In news sending fans into a frenzy, Home and Away’s breakout newcomer Lara Maddox has confirmed she is not only dating her on-screen co-star Evan Porter, but the pair are now officially engaged after a whirlwind real-life romance that began just months after she joined the show.

Speaking exclusively in an emotional new interview, the 27-year-old actress revealed the couple had tried to keep their relationship private at first, fearing the intense spotlight that follows any Home and Away pairing. But after paparazzi photos surfaced last week showing the pair sharing a kiss on Sydney’s Northern Beaches, Maddox decided to set the record straight — and share the happy news herself.

“Yes, we’re together,” she said with a smile that insiders say she hasn’t been able to hide for weeks. “And… we’re getting married.”

The revelation reportedly sent her publicist scrambling, with the Home and Away team initially believing Maddox planned only to confirm the relationship — not announce the engagement that even some cast members didn’t know about yet.

According to the rising star, the romance began “completely unexpectedly” shortly after she started filming scenes for her character, fiery lifeguard Lila Reeves. Porter — who plays popular surf club instructor Heath Lennox — was assigned to help her settle into the tight-knit cast. The pair quickly formed a close friendship that colleagues describe as “instant chemistry.”

“It wasn’t dramatic or messy or complicated,” Maddox said. “It was just… simple. Easy. It felt right from the beginning.”

Sources on set say the two became “practically inseparable” during filming breaks, often seen rehearsing lines together, grabbing coffee, or staying behind long after the cameras stopped rolling. But the couple remained adamant they didn’t want to rush anything — until an unexpected turning point a few months ago.

Maddox explained that during a weekend getaway to Byron Bay, Porter surprised her with a quiet sunset proposal on the beach. “It wasn’t planned, and that’s what made it perfect,” she said. “We both cried. We knew, without any doubt, that it was the next step for us.”

Porter, 30, has since confirmed the news too, calling Maddox “the love of my life” and admitting he had been carrying the ring “for weeks” trying to find the right moment.

The engagement has already caused a buzz among fans speculating whether the writers will mirror the romance on screen. While producers remain tight-lipped, insiders hint that the pair’s chemistry has not gone unnoticed and may influence future storylines.

For now, Maddox says the couple are taking each day as it comes — basking in their new chapter while navigating the unexpected spotlight.

“We didn’t expect any of this to happen so quickly,” she admitted. “But when you meet your person… you just know.”

Summer Bay has seen countless love stories over the years — but this one might just be the most heart-warming of all.