James Stewart (born 21 October 1975) is an Australian stage, television and film actor. He is known for his appearances in the television series Breakers, as Alex Markham (1998–1999), Packed to the Rafters, as Jake Barton (2009–2013), and Home and Away as Justin Morgan (2016–present).

Early life

Stewart was born on 21 October 1975 in Brisbane. He grew up on the Gold Coast, alongside his identical twin brother Nicholas and older half-sister Annie. His mother Beverly raised him and his three siblings as a single parent while studying to become a teacher. She eventually graduated with honours in English and literature at Monash University. His estranged father Arthur Koo is a former Australian soldier who served in the Vietnam War. Stewart has Scottish and Chinese ancestry through his parents. In 1996, Stewart joined the band george alongside his brother Nicholas, Tyrone Noonan and his then-housemate, Katie Noonan. He would later leave the band to pursue a career in acting full-time.

Career

From 1998 until 1999, Stewart starred in the short lived series Breakers as "wild child" Alex Markham. In 2007, Stewart played Jim O'Connor in the Queensland Theatre Company's production of The Glass Menagerie. He won the 2008 Matilda Award for Best Supporting Actor and was nominated for the Helpmann Award for Best Male Actor in a Supporting Role in a Play. In 2010, Stewart received a Logie award nomination for Most Popular New Male Talent for his role as Jake Barton in Packed to the Rafters. In 2015, Stewart starred in the ABC-TV drama series Hiding alongside fellow Aussie stars Jacqueline McKenzie and Kate Jenkinson. The show centres around a family that is forced to go into the federal witness protection program and relocates to another city when the father (Stewart) is arrested after a failed drug deal. In 2016, Stewart joined Home and Away as Justin Morgan during the show's twenty-ninth season. In July 2024, Stewart appeared on Season 21 of Dancing with the Stars. He was paired with Jorja Freeman.

Personal life

He was engaged to co-star Jessica Marais, until they separated in 2015. Stewart and Marais have a daughter together, born May 2012. Stewart was in a relationship with his former Home and Away co-star Isabella Giovinazzo. Stewart began a relationship with his Home and Away co-star Sarah Roberts in October 2017. They announced their engagement in December 2018, and married at Luttrellstown Castle in Ireland in July 2019. On 20 April 2024, Roberts announced that she and Stewart had divorced five weeks prior after an amicable break-up. In July 2024, Ada Nicodemou confirmed via Stellar magazine that she and Stewart were in a relationship.

Filmography