Health scare sees Jessica Marais takes rest of the year off
Jessica Marais at the Logies nominations party at The Star in Sydney on May 27. Photo: Getty
Health concerns have forced The Wrong Girl star Jessica Marais to suddenly pull out of a new Nine drama and take a break from acting for the rest of the year.
“Jessica has decided to step away from acting for the remainder of 2018 to focus on her health and spend time with her family,” her management said in a statement to The Fix.
The actress, 33, is “disappointed” to cancel her role in Bad Mothers, “but knows that it is important to take time out to maintain ongoing balance and wellbeing.”
In July, Marais was a last-minute withdrawal from the Logies. At the time, the Daily Telegraph reported she had been admitted for treatment for “urgent health issues” at a mental health facility called The Sydney Clinic.
When she won the Silver Logie for Most Popular Actress, her Love Child co-star Miranda Tapsell accepted the award on her behalf.
The next day, Marais praised Gold Logie winner Grant Denyer, who has battled mental health issues: “Courage in the quiet battle.”
In the past, the mother-of-one has been open about her experiences with bipolar disorder, saying she’s an “absolute mess” for one day a month.
“There’s a history of bipolar in my family and I was diagnosed at one point,” she told The Australian Women’s Weekly in 2014, saying bipolar episodes have been part of her life since she was 12.
“I’ve had cognitive therapy training, so I choose not to be medicated. I have developed ways to talk myself down from any ledges I find myself on.”
She said depression is “nothing to be ashamed of” and that talking about it reduces the stigma.
Hours before it was announced she’s leaving the spotlight for now, the mother-of-one gave no hint of her career decision when she allowed a glimpse into her private life via Instagram.
The photo showed her daughter Scout, 6 – Marais’ child with her ex-fiance, Home and Away actor James Stewart, 42 – playing with Lego.
“I love you my darling daughter,” said Marais, calling Scout “my everything.”
“Thank you for sharing. Hope you are doing well,” said one of the star’s 10,300 followers.
In June, Marais told TV Week that mothering Scout had taught her “patience” and “how to let go” of things you can’t change.
“She reminds me of the immediacy of today and to be present in the important moments, because I tend to hang on to things.”
In the last couple of months, Marais has also given a shout-out to boyfriend Jake Holly for giving her “hope” and support.
On July 14, she posted a snap with photographer Holly, saying she’s grateful for the “contagious kindness” of people.
“You can go 40 days without food, four days without water, four minutes without air, but not a moment without hope,” she wrote.
The pair were snapped in February at a service at a Hillsong church in Sydney’s Alexandria, two weeks after their first public date at a Sam Smith concert.
According to reports, Bad Mothers will still go ahead without one of its leading ladies. Production begins in October ahead of a 2019 release, which leaves Nine with a scramble to replace Marais.
The cast includes Love Child’s Mandy McElhinney, Doctor Doctor’s Shalom Brune-Franklin and Wolf Creek’s Jessica Tovey.
The New Daily contacted Nine for comment.
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