Jessica Gower (born 1977, also credited as Jess Gower) is an Australian actress.
Early life and education Gower spent three years studying at the National Theatre Drama School, graduating in 2000. She later studied a Master of Arts Screen: Business at Australian Film, Television and Radio School (AFTRS), when she decided she wanted to know more about the business side of the industry.
Career Before she completed her studies, Gower began her acting career with guest stints on police procedural series Blue Heelers and long-running soap opera Neighbours. She also featured in Australian television commercials, first coming to attention as a starstruck but confused fan in a 2001 television commercial for Telstra featuring John Farnham and Glenn Wheatley, where her character mistook Wheatley for actor Paul Hogan. She then hosted the Fox8 television shows Simpsons by Request and World's Weirdest Pets.
Gower became best known to Australian and international audiences as the regular character of Sam, the ill-fated girlfriend of Will (Joel Edgerton) in the first season of the Network Ten drama The Secret Life of Us. Her performance earned her a nomination for Most Popular New Female Talent at the 2002 Logie Awards.
Gower went on to feature as New Zealand teenager, Miranda Watts in Foxtel soap opera Crash Palace, opposite Dieter Brummer, Jenni Baird, Tory Mussett and Kristy Wright. She also took on the role of teenager Jillian in 2002 Schoolies week drama film Blurred, alongside Matt Newton and Mark Priestley and had a recurring role in the Seven Network's medical drama series All Saints in 2003.
After having often played the 'girl nextdoor' archetype, Gower secured the role of Chase, a villainous vampire on U.S. series Blade: The Series, the television series spin-off of 1998 film Blade. She had originally auditioned for the part of Krista. The series debuted on Spike TV on 28 June 2006. The show was cancelled after one season.
In the 2010s, Gower returned to Australia, making guest appearances on Wilfred, Mr & Mrs Murder, Winners & Losers and Nowhere Boys. She also appeared in 2020 comedy film The Very Excellent Mr. Dundee, alongside Paul Hogan and 2022 family comedy film Blue's Big City Adventure, based on the children's television series Blue's Clues.
Personal life Jessica has been married to actor and stunt performer Puven Pather since 2004. They have a daughter named Sequoia.
After studying her Masters at Australian Film, Television and Radio School, together with Pather, Gower co-founded the business Sequioa, with the aim of reducing CO2 emissions in screen productions and entertainment, while fostering inclusivity and gender equality.
Credits
Film Year Title Role Type Ref2002 Guru Wayne Debbie Feature film Blurred Jillian the Train Girl Feature film 2010 Scottish Bob Lizzie Short film Sakuraniku Girl Tourist Short film 2014 Isabelle Dances into the Spotlight Auditions Dancer TV movie 2015 A Night of Horror: Volume 1 Beth Anthology film, segment: "Scission" 2017 No Appointment Necessary Claire Davies Feature film 2020 The Very Excellent Mr. Dundee. Eve Feature film 2022 Blue's Big City Adventure Dancer Feature film
Television Year Title Role Type Ref Simpsons by Request Host World's Weirdest Pets Host 1998 / 2000 Blue Heelers Sophie Camilleri / Sasha McLeod 2 episodes 1999 Neighbours Jemma Acton 3 episodes 2001 The Secret Life of Us Sam TV movie Sparky D Comes to Town Amy TV movie 2001 The Secret Life of Us Sam Season 1, 15 episodes 2001–2002 Crash Palace Miranda Watts 2002 Ponderosa Judith 1 episode 2003 All Saints Harriet Stapleton Season 6, 4 episodes 2006 Blade: The Series Chase 12 episodes 2010 Wilfred Annika Season 2, episode 5: "Ice Dog Cometh" 2011 Underbelly Files: The Man Who Got Away Cop #2 TV movie 2013 Mr & Mrs Murder Elena Scrletta Miniseries, 1 episode 2014 Winners & Losers Ava Murdoch Season 4, 1 episode 2018 The Next Step Dancer 1 episode Nowhere Boys Diane Season 4, 1 episode
Theatre Year Title Role Type Ref 2003 X-Stacy Wagga Wagga Civic Theatre, Laycock Street Theatre, Gosford, Illawarra Performing Arts Centre, Bunbury Regional Entertainment Centre with Black Swan Theatre Co 2003 Les Liaisons Dangereuses Playhouse, Melbourne with MTC
Awards Year Work Award Category Result Ref 2002 The Secret Life of Us Logie Awards Most Popular New Female Talent
References
External links