'I'm going hardcore': Glamorous AFL WAG Olympia Valance reveals the unusual way she's spending her time in Victoria's tough Stage 4 coronavirus lockdown

  • Australian actress Olympia Valance plans to learn Italian during VIC's lockdown
  • Valance returned to Melbourne while her partner travels around for AFL season
  • She has been dating Essendon footballer Thomas Bellchambers since June 2019
  • She hopes to put her new skill into use by travelling to Italy after the pandemic 

Glamorous AFL WAG and Australian actress Olympia Valance has revealed her plans to become fluent in Italian during Victoria's strict coronavirus lockdown.   

Valance is in Melbourne under the city's Stage 4 restrictions, which only permit residents to leave home for work, shopping for essentials, exercise, and medical treatment or caregiving. 

The model headed back to upscale inner-city suburb Port Melbourne with two friends to see it out while her partner, Essendon ruckman Tom Bellchambers, continues travelling to AFL hubs around the country. 

Australian actress and model Olympia Valance (pictured) has revealed she is learning Italian during Melbourne's Stage Four lockdown

Australian actress and model Olympia Valance (pictured) has revealed she is learning Italian during Melbourne's Stage Four lockdown

After feeling as though she squandered the last lockdown, the 27-year-old is determined to make the most of her six weeks at home by learning a new language.

'In the last lockdown, when I was on the farm, I would wake up in the morning and the first thing I thought about was food and you would be thinking about food from the moment you woke up to the moment you went to bed,' she told the Herald Sun.

'This time I’m in Port Melbourne, I have a little bit more of a routine. And you should see how great my coffee skills are. I’m just trying to upskill so we’re not complete slobs when we finish this lockdown.'  

New research shows 63 percent of Australia, almost 11 million people, want to learn a new language, despite international travel restrictions. 

When it came to the most popular language of choice studied by Aussies, it was Italian that came out on top.

With Italian coffee brand Lavazza Australia recently partnering with language app, Duolingo, users can now learn a language in just five minutes a day – the same amount of time it takes to enjoy a cup of coffee.

But the former Neighbours star admitted she was diving right in.

'I’m going hardcore — I’ve got just a little more time on my hands,' she said.   

Valance hopes to put her new skill straight into use, by heading to Italy immediately after the pandemic blows over.   

Valance has been in a relationship with Essendon Bombers footballer Tom Bellchambers since June 2019. They are pictured together in October last year

Valance has been in a relationship with Essendon Bombers footballer Tom Bellchambers since June 2019. They are pictured together in October last year

Valance headed to Melbourne to see out the lockdown while Bellchambers spends his time in AFL hubs around the country during the football season

Valance headed to Melbourne to see out the lockdown while Bellchambers spends his time in AFL hubs around the country during the football season

The former Neighbours star said she became inspired by her British godmother and godsister, who live in Rome and speak the language fluently.    

'Fingers crossed when the borders open back up, I’ll have a chance to visit Italy, indulge in all of their glorious food and coffee, and also have the opportunity to practice the beautiful language with the locals,' Valance said.

The national report, which spoke to more than 1,000 Australians, found Millennials/Gen Y (37%) to be the most eager to learn, closely followed by Centennials/Gen Z (34%) and Gen X (18%). 

Baby Boomers came in at the tail end with just one-in-10 claiming any interest in learning a second 'lingo'. 

Duolingo's app data also showed the number of people studying Italian had increased 27 per cent since last year, dominated by Sydneysiders, followed by Melburnians. 

The former Neighbours star (pictured) last month revealed it had been a 'mixed bag of emotions' being in isolation at her home just outside of Melbourne

The former Neighbours star (pictured) last month revealed it had been a 'mixed bag of emotions' being in isolation at her home just outside of Melbourne

Valance, who is the younger sister of actress and singer Holly Valance, has been in a relationship with the Bombers player, 31, since June 2019. 

Last month, she revealed it has been a 'mixed bag of emotions' as the couple were hunkered down together in home isolation.  

'My partner and I have mainly been isolating just outside of Melbourne in the Daylesford/Hepburn region, where we bought a place at the end of last year,' she told WHO.

'It’s been such a mixed bag of emotions if I’m being honest. There are days I have absolutely loved doing nothing, and really just teaching myself to slow down.' 

'I never normally get this much time at home so that has definitely been a blessing.'