Jessica Grace Smith


Jessica Grace Smith 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.

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, 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

YearTitleRoleNotes
2005Blue Water HighStacey1 episode
2010Ben and Jeremy's Big Road TripJessTV film
2011Just Friends WomanEpisode: "It's Kind of a Birthday Present"
2011Spartacus: Gods of the ArenaDionaTV miniseries
2013Reef DoctorsBecky1 episode
2014–2015Home and AwayDenny MillerRegular role
2019Ms Fisher's Modern Murder MysteriesProf. Elaine MontgomeryEpisode: "Space for Murder"
2019–2020WestsideCheryl West18 episodes
2020Bondi SlayerJessEpisode: "Home and a Slay"
2021Real Life FightsEmilyEpisode: "L.A.I.D."
2021Power Rangers Dino FuryCoach BellaSeason 1
2022My Life Is MurderRebecca1 episode
2024TestifyEmmaline JacobsonSeries regular

Film appearances