Rafters romance: James Stewart and Jessica Marais' ill-fated love story in pictures

It wasn't meant to be, but we'll always have the memories.

Mar 26, 2021 12:20pm

By Alex Lilly

Cast your minds back to 2009 - Kevin Rudd was the PM, Guy Sebastian was flying high in the charts and Packed To The Rafters was a ratings hit.

This was also the year that two cast members of the latter TV show found love on set and went on to become an Aussie power couple. We are of course referring to Jessica Marais and James Stewart.

Jessica, who played Rachel Rafter on the show, and James who played her love interest and tradie Jake Barton, became an item after falling in love on set and in October 2010, they delighted fans when they announced their engagement.

The couple then went on to welcome their daughter Scout Edie Stewart in May 2012 but after she came into the world, the family-of-three relocated to LA so Jessica could try to crack Hollywood.

While Jessica went on to land a role in crime series Magic City, James revealed that he'd taken on full-time parenting duties.

"We both desperately wanted our daughter to have a parent around and not be a working couple that had nannies," James told news.com.au at the time.

"We've got help but we both wanted to be hands on people and that's one of the big reasons we're both still really in love… We're those kinds of people and it's really bizarre to find that kind of person."

WATCH BELOW: Jessica Marais wins Best Actress and talks about daughter Scout. Post continues after video...

Jessica also expressed how grateful she was to have James by her side.

"I'm very lucky to have a partner that supports me," she once told The Australian Women's Weekly.

But alas, things were not meant to be as the couple released a joint statement that they had "amicably separated" in 2015.

"Our relationship didn't work out because I think hearts go in different directions eventually," James wrote in a column for Sunday Life.

James has since married his Home and Away co-star Sarah Roberts and Jessica has been linked to on-off boyfriend Jake Holly since 2018.

James and Jess were one of our ultimate Aussie poster couples and as we countdown to the upcoming Rafters reboot, Back To The Rafters, which neither will sadly star in, let's take a walk down memory lane and relive their love story in pictures.

Keep scrolling to relive James Stewart and Jessica Marais' romance...

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Young love: A fresh-faced Jessica and James met on the set of Channel Seven's Packed To The Rafters.

(Image: Channel Seven)

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While Jess played Rachel Rafter, James played electrician Jake Barton.

(Image: Channel Seven)

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Just like their on-screen characters, love blossomed between the two stars.

(Image: Channel Seven)

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Off-camera, the couple often appeared at red carpet events together.

(Image: Getty)

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All loved-up in matching leather jackets.

(Image: Getty)

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The pair oozed glamour at the TV WEEK Logie Awards in 2010.

(Image: Getty)

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Those outfits take us right back to 2010.

(Image: Getty)

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And James couldn't keep his eyes off his leading lady.

(Image: Getty)

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James and Jessica knew how to work a red carpet.

(Image: Getty)

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Things got a little steamy at the 2010 GQ Men Of The Year Awards.

(Image: Getty)

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Jessica couldn't keep her hands off her man in 2010.

(Image: Getty)

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Young and in love!

(Image: Getty)

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Jessica and James scrubbed up nicely for the 2011 TV WEEK Logie Awards.

(Image: Getty)

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Proud parents Jessica and James left their then two-year-old daughter Scout at home for date night at the 2014 TV WEEK Logie Awards.

(Image: Getty)

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Who would've thought a year later the pair would split?

(Image: Getty)

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Despite breaking up, Jessica and James continue to co-parent for the sake of their daughter Scout. ""Once you realise it's about Scout, everything's easy. Jess and I have nothing to hide. I think dignity is the key... We are both out for each other's best interests," James has said of co-parenting with Jess.

(Image: Instagram @__jamesstewart__)

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"First step into big school.. I think Jess and I are more nervous than Scout.. hah! Argh!" James joked on Instagram in 2017.

(Image: Instagram @__jamesstewart__)

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Jess and James team up for the big events like Christmas, too.

(Image: Instagram @__jamesstewart__)

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They may not be romantically linked, but James and Jessica still make a gorgeous family with Scout.

(Image: Instagram @__jamesstewart__)

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Scout's growing up fast!

(Image: Instagram @__jamesstewart__)

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Along with James' then-girlfriend Sarah Roberts and Jess' then-boyfriend Jake Holly, the former couple threw a Michael Jackson-themed birthday party for Scout.

(Image: Instagram @__jamesstewart__)