Words by Jessica Chastain seemed to arrive all at once in 2011, appearing in a remarkable string of films that made her one of the most sought-after actresses in Hollywood. Since then she has won an Academy Award, built a production company and become an outspoken advocate for equal pay.
Early life
Jessica Michelle Chastain was born on March 24, 1977, in Sacramento, California. She grew up with her mother and stepfather and found her calling after her grandmother took her to a production of “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” when she was 7.
She studied at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts and later earned a place at the Juilliard School, attending on a scholarship funded by Robin Williams. She was the first in her family to attend college.
Early career
After Juilliard, Chastain signed a television development deal and appeared in series such as “ER,” “Law & Order: Trial by Jury” and “Veronica Mars.” She played Desdemona in “Othello” off-Broadway opposite Philip Seymour Hoffman.
Breakthrough year
In 2011, a backlog of films she had shot was released almost simultaneously: Terrence Malick’s “The Tree of Life,” “The Help,” “Take Shelter,” “The Debt” and “Coriolanus.” Her role as the warm, outcast Celia Foote in “The Help” earned her first Academy Award nomination.
Leading roles
Chastain played a determined CIA analyst hunting Osama bin Laden in Kathryn Bigelow’s “Zero Dark Thirty” (2012), winning a Golden Globe and earning a second Oscar nomination. She went on to star in “Mama,” “Interstellar,” “A Most Violent Year,” “The Martian,” “Crimson Peak,” “Molly’s Game” and “It Chapter Two.”
The Oscar
Chastain won the Academy Award for best actress for “The Eyes of Tammy Faye” (2021), playing televangelist Tammy Faye Bakker across several decades. She also produced the film, which she had spent years developing. Later she starred in the Showtime series “George & Tammy,” winning a SAG Award, and in “Memory” (2023).
Broadway
She made her Broadway debut in “The Heiress” (2012) and returned in 2023 in a revival of Ibsen’s “A Doll’s House,” earning a Tony nomination for best actress in a play.
Freckle Films
In 2016 Chastain founded Freckle Films, a production company focused on stories centered on women and underrepresented groups. It produced “The Eyes of Tammy Faye,” “Ava” and “The 355.”
Equal pay
Chastain has become one of Hollywood’s leading advocates for pay equity. She has said she insisted on equal pay for her co-star Octavia Spencer on a project, which resulted in Spencer earning five times her usual fee. She was also an early supporter of the Time’s Up movement.
Personal life
Chastain married Italian fashion executive Gian Luca Passi de Preposulo in 2017. They have two children and have homes in New York and Italy.
Style
Chastain’s red hair and fondness for vintage Hollywood glamour have made her a red carpet favorite. She has partnered with fashion houses such as Gucci and Ralph Lauren.
Advocacy
Chastain has also spoken about mental health, animal rights and environmental protection, and she supports organizations working on behalf of women and children.
Choosing roles
Chastain has said she looks for characters who are complicated and capable, and her filmography reflects that: scientists, agents, poker entrepreneurs and lobbyists, including her Golden Globe-nominated turn in “Miss Sloane” (2016).
Legacy
Chastain’s sudden arrival in 2011 was the result of years of training and patience. Her Oscar win and her work behind the camera have made her one of the most influential actresses of her generation, both on screen and in the fight for fairness in the industry.
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