# Jessica Marais

Jessica Dominique Marais (born 29 January 1985) is a South African-born Australian former 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.
Marais, a National Institute of Dramatic Art graduate, landed a breakout role as Rachel Rafter in the Seven Network comedy drama series, Packed to the Rafters (2008-2013). In 2012-2013, she co-starred in the American drama series, Magic City on Starz. She later starred in the Nine Network drama series, Love Child (2013-2017) and the Network 10 drama series, The Wrong Girl (2016-2017). Jessica also played the role of evil mord sith, Mistress Denna in the Legend of the Seeker.

## Early life

Born in Johannesburg, South Africa, Marais grew up in Benoni. The family left South Africa when she was three years-old, living in Canada and New Zealand. They eventually settled in Perth in Western Australia, when Marais was nine years-old. Her father Tony, a university dean, diplomat and economist, took up a post at the University of Western Australia. 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. 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."
She attended a Catholic co-educational school John XXIII College in Claremont for a year, before transferring to St Hilda's Anglican School for Girls in Mosman Park.
Marais attended the National Institute of Dramatic Art where she graduated in 2007. NIDA appearances included Ophelia in William Shakespeare's Hamlet and Charity in Sweet Charity. While still completing her final year she won the role in Packed to the Rafters, along with co-star and fellow NIDA graduate Hugh Sheridan.

## Career

Marais was attending NIDA when she was cast in the role of Rachel Rafter on the television comedy drama series Packed to the Rafters. She went on to earn several accolades for the role. In 2009, she won the Logie Award for Most Popular New Female Talent for her role, beating Margot Robbie and also won the Logie Award for Most Outstanding Newcomer. She was nominated for the Logie Award for Most Popular Actress in 2010 and 2011, losing out to her screen-mother Rebecca Gibney and Asher Keddie. The show was a ratings success in Australia, garnering 2 million viewers each week.
In February 2011 it was announced that Marais had left the show, with her final episode airing on 23 August 2011. 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.
Marais also starred in Rai Fazio's film Two Fists, One Heart with fellow Perth actor Tim Minchin and Daniel Amalm which was released in March 2009. Marais guest-starred in the American series, Legend of the Seeker filmed in Auckland New Zealand, playing the role of the Mord'Sith Mistress Denna. Jessica underwent some fight training to do fight scenes with Richard Cypher. To mimic the character in the books, a custom catsuit, gloves and 8 inch wedge boots were made for Jessica.
After departing Packed to the Rafters, Marais relocated to the United States to pursue acting opportunities stateside. Marais was cast in Magic City, a Starz drama series created by Mitch Glazer and set in 1959 Miami, Florida, in the wake of the Cuban Revolution. Marais starred alongside Jeffrey Dean Morgan and Danny Huston in the series that ran for two seasons.
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. 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."
After relocating back to Australia, Marais portrayed Australian transgender entertainer and activist Carlotta in a biographic telefilm for ABCTV Australia. 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. 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.
Since 2016, Marais had the lead role in Channel Ten's drama The Wrong Girl. Marais was nominated for the Gold Logie in 2017 and 2018.
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.
Her most recent screen appearance was in the 2020 film, Chasing Wonders.

## Personal life

Marais was engaged to former Packed to the Rafters co-star James Stewart in 2009. However, in May 2015 Marais announced that she and Stewart had ended their 5-year engagement amicably.
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.
Marais as of 2020 had stepped back from acting and was working at a café in Sydney. Her mother Karen died in 2020. Marais relocated to Perth in 2022. She lives in Mosman Park, having moved into the home of her late mother.
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.

## Filmography

Film roles :
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 2008 | Two Fists, One Heart | Kate | |
| 2010 | Needle | Kandi | |
| 2013 | Planes | Rochelle | Voice role (Australian and New Zealand dub) |
| 2015 | That Sugar Film | "Actor" | Documentary film |
| 2020 | Chasing Wonders | Janine | |
Television roles :
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 2008–2012, 2013 | Packed to the Rafters | Rachel Rafter | Main role (seasons 1–4); guest role (season 6) |
| 2009–2010 | Legend of the Seeker | Mistress Denna | 4 episodes |
| 2012–2013 | Magic City | Lily Diamond | Main role |
| 2014–2017 | Love Child | Joan Millar | Main role |
| 2014 | Carlotta | Carlotta | Television film |
| 2016–2017 | The Wrong Girl | Lily Woodward | Lead role; also co-producer |
| 2016 | Have You Been Paying Attention? | Herself | Guest Quiz Master |

## Awards and nominations

| Year | Award | Category | Work | Result |
| 2009 | Logie Awards | Most Popular New Female Talent | Packed to the Rafters (Season 1) | Won |
| 2009 | Logie Awards | Graham Kennedy Award for Most Outstanding Newcomer | Packed to the Rafters (Season 1) | Won |
| 2010 | Logie Awards | Most Popular Actress | Packed to the Rafters (Season 2) | Nominated |
| 2011 | Logie Awards | Most Popular Actress | Packed to the Rafters (Season 3) | Won |
| 2011 | Logie Awards | Gold Logie Award for Most Popular Personality on Australian Television | Packed to the Rafters (Season 3) | Nominated |
| 2011 | Equity Ensemble Awards | Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble Series in a Drama Series | Packed to the Rafters | Nominated |
| 2012 | Logie Awards | Most Popular Actress | Packed to the Rafters (Season 4) | Nominated |
| 2012 | Equity Ensemble Awards | Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble Series in a Drama Series | Packed to the Rafters | Nominated |
| 2015 | Logie Awards | Most Popular Actress | Love Child and Carlotta | Nominated |
| 2015 | Logie Awards | Most Outstanding Actress | Love Child and Carlotta | Nominated |
| 2016 | Logie Awards | Most Popular Actress | Love Child | Won |
| 2017 | Logie Awards | Most Popular Actress | Love Child and The Wrong Girl | Won |
| 2017 | Logie Awards | Most Outstanding Actress | Love Child and The Wrong Girl | Nominated |
| 2017 | Logie Awards | Gold Logie Award for Most Popular Personality on Australian Television | Love Child and The Wrong Girl | Nominated |