Biography

On the grand day of June 2nd 1982 Jewel Belair Staite was born. For the first four years of her young life she lived in Maui. Jewel made her debut on stage at the tender age of two years old at the Maui County Most Beautiful Baby Contest. Stardom beckoned for this starlett and at four years old Jewel moved to Vancouver. She started off in the entertainment industry as a young model. After a photo session at the Sears Portrait Studio Jewel was approached for modelling. But even after getting offered anything she wanted in the toy department, she still turned down the offer. Soon after Jewel attended a children's fashion show and wanted all the clothes the kids were wearing. On learning that the children wearing the clothes were models and they worked for the clothes, Jewel made the choice to work for Sears. At the age of six it was recommended that Jewel get into acting.

With Jewel's mother in the advertising industry, she arranged a photo shoot and Jewel went pro. She trained in Vancouver Youth Theatre. This eventually led her to more modelling jobs, which in turn led her into TV adverts and finally into television roles. At the age of fourteen Jewel got a part on an episode of The X-Files, in which she had the pleasure of having mouth-to-mouth administered to her by David Duchovny.

In 2003, April 25th Jewel married Matt Anderson in Maui. The ceremony was a simple one attended by Morena Baccarin and Nathan Fillion, her Firefly and Serenity co-stars.

Jewel has always loved to sing. At a young age she would grab the mike and sing her heart out. And it hasn't stopped now. For a good time Jewel enjoys singing jazz and swing. Her favourite hangout is The Marquee Grill where she used to sing regularly, and time allowing, can be seen there again. She offers her talents for the numerous good causes she supports, those including the Dyslexia Foundation and The Children with AIDS Project, of which she was made Teen Spokesperson.

Currently Jewel is living and working in Vancouver, British Columbia with husband Matt and can be seen, very soon, in the big screen movie of the acclaimed TV show Firefly, Serenity.