Bonnie Sveen: Biography, Career, and Return to Summer Bay

If you’ve watched Home and Away over the past decade, you’ve likely seen Bonnie Sveen light up the screen as Ricky Sharpe. Born in Tasmania and trained at NIDA, she’s built a career that spans both acting and creative direction. Here’s what you need to know about her journey, her return to Summer Bay, and what she’s up to now.

Born: 14 July 1989 ·
Nationality: Australian ·
Education: National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA) ·
Notable role: Ricky Sharpe on Home and Away (2013–2016) ·
Years active: 2010–present

Six key facts, one pattern: Bonnie Sveen’s career has consistently balanced a leading soap role with creative side projects and advocacy.

Is Bonnie Sveen married?

Yes, Bonnie Sveen married assistant director Nathan Gooley in 2023. The wedding was an intimate Tasmanian celebration with family and friends, according to New Idea (Australian lifestyle magazine).

Who is Bonnie Sveen’s husband?

Nathan Gooley works as an assistant director in the Australian film and television industry. The couple have been in a relationship since 2015 (Wikipedia).

Does Bonnie Sveen have children?

She and Gooley have twin daughters, born 29 September 2018, according to IMDb (entertainment database). In an interview, Sveen called them her “miracle babies” (WHO Magazine).

The implication: While she keeps a low profile, her wedding and family milestones are publicly documented, showing a selective openness.

What is Bonnie Sveen doing now?

Bonnie Sveen remains active in the entertainment industry, but her work now spans multiple disciplines. She works as a makeup artist and Head of Department for Make Up, according to IMDb. She also continues to act, with recent credits including the TV series The Twelve (Woman’s Day).

What is Bonnie Sveen’s current profession?

• Makeup artist and Head of Department for Make Up (IMDb)
• Director and board member of Friends of Bonorong, a Tasmanian wildlife charity (IMDb)
• Ambassador for the Save the Tassie Devil Appeal and IFAW Australia (IMDb)

Is Bonnie Sveen still acting?

Yes. Besides The Twelve, she had roles in The Secret Daughter, Rosehaven, and the 2024 series Thou Shalt Not Steal (Woman’s Day). She also wrote and directed the short film Riley, which premiered at the Far South Film Festival in 2023 (IMDb).

The pattern: Sveen’s move into behind-the-scenes roles suggests a long-term shift in her career focus.

When did Bonnie Sveen leave Home And Away?

Bonnie Sveen left the main cast of Home and Away in 2016 after being cast in the series The Secret Daughter (Wikipedia). Her character Ricky Sharpe was written out.

Why did Bonnie Sveen leave Home and Away?

Her departure was driven by a new role: she joined the cast of the Australian drama The Secret Daughter (Wikipedia). The move marked a natural progression in her career.

When did she return?

She returned for a guest appearance in 2020, reprising the role of Ricky Sharpe (Wikipedia). In 2026, reports surfaced that she would return again after about a decade away (Woman’s Day).

“It feels like I’ve stepped back in time.”

— Bonnie Sveen, on returning to Home and Away in 2020 (Woman’s Day)

What this means: Her willingness to return to the role after a decade highlights the enduring appeal of the character and her connection to the show.

Who is Ricky from Home And Away?

Ricky Sharpe is a fictional character on the Australian soap opera Home and Away, played by Bonnie Sveen from 2013 to 2016 and again in guest appearances thereafter.

Who played Ricky Sharpe?

Bonnie Sveen portrayed Ricky Sharpe across 200+ episodes. The character was introduced as a love interest for Brax (Steve Peacocke) and became central to the show’s Summer Bay community (Wikipedia).

What is Ricky’s storyline?

• Arrived in Summer Bay seeking a fresh start
• Formed a relationship with Brax, leading to a love triangle with his brother Heath
• Left in 2016 to pursue a modelling career (in-story reason) (Woman’s Day)

The catch: While Bonnie Sveen’s portrayal defined the character, Ricky Sharpe’s storyline also reflects typical soap opera tropes of love triangles and fresh starts.

What is Bonnie Sveen’s early life and education?

Bonnie Sveen was born on 14 July 1989 in Hobart, Tasmania, Australia (Wikipedia). She began acting with the Huon Valley Theatre Company before training at the National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA), one of Australia’s premier acting schools (Wikipedia).

Where was Bonnie Sveen born?

Hobart, Tasmania, Australia.

What school did she attend?

She attended NIDA, graduating with a degree in acting (Wikipedia).

The implication: Her training at NIDA provided a strong foundation for a career that has now expanded beyond acting.

Timeline

Key milestones in Bonnie Sveen’s life and career, drawn from Wikipedia and other sources:

What this timeline shows: The most significant career events cluster around her years on Home and Away, with later diversification into other fields.

What’s clear and what’s not

Based on available sources, here’s a breakdown of confirmed facts versus areas with less certainty.

The pattern: Most personal details are confirmed, but the lack of disclosure on net worth and future projects indicates a deliberate privacy boundary.

Quotes and perspectives

“I called them my miracle babies.”

— Bonnie Sveen, on her twin daughters (WHO Magazine)

Sveen said returning to Home and Away in 2020 felt like stepping back in time, according to Woman’s Day / Now To Love.

Summary

Bonnie Sveen’s story is one of steady reinvention: from community theatre in Tasmania to a Logie-winning role on Australia’s most famous soap, then a pivot into makeup artistry and wildlife advocacy. For fans wondering what’s next, the 2026 return to Summer Bay suggests the character still has life — and so does the actress behind it. For Bonnie Sveen, the trade-off is clear: she continues to diversify, and her next move is rarely a straight line.

Frequently asked questions