Nicholas Smith is a fictional character in the Australian soap opera Home and Away. He first appeared during the episode airing on 18 March 1999, played by Matt Juarez in a guest role and then returned as a regular character on 26 April 2000, now played by Chris Egan, and departed on 12 September 2003. Aaron Puckeridge also played Nick in flashbacks in 2003. Casting In a live chat session on the official Home and Away website, Egan answered several questions from fans. He spoke of his experiences of being cast as Nick. "It's great, I have a lot of fun, it's like a big family, I learn a lot from them." When asked about working with co-star Kate Garven, who played Jade Sutherland, Egan said "She's great, we have a lot of fun together, a lot of fun playing boyfriend and girlfriend, hard not to have a laugh between scenes. We have a lot of fun." Egan also praised co-stars Brett Hicks-Maitland and Zac Drayson, who plays Nick's on-screen brother, Will. Egan stated he would like to appear in films after leaving the serial and mentioned that filming overseas in London and shooting scenes for Home and Away video spinoff Home and Away: Secrets and the City were among his favorite experiences. Storylines Nick is the younger brother of Will (Zac Drayson) and Hayley Smith (Bec Cartwright). Like Hayley, he was taken into care and showed little interest in Will's plan for them all to settle in Summer Bay, choosing to stay with foster parents even after Hayley had gone to join Will. Nick is first seen when he is fleeing from Johnno, a drug dealer and the leader of a biker gang, whom he owes a large sum of money to. Nick runs to get help from his siblings and is beaten up by Johnno, who considers the debt paid. Nick's foster parents are initially reluctant to take him back following the revelation but after Will and Hayley coax them, Nick returns home. Nick's father Ken (Anthony Phelan) returns after fighting an alcohol problem, he petitions for Nick to return home to reunite the family. Nick is not very keen on the idea. He meets Irene Roberts (Lynne McGranger), Will and Hayley's foster mother and Ken's new partner. He feels that Ken is trying to replace his mother Eve (Robyn Gibbes) and Nick is upset further when he