Jessica De Gouw | |
|---|---|
| Born | Jessica Elise De Gouw (1988-02-15)15 February 1988 (age 38)[a] Perth,Western Australia, Australia |
| Other names | Jess De Gouw |
| Alma mater | Curtin University |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 2006–present |
Jessica Elise De Gouw (born 15 February 1988) is an Australian actress. She is known for her role asHelena Bertinelli/The Huntress in the television seriesArrow, asMina Murray in theNBC TV seriesDracula, and as Elizabeth Hawkes in theWGN seriesUnderground.
De Gouw grew up inLesmurdie, an eastern suburb ofPerth, Western Australia, where she attendedLesmurdie Senior High School.[1] She appeared in an episode ofThe Sleepover Club, as well as a short film. In 2010, she graduated fromCurtin University with a degree in performance studies. She also appeared in another short film the same year.[2]
After graduation, De Gouw moved to Sydney for her acting career. While there, she appeared in a number of TV series, mainly in guest starring roles.
In 2012, she debuted in the filmKath & Kimderella as Isabella, Kath and Kim's maid. She moved toLos Angeles later that year and landed the recurring role ofHelena Bertinelli/The Huntress in the action-adventure series,Arrow.
In 2013, De Gouw was cast in theNBC seriesDracula asMina Murray alongsideJonathan Rhys Meyers[2] andOliver Jackson-Cohen. The series was cancelled after the first season.
In 2016, De Gouw was cast as fictionalabolitionist Elizabeth Hawkes in the WGN series,Underground. She played the lead role Ren Amari in the 2017 feature filmOtherLife based on the novelSolitaire byKelley Eskridge.[3]
De Gouw appeared in the 2018 Australian television movieRiot, about the 78ers, the Australian LGBTQ rights movement who fought for decriminalisation, recognition and equality.[4]
She played the role of Sergeant Klintoff's wife, Louisa, inLeah Purcell's debut feature film,The Drover's Wife: The Legend of Molly Johnson (2021).
On 11 July 2024, De Gouw was named for Stan Australia seriesSunny Nights.[5] On 31 January 2025 De Gouw was named as part of the cast for Netflix seriesThe Survivors.[6]
De Gouw was in a relationship for several years with herDracula costar,Oliver Jackson-Cohen.[7]
In a June 2022 interview, she described herself asqueer and said that she was in a relationship with a woman.[8] De Gouw and her girlfriend, hairstylist Sophie Roberts, spoke about the pair's relationship for the February edition ofVogue in 2023.[9]
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | Bedtime Stories | Mother | Short |
| 2010 | The Ballad of Nick Chopper | Iva | Short |
| 2011 | Works Well with Others | Andrea | Short |
| 2012 | Kath & Kimderella | Isabella | |
| The Dinner Meeting | Natalie | Short | |
| The Mystery of a Hansom Cab | Madge | TV film | |
| By Shank's Pony | Short | ||
| 2013 | These Final Hours | Zoe | |
| 2014 | Cut Snake | Paula | |
| 2015 | The Rezort | Melanie Gibbs | |
| 2017 | OtherLife | Ren Amari | |
| 2018 | Riot | Robyn Plaister | TV film |
| 2020 | Gretel & Hansel | Witch | |
| 2021 | The Walk | Hero | Short |
| The Drover's Wife: The Legend of Molly Johnson | Louisa Klintoff | ||
| 2023 | The Portable Door | Rosie Tanner | |
| 2024 | The Union | Juliet Quinn |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | The Sleepover Club | Amanda Hart | Episode: "Fallen Star" |
| 2011 | Underbelly | Constable Edie McElroy | 3 episodes |
| Crownies | Melody Kingston | 1 episode | |
| 2012 | Tricky Business | Yvette Bell | Episode: "Opportunity Knocks" |
| 2012–2014 | Arrow | Helena Bertinelli | 4 episodes |
| 2013–2014 | Dracula | Mina Murray/Ilona | Series regular |
| 2015 | Deadline Gallipoli | Vera Grant | Mini-series |
| 2016–2017 | Underground | Elizabeth Hawkes | Series regular |
| The Last Tycoon | Minna Davis | 2 episodes | |
| 2017 | Sparebnb | Emma | Episode: "Steve and Emma" |
| 2019 | The Hunting | Eliza | Mini-series |
| The Crown | Lucy Lindsay-Hogg | Episode: "Cri de Coeur" | |
| Vienna Blood | Amelia Lydgate | 3 episodes | |
| 2020 | Operation Buffalo | Eva Lloyd-George | Series regular |
| 2020–2021 | Pennyworth | Melanie Troy | 5 episodes |
| 2020–2022 | The Secrets She Keeps | Meghan Shaughnessy | Series regular |
| 2021 | The Moth Effect | Sephen | Episode: "Celestial Graveyard" |
| 2023 | The Couple Next Door | Becka | Lead role |
| The Artful Dodger | Peggy Gaines | 4 episodes | |
| 2024 | Ladies in Black | Fay Janosi | Series regular |
| 2025 | The Survivors | Olivia "Liv" Birch | TV series |
| Reckless | Sharne | TV series | |
| Sunny Nights | Susi | TV series |
| Year | Award | Category | Work | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | Equity Ensemble Awards | Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Mini-series or Telemovie(withDamon Herriman,Kate Box,Xavier Samuel &Josh Quong Tart) | Riot | Won |