For millions of television viewers across Australia, Stephen Peacocke is the very definition of leading-man charisma. He first captured hearts as the brooding yet loyal Darryl “Brax” Braxton

on Home and Away, a role that made him a household name and earned him multiple TV Week Logie Awards. More than a decade later, he’s headlining some of

the country’s most acclaimed dramas, from RFDS to The Newsreader and the darkly compelling new series Human Error.

But behind the confident screen presence lies a man who admits he is still plagued with doubts. Peacocke, 42, may have carved out a reputation as one of Australia’s most reliable and in-demand actors, yet the nerves that rattled him at the start of his career never truly went away.

“I’m endlessly insecure about what I do,” he reveals with a self-deprecating laugh. “With acting, you can never get too comfortable. I always ask myself, is this good enough? That question never really leaves you.”

The Early Struggles: From Tension to Breakthrough

Peacocke’s candid honesty about the early years of his career paints a picture far removed from the glamour of television stardom. When he first joined Home and Away in 2011, he was overwhelmed by anxiety.

“My heart was thumping all the time. For the first two or three months, I was certain I’d be fired,” he recalls. “I’d come home from work and taste blood in my mouth just from talking at the back of my throat, because that’s what happens when you’re nervous. Everything constricts. I was basically a ball of tension until the first episodes went to air—and I realized the audience kind of liked it.”

The audience didn’t just like it—they adored it. His portrayal of Brax, the tough yet deeply protective leader of the River Boys, turned him into one of the most iconic soap stars of the last two decades. Viewers connected to his raw intensity, and suddenly, the man who feared losing his job had become one of the show’s brightest stars.

From Soap to Prestige Drama

Thirteen years later, Peacocke has successfully transitioned from soap heartthrob to dramatic heavyweight. He’s currently starring in three of Australia’s biggest free-to-air dramas. In RFDS, he plays compassionate flight nurse Pete Emerson, soaring through the skies to save lives in remote corners of the country. In The Newsreader, he explores the fast-paced, high-pressure world of 1980s broadcast journalism. And in Human Error, he takes a darker turn as Detective Dylan McKenzie, a cop forced to confront the limits of justice.

Each role is wildly different, yet all are bound together by Peacocke’s ability to dive into flawed, deeply human characters.

“I like playing characters who aren’t perfect,” he explains. “The more flaws you can give a character, the more interesting they are to play. Dylan [in Human Error] is respected in his field, but he’s made mistakes. For me, the challenge was understanding why he did what he did—justifying it in a way that felt truthful.”

Inside Human Error

The new crime thriller Human Error centers on the shocking shooting death of a suburban mother-to-be, a murder that leaves investigators baffled. For Peacocke, it was a chance to break new ground as an actor.

He first heard about the project from director Fiona Banks while filming the comedy-drama Five Bedrooms. “She mentioned she was about to start work on this series. I looked into it and thought, wow, this is tragic but compelling. The story it’s inspired by is so heartbreaking, and the chance to play a role that’s different from what I’ve done recently was exciting.”

His preparation for Detective McKenzie was surprisingly low-key. “I’ve got a mate who’s a retired police officer, so my research was basically just annoying him with endless questions,” he laughs. “That gave me a sense of the technical stuff, but the real work was in getting into Dylan’s head. What he goes through is something I can hardly imagine—something I’d never want to be in myself. But as an actor, you’ve got to dig into those choices and justify them.”

The ‘Sexy Cop’ Label

Publicity for the show describes his character as “tough and sexy,” a label Peacocke finds amusing. “That’s the one part of the casting I really scratched my head about,” he chuckles. “I’m not sure where the ‘sexy’ part came from!”

Still, fans beg to differ. Peacocke remains one of the most popular figures on Australian television. He has three Logie Awards to his name and was a presenter at last year’s ceremony alongside The Newsreader co-star Michelle Lim Davidson. But even with recognition, award nights leave him rattled.

“Whenever I have to speak publicly, I can’t eat or drink,” he admits. “I sit there with my heart pounding. I’m getting a little better, but I still get so nervous.”

That same night, RFDS won the Logie for Best Drama Program—an unexpected victory that left the entire cast celebrating. “It was genuinely a massive surprise, and it made the whole night special for us,” he says.

Life Beyond the Camera

Away from the spotlight, Peacocke lives a quieter life with his wife, actress Bridget Snedden, and their young daughter. Filming schedules often take him across the country, but he’s looking forward to the next season of RFDS, which will be filmed in South Australia instead of Broken Hill. Locations will include Adelaide and the stunning Flinders Ranges.

“I’ve only been to Adelaide briefly, so we’re excited to explore it,” he says. “And shooting on location in the Flinders will be amazing—it’s such a beautiful part of the country.”

Growing up in Dubbo, New South Wales, Peacocke has always felt at home in regional Australia. Despite stints in Sydney and Melbourne, he admits the open spaces of the bush still call to him. “Moving back to the country is probably the long-term goal. I like the adventure of city life for short bursts, but I feel at peace in the red country around Broken Hill and Dubbo. That feels like home.”

A Career Built on Persistence

Peacocke’s grounded outlook stems from his journey to success. Before Home and Away, he spent more than six years struggling to break into the industry, enduring long stretches of unemployment and uncertainty.

“I’ve done my share of sitting around not getting the cool jobs,” he recalls. “But I like the adventure of that. Acting is a risky job—you never know when the next role will come. But the rewards are great if you’re lucky enough to land one. It’s so much fun, and it’s what I want to do.”

It’s that mix of humility, resilience, and raw talent that has kept Peacocke at the forefront of Australian television. For all his insecurities, his career is proof that doubt doesn’t have to be a weakness—it can be fuel.

“Maybe the nerves are a good thing,” he reflects. “They keep you on your toes. They make you want to push harder and give your best.”

And as audiences tune in to his latest performances, it’s clear that Stephen Peacocke’s best is still to come.