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Actor, Cameo & Crew Profiles > Actor Profiles > Nicola Charles

Nicola Clarles, born Nicola Karen Leach, was born in 1969 in Worcestershire, England. Nicola trained as a dancer and moved to London at the age of eighteen. She was approached in the street by Coca Cola UK to star in a TV commercial to introduce the drink Sprite, which led to further commercial roles for Ford Cars, Rimmel, L’Oreal, Schwartzkopt, Pantene, Oil of Olay, Sunkist and more. She also took on various modelling work at this time.

Nicola moved to Australia with her Australian boyfriend, Scott Michaelson (who had played Brad Willis in Neighbours between 1991 and 1993) and eventually landed the role of Sarah Beaumont in Neighbours in 1996. Sarah is best remembered as the receptionist that kissed Dr Karl Kennedy, threatening to split the most loved couple on Ramsay Street: Karl and Susan Kennedy. Nicola left Neighbours in 1999, after three years in the role. Nicola featured in the show's twenty-fifth anniversary special and then later returned in 2013 for a short stint, in which Sarah returned unexpectedly and helped to reunite Karl and Susan, who were again on the brink of divorce.

Nicola’s next acting role was in the Australian movie Muggers in 2000 playing Belinda, and also had a guest role in the UK series Doctors in 2004.

Aside from acting, Nicola is also a stills photographer, shooting for magazine features and promotional photographs.

Nicola has been married three times, and has two daughters, Freya and Nova, from her second marriage to Jason Barry, and a son named Archie, from her third marriage to Mark Tabberner.

Profile by Debbie