It has been 14 years since Home and Away fans last saw Tessa James walking the halls of Summer Bay High in her school uniform — and her life since leaving the soap has been nothing short of extraordinary.

Back in the late 2000s, Tessa was one of the most recognisable young faces in Australian television. But today, at 34, she looks completely different, having chosen a quieter, more grounded lifestyle far away from the relentless demands of stardom.

A Life-Changing Diagnosis

In 2014, Tessa’s world was turned upside down when she was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma at just 23 years old. What should have been years filled with career growth, travel, and discovery suddenly came to a halt. Speaking later about that period, Tessa admitted that life “just stopped,” describing how the future she envisioned was replaced by hospital corridors and chemotherapy sessions.

A lump above her collarbone was the first sign that something was wrong, and the diagnosis reshaped everything. She turned to her close friend Delta Goodrem — who had faced the same illness in 2002 — for support. Delta’s guidance proved invaluable, offering both comfort and practical advice during those frightening months.

Recovery and Reinvention

After six intense months of treatment, Tessa was declared cancer-free. The experience changed not only her outlook on life but also her career trajectory. By 2020, she made the deliberate choice to step away from acting for good, closing the chapter on a profession that had once defined her.

Instead, Tessa embraced a new creative passion: interior design. Far from being a random career move, design was already in her blood. Her mother and sister were both interior architects, and she found herself naturally drawn into their world. Today, Tessa is thriving as the director and head of communications at Oy Design, the family’s business, where she brings the same discipline and creativity that once made her a standout on screen.

Family First

Beyond her career shift, Tessa’s personal life is equally fulfilling. She has been married to former NRL player Nate Miles since 2011, and together they are raising four sons: Sane, 7, Jaguar, 4, London, 3, and their youngest, who is just one. Family life has become her greatest focus, with social media posts often showing candid, makeup-free moments where her striking blue eyes remain her most memorable feature.

A Legacy in Entertainment

Though acting is no longer her profession, Tessa’s screen legacy endures. Beyond Home and Away, she appeared in acclaimed projects such as Beaconsfield, Love Child, and the film Spin Out. Fans still remember her as one of Summer Bay’s brightest young stars, but her story since then is perhaps even more remarkable: that of a survivor, a designer, and a woman who has rebuilt her life on her own terms.

Tessa James may look unrecognisable compared to her Summer Bay days, but her resilience, strength, and reinvention make her story unforgettable.