Nicky Whelan

Nicky Whelan (born 10 May 1981) 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 (2006–2007).

Career Before Neighbours, Whelan hosted a number of shows, including Coxy's Big Break (Seven Network), Beyond the Boundary (Network Ten), and Melbourne Woman (Seven Network), 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 (in October 2007), Ralph (in November 2005) 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 ninth 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.

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 trains in both boxing and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.

Filmography

Film Year Title Role Notes 2004 Russell Coight's Celebrity Challenge Chrissie Grant TV movie 2007 Little Deaths Thorette 2009 The Outside Spring Easten Halloween II Wendy Snow Dave Knoll Finds His Soul Girl #2 Short 2010 Hollywood and Wine Jamie Stephens/Diane Blaine 2011 Hall Pass Leigh 2012 Coffees Victoria Short Departure Date Violet Short 2013 The Power of Few Marti Paranormal Movie Cindy 2014 Flight 7500 Liz Lewis Left Behind Hattie Durham Borrowed Moments Melissa 2015 The Wedding Ringer Nadia Knight of Cups Nicky 2016 Rebirth Naomi Dog Eat Dog Daniece 2017 Tragedy Girls Mrs. Kent Inconceivable Katie Valentine's Again Kat TV movie Romance at Reindeer Lodge Molly Clark TV movie Heart Aunt Grace Short 2018 The Middle of X Emily Prescott A Christmas Arrangement Poppy Benson TV movie Do Not Be Deceived Leslie Reynolds TV movie The Danger of Positive Thinking Lorna TV movie 2019 Secrets at the Lake Amy Pruitt Trauma Center Madison Taylor 2020 InstaFame Gwen Reynolds The Binge Pun-Isher Love by Drowning Lee Anne Dear Christmas Emma TV movie Famous Adjacent Nicky Short 2021 Last Night in Rozzie Pattie Barry You're Not Safe Here Valerie TV movie 2022 Maneater Jessie Dangerous Methods Sharon Warman 2023 The Best Man Brook The Black Mass Liz (voice) The Flood Sheriff Jo Newman The Nana Project Jennifer 2024 Crescent City Jaclyn Waters 72 Hours Tessa 2026 Bring the Law Melinda The Dating App Nightmare Kate On the Hunt Tammy Fenton A Crime Story Crystal 2027 Zombie Plane Post-production TBA Honeymoon with Harry Filming

Television

Year Title Role Notes 2003 Pizza Cheerleader Episode: "Road Trip Pizza 2" 2006–07 Neighbours Heidi "Pepper" Steiger Regular Cast 2009 Entourage Air Hostess Episode: "Give a Little Bit" Melrose Place Kira Episode: "Canon" 2009–10 Scrubs Maya Recurring Cast: Season 9 2010 Funny or Die Presents Sandoz Lilly Episode: "The Carpet Brothers" Carpet Bros Sandoz Lilly Episode: "Episode #2.1" 2011 Suite 7 Girl #2 Episode: "That Guy" Friends with Benefits Colleen Episode: "The Benefit of the Mute Button" Workaholics Naomi Episode: "Temp-Tress" 2012 NTSF:SD:SUV Seconds Episode: "Time Angels" 2013 Franklin & Bash Charlie Recurring Cast: Season 3 Chosen Laura Mitchell Main Cast: Season 1–2 2014 Matador Annie Mason Main Cast 2015 Mr. Robinson Kelly Episode: "Love the One You're With" Satisfaction Emma Waverly Recurring Cast: Season 2 The League L-E Episode: "The Block" 2016 Second Chance Bettina Episode: "A Suitable Donor" House of Lies Claire Recurring Cast: Season 5 From Dusk till Dawn: The Series Dr. Dakota Block Recurring Cast: Season 3 2018 Life in Pieces Kaeli Episode: "Lingerie Cookbook Gamble Surrogate"