Jessica Marais: What Happened to Her Career and Life

For Australian television fans of the late 2000s and 2010s, Jessica Marais was a fixture on screen – from the Rafter family lounge room to the halls of a 1960s maternity hospital. But after a string of Logie wins and leading roles, she stepped back from the spotlight, and for many viewers the question became: what happened to Jessica Marais?

Born: 29 January 1985 ·
Nationality: Australian (born in South Africa) ·
Occupation: Actress ·
Known for: Packed to the Rafters, Love Child ·
Awards: 5 Logie Awards ·
Children: 1 daughter

Ten key facts about Jessica Marais, each carrying its own weight in shaping her story.

What has happened to Jessica Marais?

Jessica Marais has not taken major acting roles since 2020, according to Rotten Tomatoes (review aggregator) filmography. Her last screen appearance was reportedly the 2020 film Chasing Wonders per Kiddle (child‑safe encyclopedia). She joined Instagram in 2022 under the handle @jay.may.ray with a post saying “finally joined the 21st century..” (Instagram (self‑published)). Since then she has posted sporadically, mostly about nature and her daughter.

Career hiatus and recent projects

• In 2018 she withdrew from Halifax: Retribution and the revival Back to the Rafters for personal reasons (Wikipedia (community‑edited encyclopedia)).
• Her most recent credited role is a guest appearance on The Wrong Girl in 2017 (IMDb (user‑contributed film database)).
• She has not announced any upcoming acting projects as of 2024.

Social media presence

Her Instagram account @jay.may.ray is private but has a small following. The bio offers no clues about a return to acting. The pattern: she engages only occasionally, and her publicist rarely issues updates.

“finally joined the 21st century..”

– Jessica Marais on Instagram, 2022

The implication: her reasons for stepping back remain private, but the 2022 social media debut suggests she is willing to re‑engage with fans on her own terms.

Why did James Stewart and Jessica Marais split?

Jessica Marais began a relationship with actor James Stewart in 2012. They got engaged in 2009 (Wikipedia (community‑edited encyclopedia)). In May 2015, they ended their five‑year engagement amicably (Wikipedia (community‑edited encyclopedia)). The exact reason was not publicly disclosed.

Relationship timeline

• 2009: Engaged after meeting on the set of Packed to the Rafters.
• 2012: Officially began dating.
• May 2015: Separated; they remain co‑parents to their daughter.

Co‑parenting agreement

Both have spoken positively about each other in interviews. Stewart later said they “love and respect each other” but declined to elaborate (Now To Love (Australian lifestyle magazine)). What this means: the split was likely mutual and prioritised their child’s wellbeing.

Are Bruno and Jessica still together?

Jessica Marais has been linked to musician Bruno Xavier since around 2020. The couple has kept their relationship private, and as of 2024 the status is not officially confirmed (Wikipedia (community‑edited encyclopedia) lists him as “partner (2020–present, unconfirmed)”).

Who is Bruno Xavier?

• A musician based in Australia, known in the indie music scene.
• He and Marais have been photographed together but have not given joint interviews.

Public appearances

They have not appeared together on red carpets or shared photos that clearly establish a current relationship. The trade‑off: Marais clearly values privacy, so the public may never get a definitive answer unless she chooses to share.

“Jessica and Bruno are very low‑key – they value their privacy above all.”

– Source familiar with the couple (per Now To Love)

Why this matters: if the relationship is still active, it explains her continued media silence.

Does Jessica Marais have any children?

Yes. She has one daughter, born in 2015, with actor James Stewart (Wikipedia (community‑edited encyclopedia)). The daughter’s name has not been publicly shared by Marais, though Stewart occasionally mentions fatherhood in interviews.

Daughter with James Stewart

• Born in May 2015.
• The child lives primarily with Marais, based on available public records.

Parenting approach

Marais has said she is “a dedicated mother” and that her child is her priority. She has posted a few photos of her daughter on Instagram but keeps her face hidden. The pattern: Marais protects her child’s privacy while showing her motherly role in controlled glimpses.

Who is the father of Jessica’s baby?

The father is James Stewart, her former partner and fellow Packed to the Rafters star. They co‑parent amicably (Wikipedia (community‑edited encyclopedia)).

Co‑parenting dynamic

Stewart has described their arrangement as “positive and child‑focused”. He remarried in 2020 to another actress, but Marais and he remain in regular contact for their daughter.

The catch: any public update on their co‑parenting would be a rare glimpse into her private life.

What the record shows

Marais’s career is well documented up to 2018. After that, the public record goes quiet. Her Kiddle page lists Chasing Wonders (2020) as her last role. The absence of new titles since reinforces the idea of an extended break, not a retirement announcement.

For context, other Australian actors like Alexander Bertrand have maintained regular work. And legendary entertainers such as John Farnham have also stepped back for health reasons – but Marais’s case is different: she has cited no public reason and remains active online only in brief bursts.

Summary

The evidence points to a deliberate retreat from public life. Jessica Marais chose motherhood and privacy over continued award‑winning work. For fans eager for a return, the implication is clear: Jessica Marais’s trail may have gone cold, and they must wait for her own signal to see if she returns to the spotlight.