Nicky Whelan


Nicky Whelan is an Australian actress and model. She is best known for her roles as Laurie Mitchell in Chosen, and Pepper Steiger in Australian soap opera Neighbours.

Career

Before Neighbours, Whelan hosted a number of shows, including Coxy's Big Break, Beyond the Boundary, and Melbourne Woman, and played the fictional celebrity "Chrissie Grant" on Russell Coight's Celebrity Challenge, a spin-off of All Aussie Adventures. Whelan is also known as the face of the rural Victorian city, Shepparton, and she hosted the night racing at Moonee Valley for eight years. Whelan has also posed for a number of Australian magazines, including FHM, Ralph and Inside Sport. In November 2007, Whelan made a special appearance in Harrow, London, to promote sustainable transport and initiatives that benefit the environment. She also shot some photos for Harrow's 'It's Up to All of Us' campaign.
After leaving Neighbours, Whelan moved to Los Angeles. She made guest appearances in episodes of Entourage and Melrose Place, before securing a role in the final season of Scrubs as Maya, an Australian medical-school student. Whelan also stars in the 2010 film Hollywood & Wine alongside David Spade. In November 2010, Whelan appeared in a viral advertisement for Rökk Vodka alongside The Lonely Island. Whelan got her "big break" in the 2011 film Hall Pass, in which she played Leigh, the love interest of Owen Wilson's character. In October 2011, Whelan guest-starred as an attractive telemarketing temp in the episode "Temp-Tress" of the American sitcom Workaholics.
In 2014, Whelan starred in the short-lived action drama series Matador, as well as the apocalyptic thriller film Left Behind as Hattie Durham. The following year, she appeared in comedy film The Wedding Ringer and Terrence Malick's drama film Knight of Cups. In 2017, Whelan appeared in the horror film Tragedy Girls. She also filmed the 2020 mystery drama film Love by Drowning in which she plays the lead.
Whelan starred in betting advertisements on Australian television for BetEasy.

Personal life

Whelan was born in Cranbourne, Victoria, Australia. She is the granddaughter of Marcus Whelan, who played in the Victorian Football League between the 1930s and 1940s.
In 2016, Whelan became engaged to American football player Kerry Rhodes. Whelan and Rhodes were married in Los Angeles on 15 April 2017. In October 2017, Whelan confirmed that she had left Rhodes and the couple had separated. They divorced that same year.
In her spare time, Whelan also trains boxing as well as Brazilian jiu-jitsu.

Filmography

Film

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
2003PizzaCheerleaderEpisode: "Road Trip Pizza 2"
2006–07NeighboursHeidi "Pepper" SteigerRegular Cast
2009EntourageAir HostessEpisode: "Give a Little Bit"
2009Melrose PlaceKiraEpisode: "Canon"
2009–10ScrubsMayaRecurring Cast: Season 9
2010Funny or Die PresentsSandoz LillyEpisode: "The Carpet Brothers"
2010Carpet BrosSandoz LillyEpisode: "Episode #2.1"
2011Suite 7Girl #2Episode: "That Guy"
2011Friends with BenefitsColleenEpisode: "The Benefit of the Mute Button"
2011WorkaholicsNaomiEpisode: "Temp-Tress"
2012NTSF:SD:SUVSecondsEpisode: "Time Angels"
2013Franklin & BashCharlieRecurring Cast: Season 3
2013ChosenLaura MitchellMain Cast: Season 1-2
2014MatadorAnnie MasonMain Cast
2015Mr. RobinsonKellyEpisode: "Love the One You're With"
2015SatisfactionEmma WaverlyRecurring Cast: Season 2
2015The LeagueL-EEpisode: "The Block"
2016Second ChanceBettinaEpisode: "A Suitable Donor"
2016House of LiesClaireRecurring Cast: Season 5
2016From Dusk till Dawn: The SeriesDr. Dakota BlockRecurring Cast: Season 3
2018Life in PiecesKaeliEpisode: "Lingerie Cookbook Gamble Surrogate"