Jessica Marais: What Happened to the Logie-Winning Actress

For nearly a decade, Jessica Marais was one of Australia’s most recognisable faces on television, winning five Logie Awards for her work on Packed to the Rafters and other series. But since 2019, she has all but vanished from the screen and public life, leaving fans wondering what happened. This article pieces together verified facts and the few clues available to understand her retreat from the spotlight and what she’s doing now.

Full name: Jessica Marais ·
Birth date: 29 January 1985 ·
Birthplace: Cape Town, South Africa ·
Nationality: Australian (naturalized) ·
Occupation: Actress ·
Awards: 5 Logie Awards ·
Children: 1 (with James Stewart)

The table below lays out the essential biographical details that define Marais’s public profile.

What has happened to Jessica Marais?

Where is Jessica Marais now?

• Since stepping away from acting in 2018, Marais has largely withdrawn from public life. Her last screen appearance is the 2020 film Chasing Wonders (Wikipedia).
• Unverified reports suggest she moved to Perth in 2022 and resides in Mosman Park. A 2024 Reddit post (low-confidence source) claimed she stepped away two years ago to prioritise mental well-being (Reddit).
• She maintains a low-profile Instagram account (@jay.may.ray) but rarely posts.

Is Jessica Marais still acting?

• No official announcement of retirement has been made, but she has not taken any acting roles since 2021.
• In 2018, her management stated she was taking the remainder of the year off to focus on health and family (Now To Love). The break appears to have extended indefinitely.

Jessica Marais’s social media activity

• Her Instagram profile (@jay.may.ray) shows occasional personal photos but no professional updates.
• No presence on other major platforms.

The pattern: Marais is present on social media only as a private individual, with no public-facing professional activity.

Why did James Stewart and Jessica Marais split?

When did James Stewart and Jessica Marais break up?

• The couple separated in 2020 after 12 years together (Wikipedia).
• Neither party has publicly disclosed specific reasons, but reports describe the split as amicable, with both focusing on co-parenting their daughter Scout.

James Stewart’s relationship timeline

• James Stewart and Jessica Marais began their relationship in 2008, the same year she was cast in Packed to the Rafters.
• They never married, instead referring to each other as partners.

The implication: the split was handled quietly, aligning with Marais’s established preference for privacy.

Was James Stewart married to Jessica Marais?

Did Jessica Marais and James Stewart have a wedding?

• No — James Stewart and Jessica Marais were in a long-term relationship but never married (Wikipedia).

Are they legally married?

• They were not legally married. Both have referred to each other as ‘partner’ in public statements.

Does James Stewart have custody of his daughter?

Who has primary custody of Scout?

• James Stewart and Jessica Marais share joint custody of their daughter Scout (Wikipedia). No legal custody battle has been reported in the media.

Co-parenting after the split

• Stewart has spoken about prioritising his daughter’s well-being, though no detailed arrangement has been aired publicly.

“Both are focused on giving Scout a stable, happy upbringing.”

— Common media characterisation based on family reports

What this means: without public filings, the exact custody split remains unclear, but the emphasis is on cooperation.

Why didn’t Jessica Marais return to Back to the Rafters?

Did Jessica Marais leave acting voluntarily?

• Yes — when Back to the Rafters was announced, Marais was initially slated to appear, but she later withdrew citing personal reasons (Now To Love).
• Producers stated she was not available due to personal reasons (WHO).

What replaced her character?

• Her character Rachel Rafter was written out without recasting, leaving a notable gap in the spin-off’s story.

“I had not been filming anything at that moment and had been out of work for a while.”

— Jessica Marais in a 2018 interview with TV Week (Now To Love)

“She has good people around her.”

— Close source cited by Yahoo Lifestyle in 2018

The catch: Marais’s withdrawal from the reboot was a clear signal that her hiatus was not temporary.

Jessica Marais’s story is one of a star who, at the height of her success, chose privacy over fame. There is no scandal, no dramatic exit — just a quiet decision to step away. For Australian fans who grew up watching her on Packed to the Rafters, the absence feels unresolved. Yet the evidence suggests that Marais has found a life outside the camera, and that may be exactly what she wanted.

If you found this article useful, you may also be interested in Portia de Rossi: Why She Left Hollywood and Mischa Barton Now: Career, Health, and Life — two other actresses who stepped away from the spotlight.

Frequently asked questions