For everything on the Logies 2018, the Logies red carpet, your 2018 TV Logie Awards winners and all the 2018 TV Week Logies behind-the-scenes goss, visit our Logies 2018 homepage.
Update: Since publishing, Jessica Marais has been awarded the silver Logie for Most Popular Actress. In her absence, her Love Child co-star Miranda Tapsell accepted the award on Marais’ behalf.
A very famous face will be missing from the Logies 2018 red carpet tonight.
Instead of attending TV’s night of nights, Jessica Marais is undergoing treatment at The Sydney Clinic, a private mental health facility located in Sydney’s eastern suburbs.
The 33-year-old has been nominated for gold as Australia’s most popular personality and silver for best actress.
Earlier this week her management released a statement, announcing The Wrong Girl actress would not be attending the Awards, due to undisclosed health reasons.
“It is with much disappointment that we advise Jessica Marais is unable to attend the TV Week Logie Awards due to her health,” the statement read.
“Jess is naturally disappointed, is grateful to TV Week and all the viewers who have nominated her for the Awards this year and wishes all the nominees and her friends a great celebration on Sunday night.”
According to The Sunday Telegraph, the four-time Logie winner has been undergoing treatment at the facility for the past two weeks.
Sources have told the publication the actress has been plagued by “a number of urgent health issues” in recent years.
In 2014, the Packed To The Rafters star spoke to the Australian Women’s Weekly about her struggle with bipolar disorder.
The mum-of-one said she was diagnosed with the condition when she was just 12 years old.
“There’s a history of bipolar in my family and I was diagnosed at one point with bipolar,” she explained. “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. And I am very lucky that I have a very patient partner (fellow Aussie actor James Stewart, now her ex) who supports me.”
The Logie-nominated star said there was probably one day a month when she’s “an absolute mess”.
Marais said her daughter Scout, now six, and her ex-partner Stewart helped her through the hard times.
In a 2017 interview with Stellar magazine, Marais explained how many people took issue with her admission that she chooses not to be medicated.
“I’d like to be able to be inspirational to people in terms of being able to say you’re not alone, there are other people like this, but it’s not something that I feel entirely defines me and it’s not something that I want to be a how-to [or] go-to guru on.”
She went on to tell the magazine she is now on medication.
“Now I am actually [on medication], but I wasn’t then,” she said.
“And then people say it’s irresponsible or… it’s a can of worms talking about any of your personal struggles. Luckily I get to deal with some of those through the characters that I play, which I think is in some way representing those issues, by showing women who are struggling, who aren’t coping with all of the things.”
Marais’ decision not to attend the Logies is an important reminder that mental illness does not discriminate. You can be at the peak of your career, and be heralded as one of the best in your field, and still struggle with mental health issues.
It’s also a timely reminder that it’s OK to take time out and put your mental health first.
Top Comments
I think she is UNABLE to attend, rather than choosing not to attend in order to send a message about putting one's mental health first. Similarly, if she was hospitalised due to having cancer, we wouldn't assume there was any message other than the fact she has been incapacitated by illness.
Given that her statement didn't supply information about the location and reason for her absence, it really is in bad taste to be divulging further info here. Give her space and privacy.