Jessica Dominique Marais (born 29 January 1985[citation needed]) is a South African-born Australian actress. She is best known for her roles in Australian television. Her accolades include 5 Logie Awards and 9 nominations, as well as 2 Equity Ensemble Awards nominations.[1]
Born in Johannesburg, South Africa, Marais grew up in Benoni.[2] The family left South Africa when she was three years-old, living in Canada and New Zealand.[2] They eventually settled in Perth in Western Australia, when Marais was nine years-old.[2] Her father, a university dean, diplomat and economist, took up a post at the University of Western Australia.[2] Six months after arriving in Australia, Marais's father Tony died from a heart attack while returning from a family picnic. Marais and her younger sister Clara were raised by their schoolteacher mother Karen.[3][4] Marais later said: "So my mum and my sister and I were accidental Australians because we moved here for his job and then we were sort of marooned, but mum loved Perth, it was such a safe place to bring two little girls."[3]
In February 2011 it was announced that Marais had left the show, with her final episode airing on 23 August 2011.[10] Marais starred in the series from Season One until Season Four from 2008 to 2012. Marais made cameo appearances in the final episode of season 4 on 20 March 2012 and in the series finale on 2 July 2013.
In 2014, Marais starred in a new production of Così by Australian playwright Louis Nowra and directed by David Berthold at La Boite Theatre Building in Brisbane.[14] Natalie Bochenski praised Marais in her Sydney Morning Herald review: "She gives Julie vulnerability without being overwrought, and also puts a great spin on her second character, Lewis' self-righteous radical girlfriend Lucy."[15]
After relocating back to Australia, Marais portrayed Australian transgender entertainer and activist Carlotta in a biographic telefilm for ABCTV Australia.[16] Its worldwide premiere was on 19 June 2014. It was the No. 10 show of the night, and nationally won its timeslot with 811,000 viewers.[17] Also in 2014, Marais had the lead role on Channel Nine's Love Child, where she played the character Dr Joan Millar. She has since appeared on all four seasons of this show.
Marais in 2018 took a step back from acting to look after her mental health, this included withdrawing from Channel 9's Halifax Retribution and also withdrawing from Amazon's Back to the Rafters for personal reasons.[18][19][20]
Her most recent screen appearance was in the 2020 film, Chasing Wonders.[21]
Personal life
Marais was engaged to former Packed to the Rafters co-star James Stewart in 2009.[22] However, in May 2015 Marais announced that she and Stewart had ended their 5-year engagement amicably.[23]
Marais and Stewart have a daughter together born in May 2012. Marais was reported as saying she would return to work filming the second series of Magic City while Stewart would be the baby's full-time caregiver.[24]
Marais as of 2020 had stepped back from acting and was working at a café in Sydney.[25] Her mother, Karen died in 2020.[26] Marais relocated to Perth in 2022. She lives in Mosman Park, having moved into the home of her late mother, Karen.[27]
Marais still has family living in her native South Africa, whom she visits. Her family live in Cape Town, Durban and across the border in Zimbabwe.[2]
Gold Logie Award for Most Popular Personality on Australian Television
Nominated
Notes
^Shared with: Michael Caton, Ryan Corr, Rebecca Gibney, George Houvardas, Gillian Jones, Jessica Marais, Angus McLaren, James Stewart, Erik Thomson, Zoe Ventoura
^Shared with: Michael Caton, Ryan Corr, Merridy Eastman, Rebecca Gibney, George Houvardas, Jessica Marais, Hannah Marshall, Angus McLaren, James Stewart, Erik Thomson
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