Jessica Marais
Jessica Marais
Jessica Marais (born 29 January 1985) is an Australian actress. She is known for her roles as Rachel Rafter in the drama series Packed to the Rafters (2008–2013), Lily Diamond in the medical drama series Love Child (2014–2017), and Frankie Doyle in the comedy-drama series The Wrong Girl (2016).
Marais was born in Perth, Western Australia, and raised in Mandurah, a coastal city south of Perth. She attended John Curtin College of the Arts in Fremantle, where she studied drama and dance. After graduating, she moved to Sydney to pursue a career in acting.
Marais' first major role was in the drama series Packed to the Rafters, which aired on Seven Network from 2008 to 2013. She played Rachel Rafter, the eldest daughter of Dave (Erik Thomson) and Julie Rafter (Rebecca Gibney). The series was a critical and commercial success, and Marais received a Logie Award nomination for Most Popular Actress in 2011.
After Packed to the Rafters ended, Marais starred in the medical drama series Love Child, which aired on Nine Network from 2014 to 2017. She played Lily Diamond, a midwife who is forced to give up her newborn daughter for adoption. The series was a critical and commercial success, and Marais received a Logie Award nomination for Most Popular Actress in 2015.
In 2016, Marais starred in the comedy-drama series The Wrong Girl, which aired on Ten Network. She played Frankie Doyle, a woman who is mistaken for a high-class escort. The series was a critical and commercial failure, and was cancelled after one season.
In addition to her television work, Marais has also appeared in several films, including Dark Horse (2011), A Few Best Men (2011), and The Water Diviner (2014).
Marais has been in a relationship with actor James Stewart since 2019. They have a daughter together, Scout Edie Stewart, who was born in May 2020.
Awards and nominations
- 2011: Logie Award nomination for Most Popular Actress (Packed to the Rafters)
- 2015: Logie Award nomination for Most Popular Actress (Love Child)
