Clicky

THE MANY DIFFERENT FACES OF JESSICA CHASTAIN: From MISS SLOANE To ZERO DARK THIRTY – We Are Movie Geeks

Actress

THE MANY DIFFERENT FACES OF JESSICA CHASTAIN: From MISS SLOANE To ZERO DARK THIRTY

By  | 
(Getty Images)

(Getty Images)

Jessica Chastain is a two-time Academy Award nominee who has emerged as one of Hollywood’s most sought-after actresses of her generation. She has received numerous nominations and accolades for her work from the LA Film Critics, British Academy of Film and TV, Broadcast Film Critics, HFPA, National Board of Review, Screen Actors Guild, Film Independent and the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences, to name a few.

The actresses’ latest film, MISS SLOANE, opens in cinemas on December 9, 2016.

In the high-stakes world of political power-brokers, Elizabeth Sloane (Jessica Chastain) is the most sought-after and formidable lobbyist in D.C. Known equally for her cunning and her track record of success, she has always done whatever is required to win. But when she takes on the most powerful opponent of her career, she finds that winning may come at too high a price.

Chastain can soon be seen in Niki Caro’s adaptation of Diane Ackerman’s novel THE ZOOKEEPER’S WIFE, opposite Daniel Brühl, set to release on March 31, 2017.

4101_D004_01936_R Jessica Chastain stars as Antonina Zabinski in director Niki Caro's THE ZOOKEEPER'S WIFE, a Focus Features release. Credit: Anne Marie Fox / Focus Features

Credit: Anne Marie Fox / Focus Features

She is currently in production for Susanna White’s period drama Woman Walks Ahead, opposite Sam Rockwell.

Chastain will portray Catherine Weldon, a 19th-century Brooklyn artist and activist who moved to the Standing Rock Reservation in Dakota Territory to help Sioux chieftain Sitting Bull fight to keep the land for his people.

WWA_D07_01672.ARW

She has wrapped production for Xavier Dolan’s The Death And Life Of John F. Donovan, alongside Natalie Portman, Kit Harington and Nicholas Hoult, and will also be seen in Aaron Sorkin’s film adaptation of Molly Bloom’s memoir Molly’s Game opposite Idris Elba.

In addition to her thriving acting career, she recently launched Freckle Films, a new production venture, and inked a first-look overhead deal with Trudie Styler and Celine Rattray’s transatlantic financing-production banner Maven Pictures. The two companies have already optioned two books: The Magician’s Lie, by Greer Macallister, and Camille Pagan’s novel Life and Other Near-Death Experiences.

In addition, she produced and starred as the lead in Weinstein’s indie darling The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby, opposite James McAvoy, starred in Liv Ullmann’s film adaptation of August Strindberg’s play Miss Julie, opposite Colin Farrell.

In honor of MISS SLOANE coming to theaters this Friday December 9, let’s count down her best roles!

Photo Credit: Kerry Hayes. ©2016 EuropaCorp – France 2 Cinema.

Photo Credit: Kerry Hayes. ©2016 EuropaCorp – France 2 Cinema.

MISS SLOANE – A thrilling and believable character drama about a woman on the edge confronting her love of winning, her ambition and her place in the world, Jessica Chastain brings authority and believability to her character.

04_TreeLife.jpg

TREE OF LIFE – There’s not a lot of dialog, but her graceful, caring mother is the film’s most moving, memorable character. Chastain starred as the lead in Terrence Malick’s Academy Award-nominated drama, opposite Brad Pitt and Sean Penn. The film won the Palme d’Or at the 2011 Cannes Film Festival and the Chicago Film Critics award for Best Picture.

Crimson Peak

CRIMSON PEAK – A weird film, but she plays a juicy role as a crazy villain. She starred in Guillermo del Toro’s CRIMSON PEAK opposite Charlie Hunnam, Tom Hiddleston and Mia Wasikowska.

A MOST VIOLENT YEAR

A MOST VIOLENT YEAR– An unjustly overlooked twisty crime thriller from 2014, where she plays the female lead, wife & business partner of Oscar Issacs’ character. Her riveting performance proved successful after the film garnered acclaim from many critics including the National Board of Review Award for Best Supporting Actress, a Golden Globe nomination and Film Independent Spirit Award nomination.

Huntsman

© 2016 Universal Studios. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

THE HUNTSMAN: WINTER’S WAR (2016) – Earlier this year, Chastain starred in Universal’s The Huntsman: Winter’s War alongside Chris Hemsworth, Charlize Theron and Emily Blunt with Cedric Nicolas-Troyan directing. Sure, a dumb film, but she makes one fierce warrior babe.

SALOME – Chastain played the title character in Al Pacino’s biblical drama.

The Biblical story of Salome, a girl who agrees to perform the “dance of the seven veils” in return for John the Baptist’s head on a silver platter. A bit of trivia, Salomé was the first film Jessica Chastain ever did and she was very nervous for the audition.

lawless-jessica-chastain-photo

LAWLESS – In this fact-inspired tale of a Depression era backwoods family of bootleggers, she played a love interest steamy enough to bring bootlegger Tom Hardy back from near death. A fun but bloody gangster film.

still-of-sam-worthington-and-jessica-chastain-in-the-debt-2010-large-picture

THE DEBT – Starring alongside Helen Mirren and Sam Worthington, the espionage thriller begins in 1997, as shocking news reaches retired Mossad secret agents Rachel (Academy Award winner Helen Mirren) and Stephan (two-time Academy Award nominee Tom Wilkinson) about their former colleague David (Ciarán Hinds of Focus’ “Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day”).

All three have been venerated for decades by their country because of the mission that they undertook back in 1966, when the trio (portrayed, respectively, by Jessica Chastain, Marton Csokas, and Sam Worthington) tracked down Nazi war criminal Vogel (Jesper Christensen) in East Berlin. At great risk, and at considerable personal cost, the team’s mission was accomplished – or was it? The suspense builds in and across two different time periods, with startling action and surprising revelations.

1134604 - Zero Dark Thirty

ZERO DARK THIRTY – Her performance in Kathryn Bigelow’s brilliant film garnered several awards, including the Broadcast Film Critics Association Award for Best Actress, the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in a Motion Picture Drama, and her second consecutive Academy Award nomination for Best Actress. In the film, Chastain stars as Maya, whose character was inspired by a real CIA analyst who was instrumental in the hunt for Osama bin Laden. “Zero Dark Thirty” earned several nominations, including Best Film (among many others) for the NYT Critic Awards and Independent Spirit awards.

mv5bmtawmdi4mzmxnjdeqtjeqwpwz15bbwu3mdiyntg1odu-_v1_sy1000_cr006641000_al_

THE HELP – Chastain starred in Dreamworks’ Academy Award-nominated adaptation of Kathryn Stockett’s novel THE HELP, which won numerous awards in 2011 including Chastain’s Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actress, Golden Globe nomination, Screen Actors Guild nomination and Critics’ Choice nomination.

THE MARTIAN

THE MARTIAN – Last year, she starred in Ridley Scott’s movie alongside Matt Damon, Jeff Daniels, Kristen Wiig, Chiwetel Ejiofor and Kate Mara. Jessica Chastain, who portrays Lewis says, “She is such a well-written character, another in the legacy of Ridley’s remarkable women characters. Lewis came from the Navy, and has to lead a team of specialists who are very smart and have very specific tasks to perform. She is friendly and personable with her crew, but wants to leave no doubt as to who is in charge.”

The film received a 2016 Academy Award nomination and won the 2016 Golden Globe Award for Best Motion Picture- Comedy or Musical.

jessica

INTERSTELLAR – Chastain said, “This story is full of longing and heartbreak, but at its core is the beautiful idea that even if love is not something you can hold in your hands, it remains with you across vast distances in time and space.” Co-starring in director Christopher Nolan’s epic film, the growing desperation of those trying to survive on Earth only intensifies the urgency of her character’s quest to find a solution. “She is aware, perhaps more than anyone, of how precious time is.”

take-shelter

TAKE SHELTER – Chastain starred in Jeff Nichols’ film, opposite Michael Shannon and turned in another quiet performance. “Jessica Chastain is striking and impressive.” – Ty Burr, BOSTON GLOBE.

Contributed by Cate Marquis and Michelle McCue