Jessica Smith

• Name — Jessica Grace Smith • Born — 18 February 1985 • Birthplace — Ōtorohanga, New Zealand • Occupation — Actress • Years Active — 2009–present • Children — 1

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).

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.

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.

Television appearances • Year — Title — Role — Notes • 2005 — Blue Water High — Stacey — 1 episode • 2010 — Ben and Jeremy's Big Road Trip — Jess — TV film • 2011 — The — Just Friends Woman — Episode: "It's Kind of a Birthday Present" • 2011 — Spartacus: Gods of the Arena — Diona — TV miniseries • 2013 — Reef Doctors — Becky — 1 episode • 2014–2015 — Home and Away — Denny Miller — Regular role • 2019 — Ms Fisher's Modern Murder Mysteries — Prof. Elaine Montgomery — Episode: "Space for Murder" • 2019–2020 — Westside — Cheryl West — 18 episodes • 2020 — Bondi Slayer — Jess — Episode: "Home and a Slay" • 2021 — Real Life Fights — Emily — Episode: "L.A.I.D." • Power Rangers Dino Fury — Coach Bella — Season 1 (Episode 12: "Super Hotshot") • 2022 — My Life Is Murder — Rebecca — 1 episode • 2024 — Testify — Emmaline Jacobson — Series regular