Home and Away star Sophie Dillman, best known to fans as Ziggy Astoni, has revealed her ongoing battle with a serious health condition that has affected her life both on and off the screen. The 27-year-old actress has undergone major surgery to treat endometriosis — her third operation for the painful and chronic illness.

A Hidden Struggle Behind the Spotlight

While many of her Home and Away co-stars headed off on relaxing holidays after wrapping filming last year, Sophie’s break looked very different. Instead of beaches and getaways, she prepared for another hospital stay and an extensive operation to remove endometrial tissue from multiple organs.

“I had a lot of tissue cut out from everywhere – in my bladder, bowel, all throughout my abdomen,” Sophie explained. “My doctor did say that if he was going to remove all of the [scar] tissue in my abdomen, I wouldn’t have any organs left, so he was unable to do so, but he removed a significant amount. It was a decent recovery process this time.”

Endometriosis occurs when tissue similar to the uterine lining grows outside the womb, causing severe pain, inflammation, and sometimes fertility issues.

Living and Working Through Pain

Before her acting career, Sophie worked as a registered nurse — a background that has helped her better understand her condition. Her first laparoscopic surgery came at just 20 years old, offering five years of relief before symptoms returned with greater intensity.

“Going to work every day when you have to wear costumes, be on the beach, and run scenes is really hard when you’re in pain,” she shared. “You constantly have to carry hot water bottles, trying to manage the pain and the bloating. You don’t want to disappoint people by taking time off, but sometimes you have to.”

Despite the challenges, the Home and Away team has supported her through recovery periods.

Supported by Love

Through her toughest days, Sophie credits her partner and co-star Patrick O’Connor — who plays her on-screen love interest Dean Thompson — for being her rock.

“He is honestly an angel,” she said. “I could not have functioned without him these past 12 months. He had no idea about endometriosis, but he did all this reading and learnt about it. He’s given me all these suggestions and was such a huge support through my surgery.”

Raising Awareness for Endometriosis

Determined to help others facing the same struggles, Sophie has become an ambassador for Endometriosis Australia and their national High Tea events in support of Worldwide EndoMarch.

“The disease itself can be incredibly isolating,” she said. “It’s still a taboo subject — talking about women’s health. So you do feel alone. That’s why awareness is so important.”

Sophie and her sister are both speaking at the Brisbane EndoMarch event, helping to raise vital funds for research and community support.

Looking Ahead with Hope

While Sophie admits she’s “not out of the woods yet,” she remains cautiously optimistic.

“It’s better,” she said. “But this is something I’ll have to deal with for the rest of my life. I’ve had some relief, and that’s all we can hope for — to do the best we can and manage the best we can. But there’s a major shift happening. Women are finding their voice with these issues. And it’s awesome to feel that energy.”