Back in 2006, Australian actress Nicky Whelan got her big break in TV on the popular show Neighbours. Here, she played Heidi Steiger. However, her stay in Neighbours was short lived, leaving after just one year. Hollywood awaited though, with roles in Scrubs, Halloween II and Hall Pass following.
Whelan has always enjoyed fitness and has done boxing for years. Recently, she has taken up Brazilian Jiu Jitsu under the tutelage of the legendary Rigan Machado. She often refers to him as ‘the boss’ and was also seen performing a flying armbar. Whelan’s venture into BJJ shows how the martial art is opening up into celebrity culture. Similarly, it also shows its growth amongst Australians, with the success of Lachlan Giles and Craig Jones influencing growth in the country.
