Jessica Marais
Encyclopedia
Jessica Dominique Marais (born 29 January 1985 in South Africa) is an Australian actress who hails from Perth
, Western Australia. She is best known for her role as Rachel Rafter in the television series Packed to the Rafters
.
Six months upon arrival in Australia Marais' father Tony, died from a heart attack while returning from a family picnic. Marais and her younger sister Clara, where raised by her mother Karen. She attended John XXIII College for a year and then went to St Hilda's Anglican School for Girls
from 1995 until her graduation in 2002.
Jessica 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
.
when she was cast in the role of Rachel Rafter on the television series Packed to the Rafters
. The television series become a success and was instantly renewed. On Sunday 3 May 2009, Marais won the Logie
for "Most Popular New Female Talent" and the prestigious Graham Kennedy
Award for "Most Outstanding New Talent" at the Logie Awards of 2009
for her performance in Australian TV Drama Packed to the Rafters
. In February 2011 it was announced that Marais had left Packed to the Rafters
, with her final episode airing on 23 August 2011. Marais starred in the series from Season One
until Season Four
from 2008-2011.
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. Jessica guest-starred in the American series, Legend of the Seeker
filmed in Auckland New Zealand, playing the role of a Mord'Sith, Denna.
After departing Packed to the Rafters, Marais relocated to Los Angeles to pursue a career in hollywod productions. Marais is set to head to Miami, to film scenes for a 10-episode US drama Magic City (TV series)
.
co-star James Stewart
. Stewart portrays the role of Jake Barton in the series. When Marais departed the series, Stewart remained on the television series.
On November 15, 2011, Marais and Stewart announced that they are expecting their first child.
Perth, Western Australia
Perth is the capital and largest city of the Australian state of Western Australia and the fourth most populous city in Australia. The Perth metropolitan area has an estimated population of almost 1,700,000....
, Western Australia. She is best known for her role as Rachel Rafter in the television series Packed to the Rafters
Packed to the Rafters
Packed to the Rafters is an Australian family-orientated television series which premiered on the Seven Network on Tuesday 26 August 2008 at 8:30 pm. The drama series features a mix of lighthearted comedy woven through the plot. It revolves around the Rafter family facing work pressures and...
.
Early Life
Born in South Africa, Marais and her family lived in Canada and New Zealand before relocating to Perth, Western Australia, when she was nine.Six months upon arrival in Australia Marais' father Tony, died from a heart attack while returning from a family picnic. Marais and her younger sister Clara, where raised by her mother Karen. She attended John XXIII College for a year and then went to St Hilda's Anglican School for Girls
St Hilda's Anglican School for Girls
Established in Claremont in 1896, the school currently caters for approximately 1,052 students from the Early Learning Centre to Year 12, including 150 boarders in Years 7 to 12...
from 1995 until her graduation in 2002.
Jessica attended the National Institute of Dramatic Art
National Institute of Dramatic Art
The National Institute of Dramatic Art is an Australian national training institute for students of theatre, film, and television, based in the Sydney suburb of Kensington. It is supported by the federal Office for the Arts, Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. NIDA is located adjacent...
where she graduated in 2007. NIDA appearances included Ophelia in William Shakespeare's Hamlet
Hamlet
The Tragical History of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark, or more simply Hamlet, is a tragedy by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written between 1599 and 1601...
and Charity in Sweet Charity
Sweet Charity
Sweet Charity is a musical with music by Cy Coleman, lyrics by Dorothy Fields and book by Neil Simon. It was directed and choreographed for Broadway by Bob Fosse starring his wife and muse Gwen Verdon. It is based on Federico Fellini's screenplay for Nights of Cabiria...
. While still completing her final year she won the role in Packed to the Rafters, along with co-star and fellow NIDA
National Institute of Dramatic Art
The National Institute of Dramatic Art is an Australian national training institute for students of theatre, film, and television, based in the Sydney suburb of Kensington. It is supported by the federal Office for the Arts, Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. NIDA is located adjacent...
graduate Hugh Sheridan
Hugh Sheridan
Hugh Sheridan is an Australian actor, singer and performer who is best known for his role as Ben Rafter in the television series Packed to the Rafters.-Early life:...
.
Career
Marais was attending NIDANida
Nida may refer to:* Nida, Lithuania* Nida in Poland* Nida , an ancient roman town in the northwestern suburbs of today's Frankfurt am Main, Germany* Nida, Świętokrzyskie Voivodeship, Poland...
when she was cast in the role of Rachel Rafter on the television series Packed to the Rafters
Packed to the Rafters
Packed to the Rafters is an Australian family-orientated television series which premiered on the Seven Network on Tuesday 26 August 2008 at 8:30 pm. The drama series features a mix of lighthearted comedy woven through the plot. It revolves around the Rafter family facing work pressures and...
. The television series become a success and was instantly renewed. On Sunday 3 May 2009, Marais won the Logie
Logie Award
The TV Week Logie Awards are the Australian television industry awards, which have been presented annually since 1959. Renamed by Graham Kennedy in 1960 after he won the first 'Star Of The Year' award, the name 'Logie' awards honours John Logie Baird, a Scotsman who invented the television as a...
for "Most Popular New Female Talent" and the prestigious Graham Kennedy
Graham Kennedy
Graham Cyril Kennedy, AO was an Australian radio, television and film performer, often called Gra Gra and The King of Australian television.-Childhood:...
Award for "Most Outstanding New Talent" at the Logie Awards of 2009
Logie Awards of 2009
The 51st Annual TV WEEK Logie Awards was held on Sunday 3 May 2009 at the Crown Entertainment Complex in Melbourne, and televised on the Nine Network. The awards ceremony was hosted by Gretel Killeen and had over 1.6 million people watching the Logie Awards telecast. Performing on the night were...
for her performance in Australian TV Drama Packed to the Rafters
Packed to the Rafters
Packed to the Rafters is an Australian family-orientated television series which premiered on the Seven Network on Tuesday 26 August 2008 at 8:30 pm. The drama series features a mix of lighthearted comedy woven through the plot. It revolves around the Rafter family facing work pressures and...
. In February 2011 it was announced that Marais had left Packed to the Rafters
Packed to the Rafters
Packed to the Rafters is an Australian family-orientated television series which premiered on the Seven Network on Tuesday 26 August 2008 at 8:30 pm. The drama series features a mix of lighthearted comedy woven through the plot. It revolves around the Rafter family facing work pressures and...
, with her final episode airing on 23 August 2011. Marais starred in the series from Season One
Packed to the Rafters (season 1)
The first season of Packed to the Rafters, an Australian drama television series, began airing on 26 August 2008 on the Seven Network. The season concluded on 24 March 2009 after 22 episodes....
until Season Four
Packed to the Rafters (season 4)
The fourth season of Packed to the Rafters, an Australian drama television series, began on 8 February 2011 on the Seven Network. The season will conclude after 22 episodes.-Regular:*Rebecca Gibney as Julie Rafter*Erik Thomson as Dave Rafter...
from 2008-2011.
Marais also starred in Rai Fazio's film Two Fists, One Heart
Two Fists, One Heart
Two Fists, One Heart is an 2009 Australian drama film directed by Shawn Seet and written by Rai Fazio, and is based on Fazio's own life growing up. The film is set and was shot in Perth, Western Australia.-Plot:...
with fellow Perth
Perth, Western Australia
Perth is the capital and largest city of the Australian state of Western Australia and the fourth most populous city in Australia. The Perth metropolitan area has an estimated population of almost 1,700,000....
actor Tim Minchin
Tim Minchin
Timothy David "Tim" Minchin is a British-Australian comedian, actor, and musician.Tim Minchin is best known for his musical comedy, which has featured in six CDs, three DVDs and a number of live comedy shows which he has performed internationally. He has also appeared on television in Australia,...
and Daniel Amalm
Daniel Amalm
Daniel Amalm is an Australian actor and musician.-Early life:Daniel's mother is Maltese and his father is Swedish. Daniel's Father introduced Daniel to Guitar from an early age...
which was released in March 2009. Jessica guest-starred in the American series, Legend of the Seeker
Legend of the Seeker
Legend of the Seeker is a television series based on The Sword of Truth novels by Terry Goodkind. Distributed in U.S. by Disney-ABC Domestic Television, ABC Studios produced the series, which was its first foray into broadcast syndication, with Sam Raimi, Robert Tapert, Joshua Donen, Ned Nalle and...
filmed in Auckland New Zealand, playing the role of a Mord'Sith, Denna.
After departing Packed to the Rafters, Marais relocated to Los Angeles to pursue a career in hollywod productions. Marais is set to head to Miami, to film scenes for a 10-episode US drama Magic City (TV series)
Magic City (TV series)
Magic City is an upcoming television drama series starring Jeffrey Dean Morgan scheduled to begin filming in 2011 and premiere on the network Starz in 2012....
.
Personal Life
Marais is engaged to former Packed to the RaftersPacked to the Rafters
Packed to the Rafters is an Australian family-orientated television series which premiered on the Seven Network on Tuesday 26 August 2008 at 8:30 pm. The drama series features a mix of lighthearted comedy woven through the plot. It revolves around the Rafter family facing work pressures and...
co-star James Stewart
James Stewart (Australian actor)
James Stewart is an Australian stage, television and film actor, best known for his appearances in the television series Breakers, Monarch Cove and Packed to the Rafters...
. Stewart portrays the role of Jake Barton in the series. When Marais departed the series, Stewart remained on the television series.
On November 15, 2011, Marais and Stewart announced that they are expecting their first child.
Filmography
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | Two Fists, One Heart Two Fists, One Heart Two Fists, One Heart is an 2009 Australian drama film directed by Shawn Seet and written by Rai Fazio, and is based on Fazio's own life growing up. The film is set and was shot in Perth, Western Australia.-Plot:... |
Kate | |
| 2008–2011 | Packed to the Rafters Packed to the Rafters Packed to the Rafters is an Australian family-orientated television series which premiered on the Seven Network on Tuesday 26 August 2008 at 8:30 pm. The drama series features a mix of lighthearted comedy woven through the plot. It revolves around the Rafter family facing work pressures and... |
Rachel Rafter | 73 episodes |
| 2009–2010 | Legend of the Seeker Legend of the Seeker Legend of the Seeker is a television series based on The Sword of Truth novels by Terry Goodkind. Distributed in U.S. by Disney-ABC Domestic Television, ABC Studios produced the series, which was its first foray into broadcast syndication, with Sam Raimi, Robert Tapert, Joshua Donen, Ned Nalle and... |
Denna | 4 episodes |
| 2010 | Fish Lips | Audrey - adult | Short film |
| 2010 | Needle | Kandi | |
| 2012 | Magic City Magic City (TV series) Magic City is an upcoming television drama series starring Jeffrey Dean Morgan scheduled to begin filming in 2011 and premiere on the network Starz in 2012.... |
Lily Diamond |