she’s found the key to calming her mind.
“I had an injury at the beginning of the year and ever since then I started meditating, only 10 minutes in the morning, but I have not missed a day,” she says.
“If I have to do it at three in the morning, I set my alarm 10 minutes earlier and I just sit up in bed and I meditate and — I know everyone goes on about it — but it really does work.”
Using the aptly named Calm app to “quieten” her mind, Nicodemou adds: “Look, my mind wanders, I’m not great at it, but I think that’s what helped me through this year.”
“We’re all just so busy all the time … I always try to do about ten things at once,” she says.
“It’s really calmed me down, I highly recommend it.”
And the starlet isn’t afraid to show her vulnerable side.
“Sometimes even at work, if I can feel my anxiety coming … I go and I put the app on … it’s really helped.”
Adding to her ever-busy schedule is Australian television’s night of nights — the 63rd TV WEEK Logie Awards.
The 46-year-old has been nominated for a Silver Logie for Most Popular Actress alongside co-stars, and first time nominees, Lynne McGranger and Emily Symons.
Marking her seventh nomination (including three Gold), Nicodemou is hoping to take home her first-ever win.
“It never gets tired, I love being nominated — I’m not going to say I don’t,” she laughs.
“It’s actually really lovely that both Lynne and Emily have been nominated … it’s a first for them and it’s nice to share it with them.
“It’s nice to see people who have been on the show for quite a while, and in the industry for quite a while, recognised.”
But when it comes to the prestigious event, there’s one thing the star looks forward to most.
“Getting dressed up, getting ready… organising what I’m going to wear and just thinking about the whole look — I get so ridiculously excited,” she says.
“If you think about it, in your everyday life, when do you get to wear a couture gown?”
Working with stylist Donny Galella, Nicodemou says the pair have no chill: “We start sending photos to each other probably January or February, we get so excited.”
And the Logies regular has her pre-event process down pat.
“For me it starts early. I hire my own makeup artist — she’s a friend of mine — so we have breakfast together, then we’ll start a little bit, then we’ll have lunch, then we might have a glass of champagne,” she laughs.
“We’ve got music going … I just like to have a really fun day … and look you know what – I’m 46 years old – I can do that right?
“I am an extremist, I don’t do anything by halves … it might all end tomorrow, so why not enjoy it?”
And it seems that motto rings clear in the actress’s mind, sustaining a 23-year career on Australia’s most iconic soap as Leah Patterson.
“No,” she laughs when asked if the chaotic bay has a calm horizon.
“The stuff I’m filming at the moment is pretty heavy,” she adds.
“There will be some light like right at the end of the tunnel, but it’s a long road ahead.
“And look it’s not like every week it’s all dark, there has been some lightness. I’m lucky that my character and James’ character get to do some light comedy stuff, and Theo … there’s a lot of laughs both on and off screen.”
And when it comes to off screen, the East Coast local says she’d love to visit the West for a holiday.
“I’d love to eat in the restaurants … I’d love to do the Kimberley, the wine area and Cable Beach,” she says.
Referencing her regular Telethon trips, the star adds: “Every time I go to WA, I’m actually only coming for work. We’re literally flying in on the Friday night and flying out on the Sunday.”
Unfortunately unable to make this year’s event, Nicodemou credits West Aussies for their commitment to the long-running cause.
“I love Perth Telethon, I love Perth people,” she says.
“The way you Western Australians get behind Telethon … I’ve never seen anything like it, it’s so beautiful.”
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