Jessica Chastain (1977)

Main Article

Background[]

Was named on the list of Time Magazine's 100 most influential people in the world for 2012.

Was originally cast in Oblivion (2013) as Julia but dropped out due to scheduling conflicts.

Debuted as #82 on the Most Beautiful Famous Faces by The Annual Independent Critics List of the 100 Most Beautiful Famous Faces From Around the World.

Was named one of the "The Top 10 Style Stars of the Year" by People magazine in 2013.

Interviewed Marion Cotillard (1975) for Elle's Women In Hollywood issue. (2013).

Was voted "Sexiest Woman In The World" by the Hungarian magazine Periodika. (2013).

Considers her stepfather, Michael Hastey, as her real father, since she was estranged from her biological father, Michael Monasterio, all her life.

Learned the piano for Crimson Peak (2015) and performed all songs in the movie by herself.

"I don't look modern. I'm not the girl that would walk into the room and everyone goes, "Oh!"

"I get embarrassed really easily. I get embarrassed even when people sing me "Happy Birthday."

"I don't normally get into this, but I'm a vegan. And I try not to, well, I don't want to torture anything. I guess it's about trying to live a life where I'm not contributing to the cruelty in the world... While I am on this planet, I want everyone I meet to know that I am grateful they are here."

"I don't talk about my dating life. But I will say this: in this business it's very tough to maintain a relationship because we're like gypsies - always on the move. And the more you share your relationship with the world the less special it becomes. So I always try to keep my dating life quiet."

"I'm inspired by people who are so sensitive and vulnerable that they try to cover it up."

"My grandmother has been the biggest influence in my life when it comes to acting. My father is a fireman and mother is a vegan chef, and the only real artistic connection I had while growing up was my grandmother. She always kind of wanted to be an artist and an actress, but as a young woman in the '50s, she wasn't really given the opportunity. She was told to marry young and have children young, and be a mom. But when I was young, she'd do things like, for Christmas, she'd buy me a ballet tutu and ballet lessons. My grandmother took me to my first play. And she moved me to Julliard. When I got in, she flew with me to move into the dorm. She's been an incredible influence in my life."

"I was the girl who cut school to go to the park, and the other kids would be smoking and drinking and I'd be reading Shakespeare."

"I walk the dogs, I play the ukulele, I cook. I'm not a girl who goes to big parties--I'm shy."

"I'm very private. We've never seen a picture of me with a beau. For me, it's about the work. I have no personal life!"

"I always try to play characters who are very different from what I am. If the character was a good swimmer or a diver, I'd be interested because in my real life, I am totally scared of water. I would immediately feel compelled to do it because I'm always trying to tackle any fear I have. I don't want my life to be controlled by fear, whether it's the fear of being rejected, fear of being loved; I want to run my life with open arms. Also, I never want to play the same character twice. To me, that's soul crushing."

"I end up doing roles where I'm afraid I'm going to embarrass myself, or fail. But then it gives you that extra hit of adrenaline, and you have to step up your game."

"I have a rule not to date actors and because of that I can hopefully make work be the focus of public interest instead of my private life."

"I got teased quite a lot when I was younger but I've grown into my red hair now and see it as something that makes me unique and special."