Jessica Marais disappeared from the limelight two years ago after it was discovered she was working at a Clovelly cafe in Sydney.
The Packed To The Rafters star, 38, once had Hollywood in her sights with an incredibly successful television career, but she has now ditched it all for a quiet life in Perth.
Back home with her family after she spent four years taking care of her mental health, the actress is taking things easy, reports Woman’s Day.
The publication revealed the Logie Award-winner moved back to Perth in 2022 to live in the Mosman Park home of her late mother Karen Marais.
She’s reportedly spending quality time with her doctor sister Clara, her brother-in-law and their two children while Clara renovates her home.
Jessica Marais is now reportedly living in Perth after she disappeared from the limelight to protect her mental health
As for Jessica’s daughter Scout, who she co-parents with ex partner James Stewart, the 11-year-old still lives in Sydney with her father.
Despite being apart, James, 48, frequently flies Scout out to Perth to visit her mother and has a very amicable relationship with Jessica.
Early last year, the trio could be seen in a group photo James shared to Instagram which showed them posing with Jessica’s family and James’ wife Sarah Roberts.
Proving that all is well between the blended family, Jessica beamed as she wrapped her arms wrapped around Scout and her ex-partner’s new flame 39-year-old Sarah.
Also spotted in the crowd was Jessica’s sister Clara, as well as Clara’s partner and young children.
‘Family,’ James simply captioned the sweet image.
The Packed To The Rafters star, 38, once had Hollywood in her sights with an incredibly successful television career, but she has now ditched it all for a quiet life
The heartwarming photo marked the first time Jessica had been pictured in public with Scout in almost three years.
Mother and daughter were last photographed together in May 2020 during an emotional reunion that took place a week after the troubled actress was hospitalised following a welfare check by emergency services.
Photos showed the Wrong Girl star wrapping her arms around Scout, who had brought her a colourful handmade card as a Mother’s Day gift.
The emotional moment took place outside Jessica’s home at the time in Coogee, Sydney, while James, who dated Jessica from 2010 to 2015, watched on from afar.
She smiled while looking at the card, which featured the message ‘I [heart] you’ with ‘Happy Mother’s Day’ inside the heart.
Back home with her family after she spent four years taking care of her mental health, the actress is taking things easy, reports Woman’s Day
Just one week earlier, emergency crews had been called to Jessica’s eastern suburbs home on a welfare check.
Three officers were seen ringing Jessica’s doorbell at about midday, before two male paramedics entered the building.
Minutes later, Jessica emerged wearing black leggings and a grey cardigan as she slowly stepped down the stairs with the assistance of the paramedics.
The publication revealed the Logie Award-winner moved back to Perth in 2022 to live in the Mosman Park home of her late mother Karen Marais. Pictured: Jessica posing with her award for Best Actor at the 2016 Logie Awards
Jessica and James, who met on the set of Packed to the Rafters in 2007, have been co-parenting Scout since their split in 2015.
James went on to marry fellow Home And Away star Sarah in 2019.
Jessica has had a difficult few years.
The mother of one, who suffers from bipolar disorder, was unable to attend the Logie Awards in July 2018 because she was receiving treatment for ‘urgent’ issues at The Health Clinic, a mental health facility in Bronte.
While in treatment, she attended daily counselling sessions and had access to nurses, psychiatrists and psychologists.
As for Jessica’s daughter Scout, who she co-parents with ex partner James Stewart, 48, the 11-year-old still lives in Sydney with her father. Pictured: Jessica and James together in 2010
Jessica reportedly followed a detox and inner health program, with inpatient programs averaging $25,000 for a month.
In September 2018, the South African-born star announced she was pulling out of Channel Nine show Bad Mothers a month before it was scheduled to begin filming.
‘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 manager said at the time.
In July 2019, it was announced that Jessica would return to screens in Halifax: Retribution, a reboot of ’90s drama Halifax f.p., starring alongside Rebecca Gibney and Anthony LaPaglia.
James reportedly flies Scout out to Perth to visit her mother, and has a very amicable relationship with Jessica. (Pictured L-R: James, his wife Sarah Roberts, Jessica, and Scout)
However, two months later reports claimed she had pulled out of the series.
Then in February 2020, Jessica shocked fans by announcing she would be stepping away from the highly anticipated Back to the Rafters for ‘personal reasons’.
In 2022, she got a job as a waitress in a Sydney cafe, officially stepping away from acting for good.
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