Jessica Dominique Marais is a South African-born Australian actress best known for her roles in Australia.
Jessica Marais Biography
Table of Contents
Marais was born on 29th January 1985 in Johannesburg, South Africa. Her family lived in both Canada and New Zealand before finally relocating to Perth, Western Australia when she was about nine years old.
Six months after her family relocated, Marais’ father Tony died of a heart attack, and the actress alongside her sister Clara was raised by their Mother Karen alone.
Marais went to a Catholic co-educational school, John XXIII College in Claremont for a year. She further attended the National Institute of Dramatic Art and graduated in 2007. Her appearances, while she was still a student at NIDA, included Ophelia in William Shakespeare’s Hamlet and Charity in Sweet Charity. While rounding up her final year she won the role in Packed to the Rafters, alongside co-star and fellow NIDA graduate Hugh Sheridan.
Career
She got her first role while she was still a student at the National Institute of Dramatic Art as Rachael Rafter in the Television series “Packed to the Rafters”. Because of her exceptional talent, her contract was renewed, and she starred in it from season one to series to season four before finally leaving the show.
Marais also got a role in Rai Fazio’s film “Two Fists, One Heart” alongside fellow Perth actors Tim Minchin and Daniel Amalm. She also guest-starred in the popular American series, Legend of the Seeker filmed in Auckland, New Zealand, playing the role of the woman in the red suit; Mord’Sith Denna.
Marais later moved from Australia to Los Angeles to pursue a career in Hollywood. Marais then went to Miami to film the US drama Magic City.
Jessica Marais Marraige
In 2009, the actress got engaged to former Packed to the Rafters co-star James Stewart. The couple ended their five years relationship amicably but before the end of the relationship, they both welcomed their daughter in 2012.
Jessica Marais Movies
The beautiful and talented actress, Jessica Marais has starred in the following films and TV shows;
- Two Fists, One Heart (2008)
- Packed to the Rafters (2008-2013)
- Legend of the Seeker (2009-2010)
- Fish Lips (2010)
- Needle (2010)
- Magic City (2012-2013)
- Love Child (2014-2017)
- Charlotte (2014)
- That Sugar Film (2015)
- The Wrong Girl (2016-2017)
- Have You Been Paying Attention? (2016)
- Chasing Wonders (2021)
Awards
Marais has won and has been nominated seven times in the TV Week Logie Awards popularly called the Logies;
In 2009, she won her first Logies when she won the “Most Popular New Female Talent” and also the Graham Kennedy Award for “Most Outstanding New Talent” for her role in “Packed to the Rafters”. Similarly, for her role on the same show, she was nominated for the Gold Logie in 2011 and nominated in the category of “Most Popular Actress” in 2010, 2011, and 2012.
Also in 2015, she was nominated for the “Most Outstanding Actress” for her role in “Carlotta”, and also nominated for the “Most Popular Actress” award for her roles in “Carlotta and Love Child”.
Marais won “Most Popular Actress” in 2016 for “Love Child” and 2017 for “Love Child and The Wrong Girl”. Also in the same year, she was again nominated for the Gold Logie and “Most Outstanding Actress” in 2017.
Jessica Marais Net Worth
Marais is listed among the most influential and richest South African celebrities. The actress’s net worth is $6 million.