Home and Away's Ada Nicodemou addresses downside of romance with co-star

 Leah and Justin's relationship has moved off screen.

Home and Away star Ada Nicodemou has spoken out about her real-life romance with co-star James Stewart, admitting that there is a downside to their relationship.

The actors, whose characters Leah and Justin Morgan recently got married on screen, confirmed last week that they are now dating in real life too, after they were spotted kissing by paparazzi.

Speaking on Australian breakfast show Sunrise, Nicodemou called her new relationship with Stewart "very unexpected" but "really, really lovely".

However, she added that experiencing press attention over the romance hasn't been as enjoyable for her, calling it "the yucky part".

"Mainly for me, it's protecting the children. I don't like all of that stuff, I don't like kids being photographed," said Nicodemou, referring to her son and Stewart's daughter.

"But we've signed up to this. It's part of being on TV. There's nothing much you can do about it, really."

The actor, who first arrived in Summer Bay in 2000, also shared the reaction that the relationship news has had from fans so far, saying that she thinks "everyone likes it".

"I remember growing up when [Neighbours characters] Scott and Charlene were together, and you were always like, 'I wonder if they're together in real life'. So I think a lot of fans like it," she said.

But they're two separate things. We're very professional on screen and we do our jobs. And now we've just started a relationship, so two separate things, but we're happy."

Nicodemou also explained that she and Stewart have actually known each other for 27 years and that they have "always been close", but that their friendship only turned romantic recently.

The pair filmed wedding scenes for Leah and Justin last year, with Nicodemou previously praising the fact that the couple, who have experienced a huge amount of heartache over the years, enjoyed a "beautiful, normal wedding".

"I just wanted it to be like a nice wedding with nothing bad happening, and that's what happened," she said.