Home and Away star Tammin Sursok wants to raise her daughter in Australia

THERE’S an interesting reason why the Home and Away star wants to raise her daughter Down Under instead of in Hollywood.

IT’S been years since Home and Away star Tammin Sursok has called Australia home but there’s one reason why she’s itching to come back.

Sursok dropped everything almost 15 years ago to try her luck in Hollywood and, after a lucrative acting career in the notoriously difficult industry, the Aussie star is ready to return.

The 34-year-old actress recently sat down with Today Extra to speak about her three-year-old daughter Phoenix — who also happens to be Sursok’s primary reason for spending more time down under.

“I had this big epiphany recently ... Los Angeles can be so ‘careful’ rather than carefree, it’s just a very stressful environment,’ she told hosts Sonia Kruger and David Campbell.

“We were actually in Santa Barbara and [Phoenix] was running on the beach without her shoes on and I was like I want that for her,” she added.

Sursok with her three-year-old Phoenix. Picture: John Appleyard

Sursok went on to emphasis that it was Phoenix’s self confidence and body image that she was worried about.

“I want her to feel free and not so stressed about her body image and beauty and all those things that don’t instil strength and compassion, resilience, fortitude, all that kind of stuff,” she said, adding “we have plans to pretty much spend probably 50/50 in Australia.”

The Pretty Little Liars star has been candid in the past about struggling with body issues, taking to Instagram in December to share the “painful messages” of her teenage weight battle.

Tammin Sursok’s Instagram post. Picture: Tammin Sursok/Instagram

The post, which went out to her one million Instagram followers read:

“So I was going through some pictures from my family home and I came across these. It actually took me back to a place of painful memories. I remember the lack of self love and the lack of compassion I had for myself.

“I think it’s important to speak about this around the holidays — especially when all we are seeing is everyone’s ‘highlight’ reel, the filters, the perfect families, the perfect bodies — and I know there are many people out there who are struggling, who don’t feel like they are enough, who have no hope. I PROMISE you, you can change your life. You can get out of a painful situation.

“It takes one positive step in the right direction. Just one step. This is not about weight, it’s about positive change from whatever negative situation you find yourself in. This is coming from me, this was my story, a little girl close to 200 pounds (90kg), who woke up one day and decided enough was enough. I love you all and I truly believe in every one of you. #thisisbeautiful.”

And just as Sursok has previously encouraged others to boost their self-confidence, she’s also sending the same message to her daughter.

In a column for The Daily Telegraphearlier this week, Sursok spoke about her unique Aussie childhood and why they want to raise Phoenix here.

“My husband [writer and producer Sean McEwen] and I have been having conversations about raising a child in the States, where we live now, and raising a child in Australia.

“I want Phoenix to be raised the way I was — without shoes on, running around the beach, and having that sense of freedom you don’t always have in Los Angeles,” she wrote.

Sursok also revealed she tries to keep her daughter’s confidence up with daily affirmations.

“I do affirmations with my daughter every day. It’s about reminding her she’s strong and valuable, that she has a voice. I don’t wake up and tell her, ‘Oh, you’re so pretty.’ We try to instil inner strength,” she said.

Tammin Sursok with her daughter Phoenix and her husband Sean McEwan. Picture: John Appleyard