Heavenly Creature

At just 26 years old, Australian actress Tessa James has been to hell and back. But now there’s a new kind of happiness on the horizon, and she’s revelling in her latest role

- Genevra Leek

There’s no mistaking Tessa James is pregnant. In a simple black Bassike tee, Zara trousers (elasticised) and Balenciaga sandals, she looks every bit her easy, understated, stylish self, albeit with a 24-week-old baby bump. “I kept it a secret for a good five months,” she says, settling into our lunch spot’s plush banquette. The petite actress is referring to the press-heavy David Jones spring/ summer collections launch, where her figure-hiding tiered lace Erdem dress wasn’t enough to stave off interest in the headline-making revelation (her agent confirmed the news the day after). “I didn’t mean for it to come out. I guess you can’t help what your body does. It was important to me to keep it for myself and my family... but by no means was I upset.”

Australia could be forgiven for feeling a vested interest in James. Well known and much loved to television viewers thanks to her role as the fun and feisty Nicole Franklin on Home And Away from 2008 to 2011, the Melbourne-born star had been following her dream of pursuing a career in Hollywood when she was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma at age 23 upon noticing a lump above her collarbone. After 12 gruelling chemotherapy treatments that saw her lose her hair and, at times, her will to live – at her lowest point she phoned her dad to tell him she wanted to die – James emerged from the harrowing experience to share her story of survival on air with her husband, NRL player Nate Myles, by her side. An otherwise private person, she felt strongly about raising awareness for other people going through the same thing, and the nation fell in love with her all over again.