Jessica Napier

Jessica Napier (born 13 April 1979) is a New Zealand-born actress based in Australia. She has appeared in a number of feature films, including ''Love Serenade'', ''Blackrock'', '' Cut'', ''City Loop'', ''Angst'', ''The Illustrated Family Doctor'' and ''Ghost Rider'', and is well known for her role of Becky Howard in the Australian TV drama series ''McLeod's Daughters''.

Early life

Napier was born in Wellington, New Zealand. Her father, actor Marshall Napier, relocated the family to Australia when she was a child.

Career

Jessica had her first taste for acting at age 9, when she played her father's daughter on the long-running Australian TV series ''Police Rescue''. A year later she reappeared in another episode, when Marshall nominated Jessica to fill in for a role when the girl who was originally booked to do the job refused because the character was required to be submerged in a swamp.

It was not until Jessica was 15 that she decided to be an actress. On her first serious audition she won the lead role of Edwina on '' Echo Point''. Her first feature film was in Shirley Barrett's award-winning ''Love Serenade'' (with Miranda Otto), followed by the critically acclaimed ''Blackrock'', where her character's brother was played by Heath Ledger in his first prominent film role.

Small parts in a string of other popular Australian TV shows, including '' Water Rats'' and ''Murder Call'', followed; she played the role of Gerry Davis in the highly acclaimed '' Wildside'', alongside Aaron Pedersen, Rachel Blake and Tony Martin. The improvisational-style series also launched the career of Abbie Cornish.

Napier then appeared in '' Stingers'' (with Peter Phelps) and ''City Loop'' before landing the lead role of Raffy in Mushroom Pictures' film '' Cut''. The cult Australian slasher film was her first lead in a feature film and also saw Molly Ringwald, Kylie Minogue and Stephen Curry.

She then starred in ''Angst'' and appeared in the made-for-TV film ''Child Star: The Shirley Temple Story''.

Already a household name in Australia, Napier then played the Becky Howard on the Australian TV drama ''McLeod's Daughters'' from 2000–2003. Her father played Harry Ryan on the same series.

Napier then starred in the tele-movie '' The Alice''. Following its success it went on as a series with Jessica reprising her role in the tele-drama.

In 2009, Napier guest starred in both the popular third season of TV series ''Sea Patrol'' and the new '' Rescue: Special Ops''.

The thriller ''Savages Crossing'' was released in 2010 and saw Jessica star in an ensemble cast of other Australian favourites including John Jarratt, Craig McLachlan, Sacha Horler and Chris Haywood.

In 2010 the Nine Network announced that they would be continuing with their successful '' Underbelly'' franchise by producing three separate stand-alone crime telemovies which would be known as ''The Underbelly Files''. Jessica was cast as the lead actress in the second of these telemovies, titled '' Infiltration'', opposite Sullivan Stapleton. ''Infiltration'' follows Victorian police officer Colin McClaren's investigation into the local Calabrian mafia in which he infiltrates their group and also stars Valentino del Toro, Henry Nixon, Tottie Goldsmith, Buddy Dannoun and Glenda Liscott. In 2021 Jessica Napier appeared in a small role in '' Moon Rock For Monday'', an AACTA nominated feature film directed by Kurt Martin.

Personal life

She is married to David Adler. They have a daughter Emily and a son Oliver. Both Jessica and her father Marshall are vegetarians and support various animal rights foundations. She has also supported the use of Taronga Zoo in Sydney for retired circus elephants.

Filmography

Film

Television

References

External links

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Napier, Jessica
1979 births
New Zealand emigrants to Australia
Australian television actresses
Living people
New Zealand television actresses