Jessica Chastain – biography, photos, facts, family, affairs, height and weight 2019

Jessica Chastain’s Biography

Jessica Chastain is a talented and versatile actress who has made an amazing career in Hollywood and has taken her due place among world-famous movie stars by the age of 40. She has played in 40 movies; she was also the producer of three of them. She was nominated a few times for an Academy Award as well as a Golden Globe Award.

Early Years

The future actress was born on March 24, 1977 in Sacramento, California’s capital. Chastain is the maiden name of her mother Jerri. Jessica keeps her biological father’s name a secret. It is only known that she was born when her parents were both teenagers. There is a rumour that her father may be the rock musician Michael Monasterio, although the actress herself hasn’t confirmed this information. The only person Jessica considers to be her father is the firefighter Michael Hastey, who became Jerri Chastain’s official husband and raised Jess as his own daughter.

Apart from Jessica, the family had four more children: two sisters and two brothers. There wasn’t enough money, so the family often moved around, looking for a cheaper place to stay. The mother was a chef in a vegan restaurant, where she spent most of her time, so Jessica’s grandmother had to take care of the children. She was the one who ignited Jessica’s interest in the arts. She took her granddaughter to theatre plays from small age, and she dreamt that her little red-headed favourite would one day become an actress. At the age of 7 Jessica saw the musical production «Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat». She was so impressed with the production that she wished she were right there in the centre of this magic show. The girl started attending dance classes and enrolled in a drama class at the age of 13.

Jessica Chastain fell in love with the arts as a child

After finishing high school, Jessica entered a local city college, where she continued her drama studies. She took part in student productions and made her stage debut as Juliet. Jessica dreamt of studying drama at the famous Julliard School.

Jessica Chastain studied at the famous Julliard School

After getting her college diploma in 1999, she went to New York with her grandmother. Despite the immense competition, she successfully passed all the qualifying tests at Julliard. Unfortunately, the cost of the studies was too high for Jessica; but she was able to study at this prestigious school due to a full scholarship funded by Robin Williams, which was granted to her as a child from a low-income family.

Acting Career

In 2003 Jessica graduated from Julliard and started looking for a job. No one took the young actress seriously, as is often the case, and the roles she was offered didn’t live up to her expectations, but the girl had a strong character and wouldn’t give up. She worked as an animator, participated in different shows and didn’t lose hope that one day she would catch a break as a big screen actress. Her acting career started in 2004 with episodic roles in TV-series. However, she only made her movie debut four years later, in «Jolene» (2008). She got the leading role as an orphaned girl, which brought her a prestigious award in Seattle.

Chastain’s next role in the movie «Stolen» (2009) went almost unnoticed. Meanwhile, the actress was lucky to work with Al Pacino who offered her the role of Salome in his television production of the same title. Jessica started gaining the reputation of a talented character actress, and the directors finally figured out what roles would suit her.

Jessica Chastain and Brad Pitt in «The Tree of Life»

It is worth mentioning that Chastain’s aristocratic look, fiery red hair and alabaster skin didn’t do her any favours in the beginning of her career. It wasn’t until 2011 that the audience and the critics saw her unique charisma, which was fully revealed in «The Tree of Life». In the movie Jessica plays the main character’s mother. She fits in well with actors such as Brad Pitt and Sean Penn.

’ At the same time another movie starring Chastain was released: «The Debt» (2010), which was very well received by the public. The role of a businessman’s wife, Celia Foote, in the drama «The Help» (2011) brought her an Academy Award nomination as well as a Golden Globe nomination and confirmed her status as a rising Hollywood star. An interesting fact: in one of the scenes, Jessica eats a fried chicken with gusto; the chicken was actually a vegan product made especially for her, because the actress is a vegetarian.

The trailer of «The Help» starring Jessica Chastain

2012 turned out to be an even more successful year in the actress’ career. Chastain voiced the Jaguar in «Madagascar 3» and received enormous fees, which equalled her total income of all the previous years of acting. For her role as Maya in the political thriller «Zero Dark Thirty», the actress was again nominated for an Academy Award and won a Golden Globe Award. Her other movies, which deserve equal attention, are «Lawless» and «The Colour of Time», both of which were highly praised by leading cinema critics. In that same year Chastain participated in an advertising campaign by the Yves Saint Laurent fashion house and became the face of its Manifesto fragrance.

Jessica Chastain becomes the face of Manifesto fragrance

A year later, Jessica started working on «The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby», where she plays the leading role. The movie was also her first project as a producer. In 2013 Jess had her first experience as a musician, when she had to learn to play the bass-guitar in record time for the movie «Mama», in order to portray her character more realistically.

Jessica Chastain and James McAvoy in «The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby»

In 2014 the mystery «Interstellar» starring Matthew McConaughey was released, which provided a new experience in science fiction and high dividends for Chastain. The movie’s screenplay was kept a strict secret and the actors weren’t allowed to discuss the production process even with their families. The result was worth it; the audience was thrilled.

Jessica Chastain in the movie «Interstellar»

In the same year the criminal drama «The Most Violent Year» was released, which brought Jessica her third Global Globe nomination. The actress had to master a unique New York accent in a matter of two weeks for this role.

The trailer of «The Martian» starring Jessica Chastain

In 2015 a few more striking movies were added to Jessica’s filmography. In the Autumn of 2015, the fantasy movie «The Martian» came out, where Chastain plays the role of an astronaut, the leader of an interplanetary expedition. In preparation for this role, the actress spent a few weeks in the NASA Space Centre, where the conditions were as close as possible to what would be experienced in outer space.

Every role Jessica played was a trial. For example, for her role in the horror «Crimson Peak», the actress had to learn to play the piano and had to lose 8 kg in order to look emaciated.

Jessica Chastain in the movie «Miss Sloane» (trailer)

In 2016 Chastain starred in the political thriller «Miss Sloane» and was nominated for another Golden Globe Award, but once again it slipped through her fingers. She also had another nomination for her role in the criminal drama «Molly’s Game». In the movie she portrays the ex-skier Molly Bloom, who ran an illegal poker game after quitting sports.

Jessica Chastain in «The Zookeeper’s Wife»

In 2017 the historic drama «The Zookeeper’s Wife» was released, in which Jessica’s character rescues 300 Polish Jews by hiding them within the walls of the Warsaw Zoo. This movie became Jessica’s second project as a producer.

Jessica Chastain’s Personal Life

Despite her high ambitions, busy schedule and feminist views, Jessica never suffered from a lack of attention from the opposite sex. Jessica dated the director Ned Benson for a couple of years; they even worked together on the trilogy of «The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby», although by that time their relationship was over. This was followed by an affair with the actor Tom Hiddleston. After their split, Jessica stated that she had no desire to have another relationship with one of her colleagues.

The actress got married in 2017. The Moncler fashion brand designer - Italian aristocrat Gian Luca Passi de Preposulo - became her husband. The wedding was held in the bridegroom’s ancestral estate (which has been owned by his family since the 1600’s) in the North of Italy. The couple had been dating for 5 years previous to this; their feelings have stood the test of time. Jessica admits that she has found true personal happiness in her marriage.

Jessica Chastain and her husband Gian Luca Passi de Preposulo

Gian Luca shares all his wife’s interests; he cares about animals as much as she does, he practices yoga and approves of vegetarianism.

Jessica Chastain Now

In September 2018 the actress started working on the action film «Eve», where she will co-star with Colin Farrel as well as be the film producer.

Jessica Chastain will star in the next film of the «X-Men» series, «Dark Phoenix»

A few big premieres starring Chastain are planned for 2019. At the end of Winter the audience will see the next movie of the «X-Men» series, «Dark Phoenix». Jessica’s partners in the movie will be Sophie Turner and Jennifer Lawrence. In the Autumn of 2019 Chastain will appear in the sequel of the bloodcurdling horror «It» based on Stephen King’s novel. The actress will play the adult Beverly Marsh, who was played by Sophia Lillis in the first movie.