Ashleigh Brewer Expecting First Child, Shares Journey of Recovery and Love
Australian actress Ashleigh Brewer, known for her roles on The Bold and The Beautiful and Neighbours, is embarking on a new and exciting chapter as she awaits the arrival of her first child. The 35-year-old star, who exchanged vows with film producer Mark Bauch in December, recently confirmed her pregnancy, proudly showcasing her blossoming baby bump for the first time.
“Yes, I’m pregnant. Which is so exciting – I’m going into my third trimester now,” Brewer shared, radiating joy.
Working on the set of the iconic American daytime soap opera during her pregnancy has been a “grounding experience” for Brewer. She’s managed to keep her condition under wraps for the cameras, a process she describes as an “interesting peek behind the curtain.” While she’s understandably keeping some of the on-set secrets, she revealed that wardrobe and clever staging have been key. “Depending on the scene, I’ll either wear clothes that conceal my bump or I’ll hold a bag in front of me,” she explained.
“But it’s funny, in between ‘action’ and ‘cut’, I really forget that I’m pregnant and then I’ll have a director whisper into my microphone, ‘Ashleigh, you’re just rubbing your tummy.’ It’s been such a grounding experience, actually.”
Brewer, who initially joined The Bold and The Beautiful as Ivy Forrester in 2014 and reprised the role in 2024 after departing in 2018, also opened up about a significant personal battle. She revealed that at the age of 18, she developed an eating disorder.
A Journey of Healing and Strength
“I was bulimic and also struggled with anorexia and a restrictive mindset,” Brewer candidly stated. “It developed pretty quickly once I moved out of home to Melbourne and started working. In a weird way, my eating disorder was my best friend.”
Now, five years into her recovery, Brewer feels a profound sense of strength as she navigates her pregnancy. “Where I’ve been and where I am now truly is night and day,” she expressed. “I’m so happy to be pregnant without also battling those voices and that darkness.”
The actress highlighted the significance of her recovery for her unborn daughter. “The fact that I have five years and will continue to stack years of recovery away from my eating disorders means that my daughter also won’t be mirroring behaviours that are unhealed in me.” She also feels incredibly fortunate to be back on The Bold and The Beautiful, cherishing the opportunity and the people she works with.
Adding to her journey of personal growth, Brewer also shared that she has been “sober for three years, too.” She described this as an integral part of her recovery.
A Spontaneous and Intimate Wedding
Brewer also offered a glimpse into her recent wedding to Mark Bauch. The couple opted for a low-key courthouse ceremony in Santa Barbara, a decision made after a two-year engagement. “We couldn’d quite figure out how to do a wedding and where to do it,” she explained. “He’s English, I’m Australian and we live in Los Angeles. In the end, we organised the wedding in nine days. We had a date set at the Santa Barbara courthouse and we just committed to it.”
The intimate affair had a strict guest limit of 10, meaning they had to select their closest friends. Mark’s parents and Brewer’s mother, who flew in from Australia, were among the select few. Brewer’s wedding dress was a simple white silk number that “arrived in the mail two days before the wedding.” Reflecting on the experience, she stated, “It was amazing. I honestly wouldn’t want to do it any other way.”
Cherishing Friendships and Celebrating Success
Beyond her personal milestones, Brewer spoke about her strong network of Australian friends in Los Angeles, a group of about 10 individuals who have been by her side since their teenage years. This esteemed circle includes H2O: Just Add Water co-star Phoebe Tonkin and Neighbours and Barbie co-star Margot Robbie.
Brewer expressed immense pride in Robbie’s current success. “Margot is literally king of the world right now, and rightfully so,” she enthused about her close friend. “I keep reading the quotes from Jacob Elordi [Margot’s Wuthering Heights co-star] doting on her and [talking about] how she is on set. When the world reacted to that, I didn’t think twice because I’ve been on set with Margot and she was that amazing when she was 18.”
She continued, “I’m just so happy for all the success she’s experiencing because anyone who knew her on Neighbours [knew] she worked harder than anyone. Her work ethic is second to none. And if you can believe it, she’s even better than she appears or what people say in magazines. She’s just one in a bazillion, that woman.”
