When Home and Away alum Sarah Roberts stepped onto the red carpet at the Australian Women’s Film Festival this week, she radiated the kind of confidence and serenity that only comes

after surviving heartbreak and finding renewed love. The 40-year-old actress, who endured a painful and very public split from her husband James Stewart in 2024, seemed to have turned

a corner in her life. With a dazzling smile and a glowing presence, Roberts reminded fans and industry peers why she remains one of Australia’s most admired stars—both on screen and off.

A Vision on the Red Carpet

Sarah Roberts stunned in a vibrant yellow midi dress that effortlessly highlighted her toned frame. The spaghetti straps drew attention to her sculpted arms, while the sunshine hue mirrored the joy she so clearly exuded. Strappy, translucent heels elongated her silhouette, and simple gold bangles completed the look with understated elegance. Her raven hair flowed loosely over her shoulders, catching the light as she posed gracefully for photographers.

The ensemble was perfectly chosen for the occasion—a celebration of women in film—but it also symbolized Sarah’s current chapter: bold, bright, and unapologetically hopeful. Fans and photographers alike remarked on how radiant she appeared, and when asked, Sarah admitted that her inner happiness was now reflecting outwardly.

A Secret Romance No Longer

While Sarah attended the event solo, she did not shy away from acknowledging that a new romance is blossoming in her life. Taking to Instagram last week, she confirmed whispers of a new relationship, teasing her followers with playful hints.

“Yes! I’ve fallen in love with a man—I’m so in love,” she confessed on the Something To Talk About podcast earlier this year, her voice brimming with gratitude. “He makes me feel like I’m in a Bond film every day.”

In her social media posts, Sarah compared her mystery partner to James Bond himself, revealing that the pair enjoy adventurous travels, martinis, and an undercurrent of secrecy that makes their romance feel like a private mission. While she stopped short of unveiling his identity, she suggested that fans might be able to piece together a clue hidden within her comments.

“He makes me feel like a Bond girl,” Sarah gushed. “But one that is emotionally safe, with a calm nervous system. That’s the difference this time. I left you a clue—you’re welcome.”

It was a declaration not just of love, but of transformation. For Sarah, this relationship symbolizes healing and the courage to love again after a marriage that had taken its toll.

Heartbreak in the Spotlight

Sarah’s new joy comes on the heels of a turbulent few years. She and James Stewart, her Home and Away co-star, became one of the soap’s most beloved real-life couples after marrying in 2019. Their romance seemed like a fairy tale—James proposed at the very restaurant where they shared their first date, and their chemistry both on-screen and off made them fan favorites.

But behind closed doors, cracks began to appear. By March 2024, the couple announced their separation, bringing an end to their five-year marriage. For Sarah, the pain was compounded by the fact that their struggles and eventual breakup played out under the glare of public scrutiny.

“Dealing with it in the spotlight, and then everything that came out in the media after, absolutely ripped my heart into a million little pieces,” she revealed candidly in an emotional interview. “But I can’t change anyone else’s actions or the way people behave. What I can take responsibility for is the way that I feel.”

Sarah admitted she had stayed in a relationship that wasn’t healthy for longer than she should have. But instead of bitterness, she has chosen reflection, healing, and growth. “Hurt people hurt people,” she said quietly. “But healed people can heal people. And I’m so happy with where I’m at today.”

Rebuilding from the Ashes

The key to Sarah’s resilience has been her rediscovery of self-love. “I’ve finally found a love for myself, which I didn’t have before,” she confessed. This newfound self-respect has paved the way for her blossoming romance, which she describes as both empowering and liberating.

“I feel grateful to have found someone who allows me to grow in beautiful and unexpected ways,” Sarah shared. “I finally found myself, as clichéd as that may sound.”

Fans have rallied around her, flooding her social media with supportive messages and celebrating the joy she has found after years of personal struggle. Many say they see her as an inspiration, a woman who turned her pain into power and refused to let heartbreak define her.

Rekindling Old Friendships and New Adventures

At the festival, Sarah was also spotted sharing laughs with fellow Home and Away alum Sam Frost. Their reunion delighted fans, reminding everyone of the deep bonds formed on the long-running soap. The two actresses posed together for photos, exuding warmth and camaraderie.

Though Sarah stepped away from Home and Away in 2021 to pursue film projects, her connection to the series and its cast remains strong. For fans, seeing Sarah thrive in her post-soap career while also finding personal happiness is proof that she continues to write her own success story.

Life After James

Meanwhile, James Stewart has also moved forward. He has reportedly begun a relationship with his Home and Away co-star Ada Nicodemou, signaling that both he and Sarah are charting new paths after their separation. While their marriage may not have lasted, it is clear that both parties are seeking happiness in different ways.

Still, for Sarah, this new chapter seems particularly triumphant. Her openness about the pain of her split, combined with the optimism surrounding her secret romance, has struck a chord with fans who see their own struggles reflected in hers.

A Star Who Continues to Shine

Sarah Roberts’s journey is one of resilience, reinvention, and radiant hope. From heartbreak to healing, from public scrutiny to private joy, she has shown that even in the aftermath of profound loss, love—in all its forms—can be found again.

As she stood on the red carpet in that sunshine-yellow dress, Sarah embodied not just the glamour of a movie star but the strength of a woman who has fought her way back to happiness. She has reminded her fans, her peers, and perhaps even herself, that life’s most painful endings can give way to the most beautiful beginnings.

For now, her new love remains shrouded in mystery, a secret she holds close to her heart. But if Sarah’s glowing smile is any indication, this love story is already one worth celebrating.