Jessica Chastain Career Retrospective | SAG-AFTRA Foundation Conversations

Jessica shares stories from her performances in Zero Dark Thirty, The Help, Tree of Life, The Eyes of Tammy Faye, and George and Tammy in this interview about her acting career. She discusses her early interest in acting, her time at Juilliard, and her work as a producer. This Q&A moderated by Jenelle Riley is part of the SAG-AFTRA Conversations series, an essential resource for actors, filmmakers and students of discussions with performers, exploring the process and profession of acting.
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0:00 - Intro
1:08 - SAG Card
2:29 - Oscar Nomination and SAG Award Nomination
2:36 - Upbringing
9:49 - Juilliard
14:31 - Working for John Wells
17:28 - Auditioning
21:01 - Theater Experiences
27:44 - Salomé and Al Pacino
32:38 - Tree of Life (2011)
36:20 - The Help (2011)
39:47 - Zero Dark Thirty (2012)
46:26 - The Eyes of Tammy Faye (2021)
1:05:33 - Work as a Producer
1:06:46 - Ideal Director
1:09:19 - Most Challenging Role
1:11:07 - George and Tammy (2022)

[@scorpio-girl687]

Jessica is so beautiful, so honest and down to earth and an amazing actress. I love her in everything she does.

[@Peter-wd2ho]

her charisma is off the charts

[@mofan232]

Amazing actress and wonderful human being. Smart.talented. Knowledge. Easy going . I can listen to her interview all day.

[@Doncataitu123]

This interviewer is the best and Chastain is so likeable and charming

[@blueberry119s2]

Jessicas story is really inspiring and she seems so humble. I really liked her performance in the zoo keepers wife. She deserved an oscar for it.

[@bill4632]

She was excellent in Zero Dark Thirty, as well.

[@abigailperrin9291]

as an aspiring actor, this interview makes me so extremely happy to see someone with similar roots as me, who didn’t have money and means to do everything she wanted but still made it work and is one of the best working actresses out there today. this gives me faith that there’s still actors out there that weren’t born with connections 🙏

[@rawbarbie]

I really appreciate Jessica’s down to earth and humble manner. It’s clear she had to work for her success. She speaks so positively about those she works with.

[@Ernie1978]

Jessica Chastain's performance on The Eyes of Tammy Faye blew me away. It brought me down to my knees. Tammy believed in God up until the interview with Larry King one day before she passed away. Jessica played her with so much love and reminded us that beyond the mascara there was a true believer in her. I loved it! Please give her the Oscar and the SAG, she deserves the world for this performance.

[@dukecavelli4444]

She's so good and she's gorgeous

[@Nazaba09]

‘You’re not bothering me, come say hi’. I’m not crying, you’re crying. (I also grew up in Northern California. It was so annoying to go to school Monday and hear ‘I saw Robin Williams over the weekend at the mall’. Never happened to me and he practically saved my life. 😭)

[@hattiehall8939]

I love what a fan she is of what she does and the industry she’s in. Her passion for her artistry is truly inspiring.

[@mr29]

What a lovely woman.

[@badpuppy09]

Have been a fan since TREE OF LIFE. Hadn't planned to see EYES OF TAMMY FAYE, but got the opportunity and it was really fabulous! Jessica Chastain delivers an incredible performance.

[@JessicaChastainFan]

Jessica Chastain is the greatest actor on the planet today. Bar none. Jolene, The Debt, Zero Dark Thirty, Mama, Miss Sloane, The Zookeeper's Wife, Molly's Game, Woman Walks Ahead, Ava, The Eyes of Tammy Faye and The 355...Jessica delivers 11/10 performances. She'll change her style for every movie she attaches herself, too. I haven't seen anyone this talented since the golden era of cinema (the late 50s to the early 90s).

[@salgaltrixie8265]

@ Luu Sapphire : Don't forget her in "Lawless" w/Tom Hardy & Shia Lebeuf(spelling?) And she's beautiful, both inside & outside; oh, that face - she's stunning, true natural beauty.

[@AjaySurya-kq7fh]

Changing her style can you elaborate on that? I find it very interesting!

[@IftiAlam1999]

One of the few celebrities I consider as the love of my life. My God. She's an an angel❤

[@ewelllle]

Jessica was spectacular in scenes from a marriage

[@JasonAaronGoldberg]

Always give Jessica all the awards!!! She is brilliant and fearless. Final moments in EYES are spectacular. PS, I also make up songs to my dog. He knows the melodies now. 🤣🤣

[@zonegreat5273]

God! I love Jessica so much! She is the most interesting, open, honest and beautiful person in the whole world and universe as well!

[@eileenlion6627]

One of the best American actresses

[@SkeeterNYC]

What a great talent and lovely person. Go accept that Oscar, Jessica. You deserve it!

[@kandorstevenson]

The Eyes of Tammy Faye is brilliant‼👑⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

[@ejm6460]

She is so so wonderfully intelligent, expressive and surprisingly deep without any pretense or ego. She is real and I absolutely respect her and her acting choices. I saw her in The Debt and I immediately became a fan of this unknown

[@ninogirkelidze3943]

my favorite actress

[@MegaCityOne]

I look forward her in THE DIVISION movie.

[@patriciaprickett667]

love this kid. As a former northern californian, i appreciated the shout out to Theatreworks. Great regional theater in the bay area.

[@willzinc6137]

Great chat! Jessica is so talented and such a beauty. Plus Jenelle is the best interviewer. I've seen a bunch of her interviews over the years and she consistently does a really good job of asking great questions and listening.

[@vwood86]

Jenelle Riley is so good and creative in the details with her questions.

[@andressalgado4558]

Shes an inspiration... I love her

[@arlene0725]

Truly enjoyed Jessica Chastain's work in The Help, Zero Dark Thirty & Molly's Game 😃👏

[@ipekkomurcu]

Hahah omg I would love to meet her one day, she's amazing such a light and inspiration. I wish her all the best in her life and career. Love and peace

[@gabrielpaes9351]

Nice to know she played Uma Thurman’s character in TAPE while performing and training to be an actress. It is a very underrated film by Richard Linklater.

[@ldrfan27577]

I could listen to Jessica talk about acting and her films for hours.

[@bill4632]

Love this woman. The first movie I saw her in was Zero Dark Thirty. She was terrific. The Help was great also. I have several of her films now. Definitely one of my favorite actresses.

[@portalplayer]

she's looking good! definitely good job on the makeup even for a little online interview.

[@adriannespring8598]

Aawwww!! I was looking for more Crimson Peak discussions. Llloooove that film

[@nealaborgman2055]

I think the movie JC was talking about was Public Debt (came out in 2009) with Johnny Depp where she walked away from the audition. Carey Mulligan ended up in that role.

[@davidsunday9961]

And she won the SAGs

[@brentloy131]

My biggest crush

[@mihaelamars]

I have so much love for this woman!

[@vespahandle]

Gosh what a great interview. Jessica you are so talented and dare I say normal meaning you are so relatable. I’ve been a fan since tree of life….you are so terrific. Best of luck although your talent will assure it.

[@schoolerama]

It's so seldom, that audiences get deeper personal insights into an actor's process/methodology. Loved this interview!

[@Lushy260]

What a great interview, love her stories of Pacino!!!!

[@myname-uc6gr]

You are the best interviewer. Hands down

[@allisonmeister1294]

This is gold

[@ashaale3605]

Lovely to watch and very encouraging. I'm just surprised there was no discussion on how she got the IT Chapter 2 part or Molly's Game to touch what it was like working with James McAvoy and Idris Elba...

[@taewookkim5360]

I love you Jessica❤️🌈 you have great love in your heart! love love your Gucci ad as well!

[@kevinzhang6623]

To think she grew up as a loner and misfit using Shakespeare as an escape, almost failed out of drama school due to spending too much time watching movies and shows, apparently there's a correlation of actors with attention deficit tendencies, hers is one of the most relatable stories

[@latinobunny9882]

Interesting, I probably should’ve already guessed but I didn’t know ER or Law and Order was how many actors became SAG-E. Talk about entry-level jobs 😄👍

[@betsyregus5401]

I know about Law and Order but not ER

[@philsibayan9815]

The Martian is still my favorite movie of hers

[@milenaferraz5071]

She talked to “Maya”?? I 'm shocked

[@shoxjaxontoxirov6300]

❤

[@benmiller3252]

I would love to see her as poison ivy opposite Robert Pattinson as Batman

[@maykellebellarose2316]

Could put subtitles. It made life easier for many people.

[@ashaale3605]

There is am option on the right corner of the video "cc" (if it appears to you)

[@rautoban]

😍

[@yomommastupid]

😂 i will hold her on to her word if i ever see her in a restaurant or somewhere...

[@darell5130]

Interesting Woman. 👩 I wonder is she’s available?

[@JC-di4uz]

Anyone know who she's talking about the Chem test? Lol

[@kiollaplay2041]

AVA