Why Do People Hate Jessica Marais?
Jessica Marais is an Australian actress known for her roles in shows like Packed to the Rafters and Love Child. However, despite her acting talent, Marais has faced some public backlash and dislike over the years. Here is an in-depth look at some of the potential reasons why.
Personal Struggles
One factor that causes some people to criticize Marais is her very public struggles with bipolar disorder and drug addiction.
Bipolar Disorder Diagnosis
In 2017, Marais revealed that she had been diagnosed with bipolar disorder some years prior. This mental health condition causes extreme mood swings between emotional highs (mania) and lows (depression).
Some people reacted negatively to her diagnosis, criticizing her behavior during manic episodes or showing a lack of sympathy for her health struggles. Others supported her choice to speak openly about bipolar disorder to address stigma.
Drug Addiction Battles
In addition to her mental health challenges, Marais has faced drug addiction issues involving cocaine and alcohol at various points in her career.
She has entered rehab multiple times, including a stay at The Sydney Clinic in 2020. However, she suffered relapse setbacks along the way.
While addiction is a complex medical condition, some have reacted quite critically to Marais’ struggles with substances. The cycles of rehabilitation and relapse in particular have drawn negative judgments.
Work Disruptions
Another source of dislike for Marais involves the disruptions to productions caused by her personal difficulties at times.
| Year | Show | Disruption |
|---|---|---|
| 2018 | Love Child | Left show abruptly mid-season to enter rehab |
| 2020 | The Wrong Girl | Unable to film finale episode due to stay at The Sydney Clinic |
As shown in the table above, Marais’ exits from shows to address health problems caused issues for the respective productions. This led to story adjustments, scrambles to explain the character’s absence, and other creative challenges.
The sudden unavailability likely caused frustration and stress for cast and crew members. So it makes sense that some animosity resulted from such disruptions.
Comparisons to Margot Robbie
Another potential factor in backlash against Jessica Marais is constant comparison to her fellow Aussie actor Margot Robbie over the years.
Both Breaking Out Around 2009
Marais first came to fame in Australia around 2009 with Packed to the Rafters, around the same Robbie had her breakout role on Neighbours.
Similar Appearances and Ages
In addition to breaking out around the same time, Marais and Robbie shared some apparent similarities in looks with blonde hair and similar ages.
Robbie’s Much Higher Profile
While they shared some surface similarities early on, Margot Robbie’s career and fame have skyrocketed so much further over the past decade compared to Jessica Marais:
- Robbie has starred in multiple Hollywood blockbuster films
- She has received 2 Oscar nominations
- Robbie ranked high on Time’s 100 Most Influential People list
The dramatic contrast between their respective careers and profiles since 2010 seemingly highlighted Marais’ comparative lack of greater success.
Perceived Laziness Narrative
Some online commentary about Marais also suggests a perception that she is somehow “lazy” based on her mental health leaves from productions.
However, mental illness and addiction are complex medical issues and should not be equated with personal or professional laziness whatsoever.
Unfortunately, the stigma surrounding these conditions likely contributes to such false narratives emerging.
Privacy Intrusions
As a celebrity, Jessica Marais has also faced lots of paparazzi attention and intrusions into her personal privacy over the years.
Photos or reports about her during very difficult personal moments faced heavy scrutiny each time:
- Using an IV drip following her 2020 rehab stay
- Suffering severe self-harm injuries in 2018
- Being transported to hospital in a distressed state in 2022
The outside commentary and judgement surrounding these deeply private moments most likely feel quite distressing and contribute to animosity from Marais and her supports.
Conclusion
In reviewing potential explanations for negativity and dislike towards Jessica Marais, while some criticisms likely go too far, they do highlight real issues she has faced.
Marais has exhibited very public personal struggles with mental illness and addiction. These conditions caused her to disrupt TV productions on multiple occasions because abrupt departures were necessary to prioritize treatment and recovery.
Comparisons to her peer Margot Robbie’s astronomical career success also emphasize Marais’ professional stagnation in some people’s minds. However, such comparisons generally fail to account for how bipolar disorder may limit someone’s functional capacity in high-demand industries.
While seeking treatment and stabilizing her conditions are undoubtedly the number one priorities for Marais herself, rebuilding trust and goodwill with entertainment producers will also be crucial to relaunching her career.
If she continues receiving care and demonstrates consistent reliability going forward, the disappointments of the past ultimately do not have to define her forever. Jessica Marais still possesses exceptional talent that would enrich any production.
Here’s hoping she is able to fully harness that talent once again in the future while protecting her health and privacy from undue criticism. There are always opportunities for forgiveness, growth, and comeback stories with time.
Frequently Asked Questions
What mental health condition was Jessica Marais diagnosed with?
Jessica Marais revealed in 2017 that she had been diagnosed with bipolar disorder some years prior. Bipolar disorder causes extreme shifts in mood and energy levels, resulting in emotional highs (mania) and lows (depression).
What TV shows has Jessica Marais had to leave abruptly due to health issues?
At least two times, Jessica Marais has had to suddenly leave shows mid-way through seasons because of entering rehab or needing treatment related to her mental health and addiction issues.
In 2018, she left Love Child midway through the season’s episodes. And in 2020, she was unable to film the finale episode of The Wrong Girl.
Has Jessica Marais struggled with drug addiction?
By her own admission Jessica Marais has faced drug addiction involving primarily cocaine and alcohol abuse at multiple points in her life and career. This includes participation in rehab programs.
How do Margot Robbie and Jessica Marais compare in their acting careers?
Margot Robbie and Jessica Marais both rose to fame in Australia around 2009. However, while Robbie has gone on to massive Hollywood blockbuster fame and award recognition, Marais’ career has remained largely confined to Australian TV productions. This contrast likely contributes to negativity and comparisons.
What is bipolar disorder?
Bipolar disorder is a mental health condition characterized by extreme shifts in mood, energy levels, activity, and behavior. People experience severe emotional highs (mania) and lows (depression). Manic states may involve impulsiveness, insomnia, recklessness, delusions, etc.
What prior TV shows has Jessica Marais starred in?
Some of Jessica Marais’ most famous TV roles in Australia include Rachel Rafter on Packed to the Rafters (2009-2013), Diana Wolfe on Love Child (2014–2018), and Lucy in The Wrong Girl (2016–2017).
What Hollywood celebrities face bipolar disorder as well?
Several top Hollywood actors also have publicly disclosed bipolar disorder diagnoses, including Mel Gibson, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Russell Brand, Carrie Fisher, and Jean-Claude Van Damme among others. So Marais faces the same condition as many high-achieving entertainers.
Has Margot Robbie actually criticized Jessica Marais before?
Margot Robbie does not seem to have ever made public comments criticizing Jessica Marais directly. The constant comparisons between the two Australian actors only exist among media outlets and general public commentary.
Does facing addiction make someone a bad person?
Struggling with addiction does not make someone a bad person whatsoever. Addiction is a complex medical condition involving changes to brain circuitry and chemistry. While the behavior can deeply hurt loved ones, the individuals dealing with substance abuse need compassion and medical care. Recovery is a long process with ups and downs.
