Wednesday, January 9, 2013

Movie superstars: Jessica Chastain, Zero Dark Thirty

Jessica Chastain

Chastain at the 2012 Cannes Film Festival
Born March 24, 1977 (age 35)
Sonoma, California, U.S.
Other names Jessica N. Howard
Education Juilliard School (B.F.A. 2003)
Occupation Actress
Years active 2004–present
Jessica Chastain (born March 24, 1977)[1][2] is an American theater, film, and television actress. She is best known for her roles in the films Zero Dark Thirty, The Help, The Debt, Take Shelter, Coriolanus, The Tree of Life, and Lawless. She broke out in 2011, having starred in seven films released in that year. For her role in the film The Help she received Best Supporting Actress nominations for the Golden Globes, Screen Actors Guild, BAFTA, and the Academy Award. In 2012, Time Magazine named her one of "The 100 Most Influential People in the World".[3][4]
She is currently starring as Catherine Sloper in a limited run (Nov 1, 2012 to Feb 10, 2013) of the Broadway revival of The Heiress in New York City and will be seen in the upcoming horror film Mama.

Early life and education

Chastain was born and raised around Sonoma, California,[3][5][6][7] and had a "blue collar" upbringing there.[8] She is one of five children.[9] Her mother is a vegan chef, and her father (one source says stepfather)[10] is a firefighter.[6][11][12] Chastain is also vegan herself.[13] She grew up as Jessica Howard,[14] and later took her mother's maiden name as her stage name.[9]
She graduated from El Camino High School in Sacramento in 1995[15] and attended Sacramento City College, where she was a member of the debate team (1996–1997).[16] In 1998, she appeared as Juliet in a production of Romeo and Juliet staged by TheatreWorks,[17] a professional theater company in the San Francisco Bay Area.
Chastain then attended the Juilliard School in New York City as a member of the Drama Division's Group 32 (1999–2003), which also included Michael Urie and Jess Weixler.[18] At Juilliard, she was a recipient of a scholarship made available by Robin Williams. She was an active participant in the drama department and starred in several theatrical productions and student film projects. She graduated from Juilliard with a B.F.A. degree in 2003.[19]

Career


Chastain in August 2011
Chastain's first professional role came in 2004 for a TV movie adaptation of Dark Shadows. She later appeared in such television series as ER, Veronica Mars, Close to Home, Law & Order: Trial By Jury, and the British period drama series Agatha Christie's Poirot.
In 2008, she made her film debut as the title role in Jolene, for which she received the Seattle International Film Festival Award for Best Actress. The movie was based on the short story "Jolene: A Life" by E. L. Doctorow, itself inspired by Dolly Parton's song, Jolene.[20] It was later released in the United States on October 29, 2010.
In 2011, Chastain showed a wide variety in her roles, including: Terrence Malick's The Tree of Life and the crime thriller Texas Killing Fields.[21][22] Chastain starred as Celia Foote in The Help, which was based on Kathryn Stockett's novel of the same name. The movie received positive reviews from critics and became an immediate box office hit grossing $169,620,611 in North America, and $35,700,000 in other territories, as of February 2, 2012, for a worldwide total of $205,320,611. Chastain continued to receive rave reviews for her performance in the 2011 film Take Shelter playing the wife of a small town man plagued by apocalyptic visions. In her next film role Chastain portrayed a young Mossad agent in John Madden's The Debt, which premiered at the 2010 Toronto International Film Festival in September 2010. The movie was released on August 31, 2011 and Chastain received positive reviews from critics and viewers. The movie went on to become a moderate box office hit.
On November 29, 2011, Chastain was announced as New York Film Critics Circle Award for Best Supporting Actress for her performances in The Help, Take Shelter and The Tree of Life as well as gaining an Independent Spirit Award nomination the same day for her performance in Take Shelter. On December 1, 2011, she received a Satellite Award nomination as best supporting actress for her performance as Mrs. O'Brien in The Tree of Life, she went on to win the award and many other honors from critics including the: National Society of Film Critics Award for Best Supporting Actress and the Los Angeles Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting Actress.
In April 2012, Chastain entered the list of Time 100 most influential people of the world.[4]
Chastain starred as Virgilia in the adaptation Coriolanus, which was released in January 2012, the movie celebrated the directorial debut of Ralph Fiennes and was met with generally positive reviews from the critics.[23] Chastain made her first foray into animated motion picture with the release of Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted.[24] Chastain voiced the character of Gia the jaguar; Chastain employed an Italian accent for the role. The movie was released on June 8, 2012 and has received generally positive reviews from critics.
Chastain has also completed a film adaptation of Oscar Wilde's Salome alongside Al Pacino. She was featured in John Hillcoat's prohibition era drama, Lawless.[25]
In June 2012, Chastain was named the ambassador of the new Yves Saint Laurent fragrance, called Manifesto. The fragrance will be released in August 2012, Chastain stated: "Yves Saint Laurent is a brand that inspires me deeply. Since its creation, the brand has conveyed strong values that I cherish, such as an unwavering commitment, absolute love and feminine audacity. This new fragrance is an emblem of it all. I am [excited] to be part of this beautiful adventure."[26]
She was invited to join the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences on June 29, 2012 along with 175 other individuals for 2012.[27]
In 2012, she is set to star in Tar. She reunited with Terrence Malick in the romantic drama film To the Wonder, but her performance was later cut from the film.[28] She will play the lead role alongside Nikolaj Coster-Waldau in Andres Muschietti's horror film Mama based on Muschietti's 2008 Spanish-language short film, Mamá.[29] In early 2012, Chastain was reported to star in two action films, Oblivion and Iron Man 3, but dropped out which she confirmed the latter in her Facebook account.[30][31] Chastain was also offered for the role of Princess Diana in the upcoming biopic film Diana but dropped out and was replaced by Naomi Watts. She then replaced Rooney Mara, to star as the lead in Kathryn Bigelow's action thriller film Zero Dark Thirty to be released in 2012.[32] It was announced that Chastain would play the female lead and title character in The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby opposite James McAvoy. The film is about a two-part drama told from his and hers perspectives, set to hit theaters in 2013.[33]

Personal life

Chastain has not revealed her age to the media,[34] which has led to contradictory accounts of her age by various newspapers and periodicals.
Chastain was named the Sexiest Vegetarian (along with Woody Harrelson) by PETA on June 28, 2012. Chastain said this about her vegan lifestyle: "I don't want to torture anything. 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."[35]
Chastain currently lives in NoHo, a neighbourhood in Manhattan.[36]

Filmography

Films

Year Title Role Awards, notes
2008 Jolene Jolene Seattle International Film Festival Award for Best Actress
2009 Stolen Sally Ann
2011 Wilde Salome Salome
2011 Take Shelter Samantha LaForche Austin Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting Actress
Detroit Film Critics Society Award for Breakthrough Performance
Hollywood Film Festival Award for Breakthrough Actress
Los Angeles Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting Actress
National Society of Film Critics Award for Best Supporting Actress
New York Film Critics Circle Award for Best Supporting Actress
New York Film Critics Online Award for Breakthrough Performer
Toronto Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting Actress
Vancouver Film Critics Circle Award for Best Supporting Actress
Nominated—Detroit Film Critics Society Award for Best Supporting Actress
Nominated—Independent Spirit Award for Best Supporting Female
Nominated—Saturn Award for Best Actress
2011 Coriolanus Virgilia Hollywood Film Festival Award for Breakthrough Actress
Los Angeles Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting Actress
New York Film Critics Online Award for Breakthrough Performer
2011 The Debt Young Rachel Singer Hollywood Film Festival Award for Breakthrough Actress
Los Angeles Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting Actress
New York Film Critics Online Award for Breakthrough Performer
Online Film Critics Society Award for Best Breakthrough Performance
2011 The Tree of Life Mrs. O'Brien Chicago Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting Actress
Detroit Film Critics Society Award for Breakthrough Performance
Hollywood Film Festival Award for Breakthrough Actress
Kansas City Film Critics Circle Award for Best Supporting Actress
Los Angeles Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting Actress
National Society of Film Critics Award for Best Supporting Actress
New York Film Critics Circle Award for Best Supporting Actress
New York Film Critics Online Award for Breakthrough Performer
Online Film Critics Society Award for Best Supporting Actress
Satellite Award for Best Supporting Actress – Motion Picture
Vancouver Film Critics Circle Award for Best Supporting Actress
Nominated—Denver Film Critics Society Award for Best Supporting Actress
Nominated—Toronto Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting Actress
2011 The Help Celia Foote Alliance of Women Film Journalists Award for Best Ensemble
Black Reel Award for Best Ensemble
Broadcast Film Critics Association Award for Best Acting Ensemble
Detroit Film Critics Society Award for Breakthrough Performance
Hollywood Film Festival Award for Breakthrough Actress
Los Angeles Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting Actress
National Board of Review Award for Best Acting by an Ensemble
National Society of Film Critics Award for Best Supporting Actress
New York Film Critics Circle Award for Best Supporting Actress
New York Film Critics Online Award for Breakthrough Performer
Online Film Critics Society Award for Best Breakthrough Performance
Satellite Award for Best Cast – Motion Picture
Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture
Southeastern Film Critics Association Award for Best Ensemble
Vancouver Film Critics Circle Award for Best Supporting Actress
Nominated—Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress
Nominated—BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role
Nominated—Broadcast Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting Actress
Nominated—Houston Film Critics Society Award for Best Supporting Actress
Nominated—Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress - Motion Picture
Nominated—London Film Critics Circle Award for Supporting Actress of the Year
Nominated—Phoenix Film Critics Society Award for Best Supporting Actress
Nominated—San Diego Film Critics Society Award for Best Supporting Actress
Nominated—Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role
2011 Texas Killing Fields Detective Pam Stall Los Angeles Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting Actress
New York Film Critics Online Award for Breakthrough Performer
2012 Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted Gia The Jaguar Voice Only
2012 Lawless Maggie Beauford
2012 Tar Mrs. Williams
2012 Zero Dark Thirty Maya Alliance of Women Film Journalists Award for Best Actress
Alliance of Women Film Journalists Award for Humanitarian Activism
Alliance of Women Film Journalists Award for Unforgettable Moment (tied with Anne Hathaway for Les Misérables)
Black Film Critics Circle Award for Best Actress
Boston Online Film Critics Association Award for Best Actress
Chicago Film Critics Association Award for Best Actress
Dallas-Fort Worth Film Critics Association Award for Best Actress
Florida Film Critics Circle Award for Best Actress
Indiana Film Critics Association Award for Best Actress
Iowa Film Critics Association Award for Best Actress
National Board of Review Award for Best Actress
Oklahoma Film Critics Circle Award for Best Actress
Online Film Critics Society Award for Best Actress
Phoenix Film Critics Society Award for Best Actress
St. Louis Gateway Film Critics Association Award for Best Actress
Utah Film Critics Association Award for Best Actress (tied with Jennifer Lawrence for Silver Linings Playbook)
Vancouver Film Critics Circle Award for Best Actress
Washington D.C. Area Film Critics Association Award for Best Actress
Pending—AACTA International Award for Best Actress
Pending—BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role
Pending—Broadcast Film Critics Association Award for Best Actress
Pending—Denver Film Critics Society Award for Best Actress
Pending—Golden Globe Award for Best Actress - Motion Picture Drama
Pending—London Film Critics Circle Award for Actress
Pending—Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role
Nominated—Detroit Film Critics Society Award for Best Actress
Nominated—Houston Film Critics Society Award for Best Actress
Nominated—National Society of Film Critics Award for Best Actress (3rd place)
Nominated—New York Film Critics Circle Award for Best Actress
Nominated—San Diego Film Critics Society Award for Best Actress
Nominated—Satellite Award for Best Actress – Motion Picture
Nominated—Southeastern Film Critics Association Award for Best Actress (Runner-up)
Nominated—Toronto Film Critics Association Award for Best Actress
Nominated—Village Voice Film Poll - Best Actress (3rd place)
Nominated—Washington D.C. Area Film Critics Association Award for Best Ensemble
2013 Mama Annabel
2013 The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby: His Eleanor Rigby Post-production

Television

Year Title Role Notes
2004 ER Dahlia Taslitz Episode: "Forgive and Forget"
2004 Dark Shadows Carolyn Stoddard TV film
2004 Veronica Mars Sarah Williams Episode: "The Girl Next Door"
2005–2006 Law & Order: Trial by Jury Assistant District Attorney Sigrun Borg 3 episodes
2006 Close to Home Casey Wirth Episode: "The Rapist Next Door"
2006 Blackbeard Charlotte Ormand 2 Episodes: TV Film
2006 The Evidence Laura Green Episode: "Pilot"
2007 Journeyman Tanna Bloom Episode: "Friendly Skies"
2010 Agatha Christie's Poirot Mary Debenham Episode: "Murder on the Orient Express"

Theater

Year Title Role Notes
2012 The Heiress Catherine Sloper Opening this fall; closes February 10, 2013 [37]

Lists

Chastain's entries in countdown lists
Year Countdown name Rank Notes
2012 Ask Men's Top 99 Women 86 [38]
2012 Time 100 Unnumbered [39]
2012 Victoria Secret's "What Is Sexy?" Unnumbered; Sexiest Smile [40]
2012 PETA's Sexiest Vegetarian Unnumbered [41]
2012 Vanity Fair International Best-Dressed List Unnumbered; Appeared on the September 2012 cover [42]

References

  1. ^ http://articles.philly.com/2012-11-17/news/35157780_1_juanes-jessica-chastain-uneasy-star
  2. ^ http://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2012/09/jessica-chastain-on-hollywood
  3. ^ a b http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1567113/bio[better source needed]
  4. ^ a b The 100 Most Influential People in the World: Jessica Chastain, by Gary Oldman, Time Magazine, published April 18, 2012
  5. ^ Masters, Tim (July 10, 2011). "Is Jessica Chastain Hollywood's best kept secret?". BBC.co.uk (BBC News). Retrieved January 25, 2012.
  6. ^ a b Rochlin, Margy (August 24, 2011). "A Star Not Quite Overnight". nytimes.com (The New York Times).
  7. ^ Interview on The Late Show with David Letterman. "'Where do you come from?' 'Northern California ... Sonoma area.'"[full citation needed]
  8. ^ Adam, Guy (October 22, 2011). "Red hot: How Jessica Chastain became Hollywood's most wanted". London: The Independent. Retrieved December 2, 2011.
  9. ^ a b "5 Things You Don't Know About Jessica Chastain, Brad Pitt's Costar". UsMagazine.com. May 25, 2011. Retrieved December 2, 2011.
  10. ^ Hooper, Joseph (November 1, 2010). "Fashion Spotlight: Jessica Chastain". Elle.com (Hearst Digital Media).
  11. ^ Hooper, Joseph (November 1, 2010). "Jessica Chastain's ELLE Fashion Shoot". Elle.com. Retrieved December 2, 2011.
  12. ^ Palmer, Martyn (November 21, 2011). "Jessica Chastain: Meet the actress who's firing up the A-list". London: Dailymail.co.uk. Retrieved December 2, 2011.
  13. ^ "Jessica Chastain: Gaining 15 Pounds for The Help Was "Torture"". UsMagazine.com. August 11, 2011. Retrieved October 15, 2011.
  14. ^ Wheat, Alynda (June 13, 2011). "Picks and Pans Main: Movies". People.com. Retrieved January 25, 2012.
  15. ^ Bradshaw, Jennifer (January 26, 2012). "The Help Cast Before They Were Stars: Jessica Chastain as Essie in You Can’t Take It With You, Senior Yearbook Photo, 1995". Snakkle.com. Pontiac Digital Media.
  16. ^ Hall, Joseph (October 26, 2011). "Debating greatness: City College Speech and Debate team scores a winning streak". Sac City Express. Sacramento City College.
  17. ^ Zimmerman, Heather (April 30, 1998). "Bard's Pair as Dublin Duo: TheatreWorks updates 'Romeo and Juliet' to strife-torn Ireland". Metroactive.com (Metro Newspapers). Retrieved April 7, 2012. "Travis Engle and Jessica Chastain as Romeo and Juliet ... Engle and Chastain, themselves 17 and 21"
  18. ^ "Alumni News". The Juilliard School. February 2012. Retrieved April 15, 2012.
  19. ^ "Juilliard School Newsletter". September 6, 2011. Retrieved April 6, 2012.
  20. ^ Dolly Did It First New York Press. October 27, 2010
  21. ^ "Jessica Chastain joins Sam Worthington film". The Hollywood Reporter. March 21, 2010. Retrieved March 24, 2012.
  22. ^ Uncle Creepy (March 22, 2010). "Jessica Chastain Takes Up Residence in The Fields". Dreadcentral.com. Retrieved March 24, 2012.
  23. ^ Coriolanus at Rotten Tomatoes
  24. ^ Young, John (January 12, 2012). "'Madagascar 3': Meet the new celebrity-voiced circus animals". EW.com. Retrieved June 8, 2012.
  25. ^ Kit, Borys (December 13, 2010). "Jessica Chastain joins Prohibition era drama". Reuters Canada. Retrieved May 31, 2012.
  26. ^ "Jessica Chastain Named YSL Fragrance Face". Women's Wear Daily. June 7, 2012. Retrieved June 8, 2012.
  27. ^ "Academy Invites 176 to Membership". The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Retrieved June 29, 2012.
  28. ^ "Barry Pepper, Michael Sheen & Amanda Peet Also Cut From Terrence Malick's 'To The Wonder'". The Playlist. August 29, 2012. Retrieved August 30, 2012.
  29. ^ "Jessica Chastain Faces Off With A Jealous Ghost In Mama Trailer". Cinemablend. October 18, 2012. Retrieved October 23, 2012.
  30. ^ "Jessica Chastain Out, Andrea Riseborough And Olga Kurylenko In For Joseph Kosinski's Next Science Fiction Film". Cinemablend. January 19, 2012. Retrieved October 23, 2012.
  31. ^ "Jessica Chastain Won't Be In Iron Man 3". Cinemablend. May 7, 2012. Retrieved October 23, 2012.
  32. ^ "Kathryn Bigelow Shooting Bin Laden Drama In India". Cinemablend. March 1, 2012. Retrieved October 23, 2012.
  33. ^ "James McAvoy Joining Jessica Chastain In The Disappearance Of Eleanor Rigby". Cinemablend. May 22, 2012. Retrieved October 23, 2012.
  34. ^ "Jessica Chastain: Fame is daunting". Belfast Telegraph. Cover Media. September 3, 2012. Retrieved October 22, 2012. "Jessica doesn't speak about her age to too many people. ... 'I never say. Clearly, I'm not 15. But I like mystery,' she said."
  35. ^ "Jessica Chastain and Woody Harrelson Named PETA's 2012 Sexiest Vegetarians". PETA's 2012 Sexiest Vegetarians. E Online. Retrieved June 28, 2012.
  36. ^ http://blogs.wsj.com/speakeasy/2013/01/08/how-jessica-chastain-entered-the-cia-mindset-for-zero-dark-thirty/
  37. ^ Rooney, David (Jan 5, 2012). "Jessica Chastain to Make Broadway Debut in 'The Heiress'". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved May 4, 2012.
  38. ^ "Jessica Chastain". Top 99 Women 2012 Edition. Ask Men UK. Retrieved May 31, 2012.
  39. ^ Oldman, Gary (April 18, 2012). "Jessica Chastain". The 100 Most Influential People in the World. Time. Retrieved May 31, 2012.
  40. ^ "Victoria's Secret Reveals The 2012 What Is Sexy? List". The 2012 What Is Sexy? List. PRNewswire. Retrieved June 6, 2012.
  41. ^ "Jessica Chastain and Woody Harrelson Named PETA's 2012 Sexiest Vegetarians". PETA's 2012 Sexiest Vegetarians. E Online. Retrieved June 28, 2012.
  42. ^ "A Crying Jessica Chastain on Her Crippling Fears: “I’m Going to Fail Very, Very Big”". Vanity Fair International Best-Dressed List. Vanity Fair. Retrieved August 3, 2012.

 

 

No comments:

Post a Comment