Jessica Marais's mother of all workloads

Love Child star Jessica Marais celebrates the mother of all workloads in 2014 

Jessica Marais says time away from her baby was hard, but helped her understand how her character was feeling.

CRADDLING a crying newborn, her own saucer-size eyes glossy with tears, might have been all to script for Love Child star Jessica Marais. 

As Joan Millar, a kind-hearted midwife caring for unwed mothers in 1960s Sydney, it's a scene local TV audiences will warm to in Channel 9's much-anticipated drama series in 2014.

But for Marais, those tears weren't always method, but rather the tug of her own heartstrings thinking of the infant she had to leave in the care of her actor partner James Stewart while she worked around the clock.

The former Packed To The Rafters lovebirds are relishing family time with their 19-month-old daughter Scout after one of the most demanding work schedules Marais has enjoyed in her young career.

Speaking from a Perth shopping mall, juggling a checklist of "everyday chores" and "pacing around with the pram like a crazy woman", Marais may be revelling in a purple patch professionally but admits the "consistent struggle" to stay bonded to her young family has at times reduced her to tears.

Jessica Marais stars as midwife Joan Millar in Nine’s new drama series, Love Child.

Since February, when she wrapped filming on her first US drama series, Magic City, Marais has been in hot demand, going back-to-back with work including the ABC telemovie Carlotta, Love Child and most recently preparation for a summer season of Cosi, at Brisbane's Le Boite Theatre, co-starring Stewart.

While Marais credits Stewart with being the hands-on dad and safety net she needs to chase her acting dreams, she admits their attempts "do fall out of whack at times".

Despite a commitment to keep her family close and "taking turns" with Stewart to work, long days on the Parramatta set of Love Child demanded she be away from them.

"I was pulling some long hours and babies don't have a huge memory. There were weeks I didn't see her for the entire week and come Saturday, she had to learn who I was. It was heartbreaking. I remember bursting into tears and crying 'I'm a monster, she doesn't know who I am'," Marais said.

Former Packed To The Rafters lovebirds and real-life partners Jessica Marais and James Stewart.

It's a familiar refrain for most working mothers, but Marais also sees the positives in the short-term pain.

"I think it's really wonderful for my daughter to see a hardworking mother as a role model and when she grows up, I'm sure she'll appreciate it," she said.

Her "precious" experience of parenthood has also helped to inform her role in Love Child, also starring Jonathon LaPaglia and Mandy McElhinney, which will air on Nine early next year.

The silver Logie winner makes an easy step up from a supporting player in Rafters to confidently lead this cast as compassionate midwife, Millar.

Jessica Marais as Joan Millar in Nine’s new drama series, Love Child.

"Once again, I was always surrounded by other people's adorable babies and every now and then you do get mother's guilt, feeling like 'oh my gosh, I should be with my child'. It definitely makes you think about how you want to raise a daughter," Marais said.

"Usually the female roles are counterparts to some dominant male character ... mothers, sisters ... and they get really thin storylines at times, but this was fantastic. It did make me think so much about the kind of daughter and the kind of mother I want to be and the kind of woman I am in the world."

"I still see myself as very much as the ingenue in the school of life and I'm always learning."

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