Jessica Grace Smith (born 18 February 1985) is a New Zealand actress, writer and director.
Early life Smith grew up in Dannevirke, but she moved to Wellington in 2007 to study at Toi Whakaari: New Zealand Drama School. She graduated in 2009 with a Bachelor in Performing Arts (Acting).
Career Smith appeared as Diona in the miniseries Spartacus: Gods of the Arena, and feature films Diagnosis: Death, Sione's 2: Unfinished Business, and The Devil's Rock. She later moved to Australia, where she spent three years attending auditions. Shortly before a planned move to Los Angeles, Smith unsuccessfully auditioned for the role of Phoebe Nicholson in Home and Away, before she was offered the role of Denny Miller by the producers.
Working with cinematographer Jessica Charlton, Grace Smith wrote and directed Flip (2019), a short film in the Kiwi tradition of "man alone" stories, but featuring a female protagonist.
In 2024, Smith starred in Testify as Emmaline Jacobson.
Personal life Smith has been in a relationship with fellow actor Benedict Wall since 2010. They announced their engagement in November 2019, and they were married at Wall's father's house in The Wairarapa on 8 February 2020. They have one child, a son, born in 2022.
Filmography
+Television appearances Year Title Role Notes2005Blue Water HighStacey1 episode2010Ben and Jeremy's Big Road TripJessTV film2011Just Friends WomanEpisode: "It's Kind of a Birthday Present"2011Spartacus: Gods of the ArenaDionaTV miniseries2013Reef DoctorsBecky 1 episode2014–2015Home and AwayDenny MillerRegular role2019Ms Fisher's Modern Murder MysteriesProf. Elaine MontgomeryEpisode: "Space for Murder"2019–2020WestsideCheryl West18 episodes2020Bondi SlayerJessEpisode: "Home and a Slay"2021Real Life FightsEmilyEpisode: "L.A.I.D."Power Rangers Dino FuryCoach BellaSeason 1 (Episode 12: "Super Hotshot")2022My Life Is MurderRebecca1 episode2024TestifyEmmaline JacobsonSeries regular
Film appearances +YearTitleRoleNotes2023The ParagonEmily2022Frozen MomentsCandice2019FlipFlipShort2016Best MatesFleurShort2013Edwin: My Life as a KoontLucy Mason2012Sione's 2: Unfinished BusinessLilith2011Nicole2009Diagnosis: DeathJuliet Reid
References
External links