Jade Albany made history on Big Brother. Her next move surprised everyone.

When Jade Albany entered the Big Brother house in 2013, she had no idea what she was in for.

The 22-year-old model was instructed to convince all the housemates that she and 25-year-old engineering student, Anthony Drew, were married.

A married couple as housemates was a historical first for the Australian series…well, if it was true.

Jade and Drew were literal strangers. The faux couple had mere minutes to get to know each other before they had to slide on wedding bands. They had one week to sell this story and if they were successful, they would both be immune from the next eviction.

Of course, like many Big Brother challenges, hilarity ensued. It wasn't quite as unhinged as the time the Logan twins had to convince their housemates they were one person, but it was still very funny.

Drew and Jade had to convince the BB house that they were newlyweds. Image: Nine.

Drew and Jade stumbled when being asked questions about each other (reminder: they were strangers!), leading to them being exposed by the housemates and put up for eviction. Thankfully, the Aussie public saved them.

It turns out that Albany was more up to that task than any viewers knew — she was actually fresh out of another acting job and had her sights set on Hollywood.

"I look back on Big Brother with such fondness. I was working on an American TV show at the time called CAMP for NBC that was shooting and a bunch of people from the show wanted to audition for fun," she told Mamamia.

Jade did believe that she had a lot working against her in the task with Drew, who famously started a relationship with Tully Smyth later in the season.

"I would have liked if my engagement ring fit because that was a pretty big tell it was all fake, but no, actually I wouldn't change a thing. It went exactly the way it was supposed to," she said.

Jade went on to place runner-up in the 2013 finale, with Tahan Lew-Fatt placing third and Tim Dormer taking home the big prize.

Watch Tim Dormer be crowned the winner on Big Brother. Post continues after video.

As for her relationship with the 'ex-hubby' Drew and the other housemates, distance made things complicated.

"I lost touch over time with all the housemates. I've lived in America now for over 10 years, so life has just moved on. But I think he's [Drew is] doing really well, which is awesome! If there was ever a reunion, I'd love to see all the housemates again. They hold a special place in my heart forever," she said.

Following her reality TV big break (which actually followed the Australian-Italian appearing on Italia's Next Top Model), Albany set her sights on a career in acting.

Relocating to Los Angeles, she began to build a career in Hollywood, securing massive roles in television series such as the biopic American Playboy: The Hugh Hefner Story, and the military comedy-drama 68 Whiskey.

"The past decade has been really special. I moved to Hollywood, got my Green Card, and have been working in film and television," she told Mamamia.

She soon found herself rubbing shoulders with Hollywood heavyweights.

Jade Albany starred in The Right Stuff. Image: IMDB.

"I had the honour of being cast by Francis Ford Coppola himself in Megalopolis," Jade continued.

"Megalopolis was the biggest set I'd ever been on, with Adam Driver and others. But the highlight was speaking Italian with Francis Ford Coppola and hearing him tell stories about himself and Robert De Niro. That was truly special."

Albany played Scott Carpenter's wife, Rene Carpenter, in historical drama The Right Stuff, acting opposite One Tree Hill heartthrob James Lafferty.

"One of my favourite jobs was The Right Stuff. My character had so much grit and strength, and I got to wear this beautiful beehive wig and 60s outfits. The cast was incredible — I loved them all. Everything about that job was perfect."

Albany developed a passion for acting at the age of 11. "I did my first theatre show when I was 11 and played a villain," she said. "I fell in love with morphing into another person."

Her early years in Hollywood were 'daunting' for the aspiring actress.

"Did I cry most days that first year in LA? Yes. I didn't know anyone, I was sleeping on a couch, and I had no success at first. But I stuck with it, and I'm so glad I did, because it's been incredible," she said.

"The hardest part was the loneliness in the beginning. I can handle the no's and the closed doors, but I'm really close to my family and friends, so leaving them was the hardest thing I've ever done — and it's still a challenge."

As for Jade's love life, she has been in a relationship with fellow actor Josh Gilmer for five years. "We're producing a movie together that's set to shoot next year," she teased.

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Albany is hoping that her next project will bring her closer to home.

"I'd love to work in Australia again. My grandparents are getting older and my best friends have kids now, so booking a film back home would mean a lot. London is also booming right now, so I'd love to spend some time working there too. I also just finished the first draft of my fantasy novel — so stay tuned for that!" she said.

And who would imagine her story would begin on Big Brother? Jade is aware that her generation of BB housemates was something special.

"There's nothing like it and never will be again. It also gave me the visibility to start pursuing opportunities in the US, which ultimately led to my O1 and then my Green Card so I could live in America and chase my dream of acting," she said.

"I never would have predicted I'd come second, so the fame afterwards was very unexpected. But I loved it — the good, the bad, all of it."

As for the next generation of Big Brother housemates — with the reboot set to air in November this year — she has one nugget of wisdom.

"It may sound cliché, but just be yourself. Don't try to play a character, don't go in with an agenda of what you're going to do or say. Be yourself authentically. Be kind, have fun, and enjoy every minute," she said.

"I'm not sure you can truly recreate the glory days. Being able to do Big Brother 'before' social media was really big was so special."

Feature image: Nine/Supplied.