Millions still remember Holly Valance as the bubbly, outspoken Felicity “Flick” Scully from Neighbours — the feminist-leaning schoolgirl who burst onto screens in 1999 with optimism and attitude.
Back then, Holly even told BBC Newsround that she shared Flick’s “stubbornness and feistiness.”
Today, that may be the only thing they still have in common.
Now 42, Valance has undergone a series of dramatic reinventions over the past two decades — from soap star to pop princess, from Hollywood actress to billionaire’s wife, and now, most controversially, a vocal figure aligned with Britain’s hard Right.
Following her split from property tycoon Nick Candy last June after 13 years of marriage, Holly has been increasingly linked to far-Right activist and convicted criminal Tommy Robinson, sparking widespread speculation and unease among former fans.
The pair were pictured late last year aboard a luxury steam train — The Chairman’s Set — alongside actor-turned-politician Laurence Fox and his wife Elizabeth. A photograph shared online showed Valance reclining on a sofa with Fox’s wife, while a laughing Robinson lounged nearby. Fox captioned the image cryptically: “It’s a bit early for that…”
A video from the same trip showed the group eating breakfast as the train departed London, with Robinson cheerfully greeting followers while Valance quietly sipped tea. Holly later shared a selfie from the journey, again with Robinson and the Foxes in the background.
Despite persistent rumours, Valance insists she is not dating Robinson, describing him instead as “a great guy” for whom she has “a lot of respect.”
She has also grown close to Reform leader Nigel Farage, whom she credits with encouraging to stand as MP for Clacton. Her children reportedly call him “Uncle Nigel,” a fondness he openly returns.
Yet while Holly appears to relish her new political circles, even friends admit they are bracing themselves for what she might say or do next.
Last week, Valance found herself at the centre of controversy during an appearance on GB News. An interview meant to promote her musical comeback made headlines for all the wrong reasons after she used a derogatory slur live on air while criticising Australia’s Covid response. The presenter halted the discussion to apologise to viewers, visibly uncomfortable.
The backlash was swift — even though friends insisted her comments were not directed at disabled people. One source told The Mail on Sunday they were “utterly speechless.”
“As soon as a celebrity enters politics, they cut their fanbase in half,” the friend said. “But what has she got to lose?”
The appearance came amid renewed attention on Valance’s latest song, Kiss Kiss (XX) My A**e — a reworking of her 2002 hit created for an Australian right-wing political film. Featuring provocative lyrics aimed at ‘snowflakes’ and culture-war issues, the track briefly reached No.1 on iTunes before being temporarily banned by Apple — a decision later reversed.
Tommy Robinson openly praised her for the controversy, posting supportive messages online, while friends privately expressed alarm at the direction her public persona was taking.
The transformation is striking given Valance’s background. Raised in Melbourne by immigrant parents, she grew up in a working-class household alongside her younger sister Coco, who lives with disabilities. Holly once said she began modelling as a teenager simply to help pay for schoolbooks and shoes.
By 16, she had landed Neighbours. By her early twenties, she was a chart-topping pop star. Acting roles followed in Prison Break and Taken, before she relocated to the UK and competed on Strictly Come Dancing.
Her marriage to Nick Candy in 2012 appeared to signal a quieter life. The lavish Beverly Hills wedding featured Katy Perry as singer, with Sir Elton John and Simon Cowell among the guests. For years, Holly stepped back from showbusiness, focusing on motherhood, philanthropy and charity work.
Hints of her political shift emerged in 2022, when she appeared alongside Farage, Donald Trump and her then-husband at Mar-a-Lago. By 2024, she was hosting political fundraisers and attending Right-wing conferences, openly declaring:
“Everyone starts off a Leftie — then wakes up.”
After her marriage ended last summer, Valance’s alignment with controversial figures only intensified. She appeared at rallies, defended Robinson publicly, and dismissed criticism as “fun,” laughing off her recent cancellation as something she “enjoyed.”
Today, her social-media profile — once glossy and carefully managed — now features provocative imagery and slogans that would have been unthinkable during her Neighbours years.
How different from the Holly Valance who once admitted, when asked about regrets in 2010:
“I wish I’d kept my mouth shut more often.”
For fans who grew up watching Flick Scully, the question now isn’t just what happened to Holly Valance — but how far this transformation will go next.
