Former actress Bec Hewitt was spotted enjoying a casual beachside stroll with her youngest daughter, Ava, on Sydney's iconic Bondi Beach this week, presenting a cheerful front despite reports she is privately grappling with empty nest syndrome.
A family in transition
The 42-year-old, who rose to fame playing Hayley Smith on Home and Away, shares three children with tennis champion husband Lleyton Hewitt: Mia, 20, Cruz, 17, and Ava, 15. According to insiders speaking to New Idea magazine, Bec is finding the transition difficult as her children carve out their own busy lives.
"As the kids get older, Bec's seeing less and less of them, which makes her sad. She's twiddling her thumbs," a source revealed. The insider added that while Bec is happy her children are pursuing their dreams, she "can't help but feel like she has no one at the moment."
Following their own paths
Her children are indeed forging distinct futures. Eldest daughter Mia is reportedly embracing a free-spirited lifestyle, touring with her indie band Father's Favourite. Son Cruz is determinedly pursuing a tennis career, while youngest Ava, described as Bec's 'mini-me', juggles dance rehearsals and a burgeoning social life as her own television ambitions grow.
"They love their mum – and Lleyton does, too – but they’re all so busy they can't see that Bec is actually finding it tough without them," the source explained. It's noted that Lleyton, 44, has encouraged his wife to reconnect with friends like Isla Fisher or old TV contacts, but Bec, a private person, is reportedly reluctant to "throw a pity party."
Could a Summer Bay return be the answer?
Amid this personal adjustment, another source has suggested the perfect remedy might be a professional one: a return to Summer Bay. They proposed that a guest role on Home and Away, reprising her beloved role of Hayley Smith for the first time since 2005, could provide a welcome focus.
"Stephen Peacocke and Bonnie Sveen's recent decision to reprise their roles could be just the encouragement she needs to return to her old stomping ground," the source said. Interestingly, the family connection to the long-running soap continues, with daughter Mia photographed on its set in December 2024, 26 years after it made Bec a household name.
For now, the Bondi outing showcased a relaxed, makeup-free Bec in a grey tank top and trackpants, walking one of the family dogs while Ava carried the other. The casual moment offered a glimpse of cherished family time amidst a period of significant change for the former star.
