Rebecca Gibney reveals Jessica Marais is ‘doing well and will surprise us all’ after she quit the Packed to the Rafters reboot and was rushed to hospital in a ‘distressed’ state
Rebecca Gibney has addressed her former co-star Jessica Marais’ personal struggles and departure from the Packed to the Rafters reboot for the first time.
The New Zealand-born actress, 55, revealed that while the 35-year-old had her ‘struggles’, she would inevitably bounce back and ‘surprise them all’ both personally and professionally.
She told TV Week on Monday: ‘[Jessica] is doing really well and I’m in constant contact with her. She is truly one of those unique talents!’
‘She’ll surprise us all!’ Rebecca Gibney (left) has addressed her former co-star Jessica Marais’ personal struggles and departure from the Packed to the Rafters reboot for the first time
Rebecca had nothing but kind words for South African-born Jessica, who announced in February that she would be pulling out of Amazon Prime’s Back to the Rafters due to ‘personal reasons’.
The actresses portrayed mother and daughter for five seasons on Channel Seven’s original series, Packed to the Rafters, from 2008 to 2013.
It has been a tough few weeks for mother-of-one Jessica. Last month, emergency crews were called to her home in Sydney’s eastern suburbs for a welfare check.
On the afternoon of Saturday, May 2, she was walked to an ambulance where she was put on a gurney and taken to the Prince of Wales Hospital in Randwick.
‘She’s doing well!’ The New Zealand-born actress (centre) revealed that while Jessica (second from right) had her ‘struggles’, she would inevitably bounce back and ‘surprise them all’. Pictured with the cast of Channel Seven’s Packed to the Rafters
A witness told Daily Mail Australia she was not wearing any shoes, her hair was a ‘dishevelled mess’ and she was in a ‘visibly distressed state’.
Fortunately, she appeared happy and healthy several weeks later as she spent time with her Packed to the Rafters co-star Hugh Sheridan.
Earlier this month, Jessica shared a heartfelt open letter about ‘loneliness and growth’ following her hospitalisation.
Troubles: Last month, emergency crews were called to Jessica’s home in Sydney’s eastern suburbs for a welfare check. She was escorted to an ambulance and taken to the Prince of Wales Hospital in Randwick. Pictured at the 2017 Logie Awards in Melbourne
‘Speak my truth’: Earlier this month, Jessica shared a heartfelt open letter about ‘loneliness and growth’ following her hospitalisation
She told fans she now ‘has the courage to speak my truth’ before reflecting on her positive growth as a person.
Jessica concluded the note by asking her followers to help her find the wisdom to know ‘where freedom resides’ and how to ‘survive carelessly’ while ‘not [being] afraid of death, loss, grief, pain, fear, unemployment, love, abandonment and finances’.
While Jessica has bowed out of Back to the Rafters, Rebecca is preparing to film new scenes for the show, which is set six years after Packed to the Rafters’ final season.
Upcoming: While Jessica has bowed out of Back to the Rafters, Rebecca (second from left) is preparing to film new scenes for the show, which is set six years after Packed to the Rafters’ final season