British Nicola, whose father is Brazilian and mother is German, prepared herself for a career in entertainment by studying acting, dancing and singing at the Gemini Drama School for 12 years, as well as practising her performance skills with the dance troop Scaramoosh.

Nicola’s big break came when she was spotted by an executive of the Coca Cola Company. She was offered a role in British television advertisements for the soft drinks Coca Cola and Sprite. This led to more modelling work for Joanna Lingerie, Ford cars, Oil of Olay, McDonalds, and Schwartzkopf hair products and Elizabeth Shaw Chocolates. As well as parts in music videos for Soul II Soul, David Essex and Five Star. Nicola was even the international face of top hair care range Pantene for two years. She has also bared her gorgeous body for men’s magazines like FHM and Loaded, bringing her many male fans.

The next stage in Nicola’s career started when she went on vacation in Australia when she was 23-years-old. She decided to stay in the sunny country to work on amateur theatre projects, but after being spotted by a producer of Neighbours she was offered a part. This was an offer she couldn’t refuse and she became a resident of the famous fictional Ramsey Street as Sarah between 1996 and 1999.

Sarah worked as a receptionist for Karl Kennedy and they had an affair, almost breaking up his marriage.

Her character had a happy send-off, she got married and moved abroad. But Nicola says she’d had preferred it if Sarah had been killed off: “I would have liked to see her just take a bottle of pills and say goodbye.”

While at Neighbours, she also had a 1998 role in the movie Muggers.

Since leaving Ramsey Street, she had hosted the show Animal Rescue and set up her own company called Babes In Toyland. The company helps actors find work in Australia and Britain. She also recorded an album called Listening With Colour. All of its tracks were written by Nicola.

Nicola’s private life has attracted much media attention due to high profile relationships. She dated her Neighbours co-star Scott Michaelson and she is now with Titanic star Jason Barry.