Former Home and Away star Tessa James has unveiled her major transformation on live TV.

The popular star appeared on The Morning Show on Thursday in her first television interview since 2015.

WATCH VIDEO ABOVE: Former Home and Away star Tessa James wows on TMS

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James - now a mum to three boys - became a firm favourite on the Aussie soap, playing Nicole Franklin between 2008 and 2011.

But while many would remember her bleach blonde hair and surfer girl style on the show, it was a very different-looking James who spoke to Kylie Gillies and Matt Doran on TMS.

The actress’ now dark blonde locks were slicked back into a smart, stylish bun and she wore a designer Albus Lumen white suit - a far cry from the low-cut jeans and tight singlets she wore on Home and Away.

James hasn’t just transformed her style though, with the former actress also revealing that she has embarked on a new career path.

The 32-year-old has started home styling business AKI Interior Design with her mother and sister, and is also studying interior architecture.

“I’ve always been creative and my mum is an interior architect and so is my sister,” she said.

“We decided to come together and rebrand AKI and really go for it.

“I’m studying interior architecture - I’m halfway through that degree - and we just really enjoy working with each other.

“We are a really good support system with each other and we are able to help each other. My sister has a little girl as well, so it’s a nice juggling act.”

James, who’s married to former professional NRL player Nate Myles, said the company had already worked on some major projects together.

“Faulkner House is a real favourite of mine and Alexandra House,” she said.

“They are really rich and furniture heavy, which is so beautiful. We also did a development called Awaken on the Gold Coast, which is getting built now.”

An impressed Kylie then suggested that James should use her skills to overhaul the Home and Away diner.

“They should get me back to redesign the set of Home and Away, that would be brilliant,” she agreed.

“That’s quite an idea, Kylie! I was a fashion designer on the show, Nicole, so I’ve always been really creative!

“But this is like a second life for me and it goes really well with my life now and it’s flexible with my life now and it’s flexible with the boys.

“But also really stimulating for myself and that other part of me, which is really great.”

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