Jessica Dominique Marais (born 29 January 1985[citation needed]) is a South African-born Australian former actress.

[2] Six months after arriving in Australia, Marais's father Tony died from a heart attack while returning from a family picnic.

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.

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.

[11] 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.

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.

[12][13] 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.

[14] 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.

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.