Netflix star Adam Demos’ rise from Wollongong farmer to international sex symbol
Adam Demos went from farmer and steelworker to global sex icon as Brad Simon in the raunchy Netflix series Sex/Life – a role that has scored the Aussie more than just fame.
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Adam Demos’ piercing blue eyes light up when he recalls the moment that changed his life.
It was January 16, 2020 – the day he was cast in a new Netflix show called Sex/Life. He didn’t realise at the time but the actor from Wollongong who had got his break in popular drama Unreal was about to explode globally.
“I did an audition, a self tape for it with a friend of mine and went through the motions,’’ he says.
“The creator of Sex/Life was the show runner of season three and four of Unreal so she already knew me and we had a relationship.
“Obviously a lot of people put their hat in the ring for that one, it was a new show and then I still remember, I was driving from Sydney to Wollongong to put down another audition and got a call from all my reps over there.
“Stacy (Rukeyser), the show runner, then called and I was on loud speaker with her and all the writers and they were screaming I got the role. It was so cool.”
No one could have predicted the success of Sex/Life, or specifically the buzz around Demos.
He co-starred with Sarah Shahi and they filmed countless raunchy scenes in the bitter cold of Toronto, Canada.
It was released in mid 2021 and viewers went into a frenzy over its steamy storylines but also Demos’ full-frontal shower moment in episode three.
His manhood was the talk of Hollywood gossip sites with every talk show asking – was it real or prosthetic? It quickly became the No.1 show on Netflix.
“When you’re shooting these things you don’t think they’re going to be a viral moment,’’ he says.
“I don’t even think TikTok was around or that popular. Then it becomes its own thing and everyone now knows it’s a prosthetic. I think that was part of the intrigue.
“It was all this good humoured speculation and you just have to have a laugh. My mates have ammunition on me forever with that scene. They think it was hilarious.”
Demos is still in awe at the success of the series intermittently filmed during Covid and which was later renewed for a second season.
His following skyrocketed and suddenly he had over a million followers on Instagram and was a sex symbol all over the world.
The new instalment premiered last month and quickly shot to No.1 again.
“I hear that people have a great time on sets but you don’t know what’s going to resonate with people,” he says.
“Shooting Sex/Life was one of the most incredible experiences, creatively we all felt it was special, because you can relate to all the characters in certain ways.
“But that doesn’t mean it will translate to audience numbers but when it did it was like, ‘what the hell just happened’.
“It was probably -2 degrees and we’re naked in this pool and it’s snowing in parts. You’re trying to make it look sexy but it was freezing. We shot for two weeks and then shut down.
“I was away for a year, everyone else was either Canadian or American and I was the only Australian.
“They said two weeks to stop the spread so I didn’t fly home and then it was five months later.
“Sarah went back to LA during Covid and everyone just went their separate ways and I was on my own there.
“It wasn’t as hard as you think because I was only assuming it was two weeks at a time that we’d be delayed. Then I felt so fortunate because at a time when no one was working we got to go back and film. I felt beyond grateful.
“I think you’re the luckiest person in the world if you can call acting your job if you love acting – but at a time when no one had employment, it was a real gift.”
Finding love
The other unexpected reward for Demos was finding the love of his life in Shahi.
She was previously married to Steve Howey with whom she shares two sons and a daughter. He says he just clicked with the mother of three.
They live together in LA now and often talk about the future and their forever love.
“We started to get to know each other and you hear about a lot of people who get together when they film and then it ends, and they go their separate ways,’’ he says.
“I just fell in love with who she is and what she’s about. Her soul, the way she talks about her kids and her family and as a professional, too, I think she’s one of the best actors ever. I learn a lot when I get to work with her.”
When a second series was given the green light Demos, 37, and Shahi, 43, were over the moon.
This time they could act together as Brad and Billie but it was real.
“First and foremost we met as actors so we’re so professional and make sure the people who gave us these jobs we repay the faith,’’ Demos says.
“It’s certainly easier to act with her in romantic scenes because it’s someone I love. There’s a lot of time like right now when I’m back in Australia you can’t be together so to be able to shoot that show, work together and live together, it’s like a dream.”
Boy from the ‘Gong’
Demos has been home visiting family and friends and discussing potential new projects.
Despite his new-found fame he’s still just a boy from the ‘Gong’.
“It’s such a cruisy town,’’ he says.
“Yeah of course people recognise you but they’re so lovely about it. I was born there and I grew up there, it’s more about my friends who were there before the acting started, they’re just so proud.
“They love to see you succeed. Even though they didn’t understand the industry that I was getting into, they never told me not to do it. They just have always had my back. They’re just proud it’s working out.
“It’s a warm feeling, it’s not like this overwhelming thing. Everyone gives you a good pat on the back and wants to have a beer and celebrate.
“My best mates before I started acting are still my best mates now so they’re the ones you come back to and hang out with.”
Demos’ focus is on acting but he’s also wanting to give back. Via his friend, actor Wilmer Valderrama, who is a global ambassador of the United Service Organizations, he has visited troops in Munich and hopes to visit troops closer to home in Darwin.
“They showed us all these demonstrations and we put on a barbecue and played games and stuff,’’ Demos said.
“That’s a real gift of this, doing cool experiences that are real eye openers.”
He enjoys LA life but doesn’t feel the pressure that many other actors do over there.
“It’s good because it’s not about the industry for me,’’ Demos says.
“Sometimes people go and there’s a lot of pressure for a career. For me it’s about family and it’s got a different side to it because it’s home.”
Shahi has visited Australia once, spending three days in Wollongong in October last year with Demos’ mum Lindy and friends.
“She’s very busy with kids and her career,’’ Demos says.
“One thing she’s so incredible about is she’s so active with keeping in contact and getting to know my friends and mum through FaceTime. She flew down for three nights and spent three nights in Wollongong – just me, my mum and my best mates.
“It was so cool. They loved her and she loved everyone. She was confused why everyone was so nice. No road rage, like a real version of the Truman Show.
“When I come back to the Gong it is so beautiful and lovely and it’s nice to see it through her eyes.
“She’ll be back soon and I want to show her Australia. She wants me to show her a kangaroo and koala. The goal is to have a place here and there.
“With her work and she’s got her little ones, so we’ll always have to have a place in the States. But we want to have a place here too. She said we must have a house here in Australia because it’s just too beautiful. I will always come back to Australia.”
Journey to becoming an actor
Demos started acting on an impulsive whim.
He grew up on a hobby farm with 130 acres and was 22, toiling away in the steel works, when he thought he’d give an acting class a go.
“The story goes, I thought acting would be cool,’’ he says.
“That’s it. I just thought that looks interesting. I didn’t do drama at school, left school and worked in demolition with my dad. I travelled and did a bunch of jobs and then when I was about 22 I was working in the steel works and I couldn’t shake this feeling of like, I just have to try it.
“I think travelling teaches you a lot and mum always encouraged me to try anything and just try to be a good man. That’s basically what she’d say. I called her one day and said can you google acting classes.
“The reason I had to call her was because we lived on a farm with no internet. I came home and she had printed out google pages of the top eight acting classes.
“I called up and started a beginners class two weeks later on a Saturday and didn’t tell anyone. I drove three hours to do it. Then I got the bug and didn’t tell anyone til I figured out I was going to pursue it.”
Demos credits actor Zoe Carides for kickstarting his career after she invited him to be in a 15-minute play.
“We did eight plays a night for a week,’’ he says.
“After it I went to watch theatre. I’d never seen theatre, I was in a play before I’d ever watched a play. That’s how green I was. It was in Sydney, in Newtown, I was on stage before I’d seen one. I was the furthest thing from an artist background.”
From humble beginnings he’s now one of Australia’s most high profile imports.
Demos’ other credits include romantic films Falling Inn Love opposite Christina Milian, shot in New Zealand, and A Perfect Pairing with Victoria Justice filmed in Queensland.
His eyes light up again when discussing those.
“I’m so grateful I did those movies,’’ he says.
“It really balances out that it’s hard for my family to watch Sex/Life. It’s hard for my mum but she can easily watch A Perfect Pairing.
“She has to watch Sex/Life with her hands over her eyes and probably puts ear plugs in, too.
“It’s never really been a genre thing, it’s the character. I just never want to be playing a role I can never do justice.
“That’s not going to help with longevity. I truly genuinely love acting so much and I want to repay the person that’s given me the gig.”
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