The Inexplicable Career Explosion of Jessica Chastain

I still don't know who she is. Wasn't she a soccer player?

Isn't she related to Ron Howard ?

I think you're judging her too quickly. I saw in The Help and The Debt within the same month and was really impressed by her range. Can't think of any other young actress who could play two such different parts.

How "young" is she?

JC looks well into her early 40s

I think shes a decent actress. Especially in the debt. I would have voted her or janet mcteer over octavia spencer for the oscar. I really dont understand the euphoria over octavia spencer. Standing o at the oscars? wtf?! That shit in the pie scene in the help was disgusting. I thought melissa mccarthy in bridesmaids was a pig. Thank god she didnt win. So they settled on octavia doing her hattie mcdaniel best.

[quote]The Debt

Yes, she was quite convincing as "Semitic," as was Sam Worthington.

She claims she's 30 but Dlisted says she's 35. I couldn't care either way. She was very good in The Help.

r6 you are very convincing as an antisemitic. I know 3 Jewish girls who look very much like her.

She should have won the Oscar. She was fantastic in The Help

She's 37-38 if she's a day.

Her work in The Help is stolen right from Steel Magnolias. It's Roberts' Shelby mixed with Parton's character. I'm not impressed with Chastain at all but if her management can get her work good for them.

Didn't Rachel McAdams lie about her age as well? And she is gorgeous.

She looked ravishing on Oscar night.

She is going to be in "The Heiress."

Cherry Jones nailed that part and won a Tony for it, so Jessica has some big shoes to fill.

I wanted to see Lily Rabe in "The Heiress" more than anyone else.

[quote] I really dont understand the euphoria over octavia spencer. Standing o at the oscars? wtf?

White guilt.

Why are they remaking The Heiress, for Christ's sake? Olivia de Havilland already delivered the definite interpretation of Catherine Sloper (and won an Oscar for it).

I think she's doing it onstage, R16.

I haven't seen THE HELP but was struck by her hair in the clip they showed at the Oscars. Is her character supposed to be wearing a cheap obvious wig or is it just a cheap obvious wig?

There are some major bitches on the rag here today. First the Kristin Chenowith psycho, and now this.

Other than Viola Davis, Chastain was the best thing in THE HELP, compared to the overacting of Spencer, the one-dimensional performance of Howard, and the miscasting of Stone.

Chastain was also fine in TREE OF LIFE and TAKE SHELTER.

She's a talented woman who happened to have a lot of films come out in a short time frame, though some of them (like THE DEBT) were filmed much earlier.

OP is one of these people who is just negative for the sake of being negative, and is therefore irrelevant.

R11, with a healthy dose of Jessica Lange's character from "Blue Sky."

I thought she was terrific in The Help. I thought she was cute on the Oscars. Why all the bad sentiments OP? Why not wish a new actress well?

Mandesa from American idol fame outed her for being 35-36. They went to high school together and Mandesa had the yearbook pics to prove it.

Chastain claims professionally she's only 30.

Chastain is disliked because she's a ginge.

I probably wouldn't have a problem with her otherwise.

New York Magazine recently called Oscar Isaac this 2012's Jessica Chastain on its Ubiquitous List. At least he's better to look at.

She gave a wonderful performance in THE HELP.

And THE TREE OF LIFE, was filmed and originally supposed to open in 2009, but due to work related to those lugubrious dinosaur scenes, the release date was delayed for years.

We are quoting Mandesa as reliable sources now ? really?

Sheesh

Hey, Jessica Chastain is a heck of alot better looking than Kim Kardashian. If Kim is considered beautiful, then Jessica Chastain's beauty would be ethereal.

Mandesa is a homophobic cunt so never listen to her.

Oscar Isaac is fucking gorgeous R23, and like Chastain has great range. I was shocked that was him in Drive and also the Vadge film.

I thought she was great in both "Tree of Life" and "The Help". I think her acclaim is well deserved.

The real question is why the fuck do you care at all?

I just realized she's not the girl from True Blood!

It is odd how she is suddenly everywhere. Just looked over her credits and there really isn't much prior to last year. Even her theatre work is slight.

Maybe Al Pacino set stuff up for her?

I like her.

She's the Ali McGraw/Mia Farrow of The Now.

(Looks the part, nothing - absolutely noootttthinggggg - going on inside.)

She's a really good actress.

"Hands down, best management, agent and most of all, PR in the business"

No - that's Michelle Williams

At least Jessica C is good looking!

shut up r35!! I'm a widow!

Chastain is an animal lover and owns a three-legged dog

She should give the third foot to Marion Cotillard.

but I'm black.

Who cares about the extent of Jessica's talent?

The better question is whether we should have the lesbians turn their gaydar toward her for an investigation because she's never with a guy.

I don't understand why all these straight, hot actresess can't get dates.

I don't think she pings.

quote[Who the hell did she fuck?]

Don't look at me.

I like her.

I don't think she's gay, but I still like her.

Horsey ginger, at least 35, but she can act.

She seemed like she was channeling Daryl Hannah's character from 'Steel Magnolias' for her role in 'The Help'. She was better in 'The Tree of Life'.

I agree with OP. She is a clear example of a manager/agent manufactured career.

I remember the kids in THE TREE OF LIFE, but she was rather bland in the film.

I thought she was a little "actory" in The Help. Too much stuff going on

Was she not the understudy for Ronald Bilius?

She was ok with what she had to work with in The Tree of Life - basically it was an idolized mother figure, not a real character.

To everyone who bitches about "How did ____ get a career?"--really, who else is out there?

I am in the Invisible Gay Years (late 30s), so I don't know all the newest people, but I really see few talented younger stars coming up, let alone stunning ones. Those who are decent are too young for a lot of these parts.

Yes, the PR machine is there, but still...

She's really pretty and very talented. I hope to see much more of her and much less of Michelle Williams.

Lily Rabe can out act the hell out of Jessica Chastain any day of the week.

Please, Lily Rabe is a pale imitation of her mother.

A pale imitation of Jill Clayburgh is better than Jessica Chastain.

R40: She is a vegan. Does that help?

and

So is there a boyfriend to share all this success with? She’s not saying. ‘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.’

Jessica lives near the beach in Santa Monica, Los Angeles, with her two rescue dogs, Radley, a corgi-spaniel cross, and Roman, a chihuahua mix. When she’s not working she loves to cook – she’s a strict vegan – and hang out with her best friend, actress Jess Weixler.

I thought she was good in THE HELP, but nothing that I would consider oscar worthy.

Davis was truly the best of the bunch, but I thought Emma Stone was good also.

The movie could have used a good editor. They tried to put the entire book in the movie. Three or four times I kept thinking the movie was going to end, and it just kept going.

I think her relationship with Jess is very strange. Jess looks like her "suporting wife". Friends are not that exclusive.

Anything to save us from Amy Adams.

I agree, R58!

I think she is a Nicole Kidman replacement. She's a sexy, adult woman, almost from another time, as opposed to all of these little bimbo girls we get now.

she's the illegitimate daughter of ron howard - I'm not kidding. lots of shadowy info about her beginnings...

She is a Scientologist being groomed to be Tom's latest wife.

She lied about her age all Blanche Devereaux (née Hollingsworth) style and that is slowly coming back to haunt her a mite bit.

she is very talented watch "take shelter".

The OP really believes that top management and fucking the right people automatically translate into an A list career?

Doesn't work that way. Directors like her, that is what drove her career. Trust me, the fat pig producer crowd that runs the film business doesn't want to fuck her. She isn't "hot" enough or waspy enough for them to consider her a conquest.

To the powerful producers in LA [straight, that is] Jessica looks like cleaned up trailer trash. SO the point is it is directors and women who are pushing her career.

She appeared out of nowhere, which would not have been so unusual had it not been for her total lack of screen charisma and presence.

Actually, her features ARE very similar to Ron Howard's. Same jaw, eyes, nose, etc.

Here's Jess...

And Ron.

Never heard of any boyfriend, except in passing and when it was over.

Why do some people feel that everyone has to be in a relationship all the time?

I think R63 has it right. Besides her talent she is liked by directors and that is the word on her. Being easy to work with helps a great deal. Tehre are many talented people who areer difficult and that rep gets around.

That and some luck and the coincidence that some films were delayed for various reasons giving her so many openings in such a short time span.

bump.

She played what could very well always be known as my character in "The Heiress' as though she were someone living with Asperger's Syndrome.

She happens to be an excellent actress.

She's either Howards's daughter or as the other rumor says, half-sister. They look way too much alike the resemblence is uncanny. Also, her pre-fame last name was Howard. Chastain is a stage name she took.

It's all about $$$.

Once an actress is in a major movie, even in a bit part, that's a whole lotta press. That actresses name gets out there - which is like buying free publicity for whatever film someone might cast her in next.

Think of how much $ it costs to make a film. Especially one with Brad Pitt. JC was hired for DIRT CHEAP for all of those films. Talented, good word of mouth from other directors (no drama, gives many takes, etc.), free publicity from the other films she's in = hired.

Her and Bryce both have Opie face.

She and Bryce not Her and Bryce, you idiot.

R6, Exactly what does a "semitic" look like? Are you aware of the vast range of countries Israelis came from? There are plenty of fair-skinned, blond, blue-eyed, and gingers, and Blacks, and Asians, and Hispanics who were born Jewish.

R61, Tom's next beard? Are you serious?

r74, that also bolsters the casting couch theory, though since it only takes one or two minor roles to make a name.

Those might have been gotten on the couch, simply a bj or two, not full out fucking.

Looking at her, I'd buy the nepotism theory before the casting couch.

That reminds me of this disgusting blind, said to be Michael Bay (surprise!) and Ashley Greene.

OP = Emma Stone

[quote]Once an actress is in a major movie, even in a bit part, that's a whole lotta press. That actresses name gets out there - which is like buying free publicity for whatever film someone might cast her in next.

If only that were true.

Yeah, its nepotism. That's why she did crap theater for years. You're a genius.

I love her. She's a great talent.

The Op seems to have serious issued with Chastain. Unattractive? Yeah right. And now she's a lock for a best actress nom for Zero dark Thirty, so that whole "You won't know who she is in two years" thing is a hue fail.

reply 64, obviously others don't think that she lacks charisma and presence. Stop forcing your opinions on everyone.

The only cast member that was age appropriate in The Help was Emma Stone and the maids. Howard and Chastain and the other married white ladies were all too old for young wives and mothers. The character of Skeeter was 21 or 22 I believe and just out of college. Her friends would have been the same age only they got a MRS degree and popped out babies early.

How old is Stone anyway? She's was probably a little too old too.

Is she related to Don Chastain, who played Debbie Reynolds' hot hubby on her eponymous '60s sitcom?

Stone is 23, R86 but probably was around 20 when the movie was filmed.

She is the new Amy Adams, as if one bland blond actress was not enough.

I don't see how you can say she's not talented or charismatic. I would give you that she was a bit "actor-y" in The Help, but it was still a great performance. Besides, in my opinion, she was the only redeeming thing about Tree of Life, and she was brilliant in Take Shelter.

I think her appearance on Bway was miscalculated and premature. She's starring in a revival of THE HEIRESS but it has not been the commercial or critical blockbuster people might have imagined. They should have waited a bit: she's not enough of a name or a presence yet to fill seats (and many were underwhelmed by her performance, based on her rep as a trained theatre actress).

I don't get Amy Adams. She was good as the slut in Drop Dead Gorgeous and Psycho Beach Party but in Mrs. Pettigrew Lives for a Day she was annoying as hell and I haven't really seen her in anything else.

I like Amy but I think her 15 minutes are up as a leading lady. She can't really carry a movie on her own. And she's getting a bit... old for the girly ingenue thing she's got going on. She should just do character parts, as she's very funny. She was the only thing I liked about JUNEBUG, for example.

[quote]She and Bryce not Her and Bryce, you idiot.

Oh, dear.

The Heiress is a failure, critically and financially. She'll be lucky to eke out a Tony nomination which was the whole point of the production in the first place. Hollywood's attempt to protect their investment didn't work.

She may be nominated for ZDT, she's not a lock however, and she certainly won't be a real contender. She remains as bland as ever. She's the Sam Worthington of actresses, and as predicted, Sam Worthington is over. We'll see where she is with another year of presence-less, charisma free performances.

[quote]I like Amy but I think her 15 minutes are up as a leading lady. She can't really carry a movie on her own. And she's getting a bit... old for the girly ingenue thing

Amy is 2.5 years older than Jessica. Amy is 37 and Jessica was outed against her will as a 35 year old.

And R55 certainly describes someone who could be a lesbian. The Ron Howard thing is interesting. She did lie about her age, what else is she hiding?

It's possible that she's simply very busy and/or private, but the quote at r55 sounds an awful lot like something Ricky Martin or Matt Bomer would say before they were out.

I recently saw her interviewed on Charlie Rose so I decided to rent all the movies the library had with her. I'm not impressed. In Take Shelter she can't even do the stock 'concerned wife' character, but comes across more like a harpy. She's ultimately not really likable.

Also, Jessica lacks glamor. She's striking looking but but not pretty: she lacks a softness that Amy Adams has. And she doesn't give "sultry" or "mysterious" (like Angelina) no matter how many red-carpet gowns they stick her in.

Is it just a lack of sex appeal? Or warmth?

Chastain does ethereal very well. She's must better than Amy Adams.

She is another child of James Hewitt.

Chastain trying too hard to show her admiration for La Huppert (who seems to cringe a little):

I think she's beautiful and I enjoy watching her on screen. However she lacks range as an actress IMO. (FWIW, I am a straight female and I don't fantasize about her.)

The gossip is she has a background she will never talk about. Don't ask her. She won't do interviews. But I also thought she was a standout in The Help and definitely displayed some charisma. She wouldn't be getting roles if she wasn't bankable. The Help made her a star. People related to the ditzy naive outsider married to the hunk who who was rebuffed by the mean girls.

So is "best friend" Jess Weixler a lesbian?

She is the Lady GaGa of the film industry.

That makes no sense, troll.

For those wondering about her suspicious personal(possibly closeted) life, she took her grandmother once again as her date to an awards show last night.

Is this Misery's daughter?

[quote]Her work in The Help is stolen right from Steel Magnolias. It's Roberts' Shelby mixed with Parton's character. I'm not impressed with Chastain at all but if her management can get her work good for them.

R11's high. Chastain was stunning in The Help. It's amazing there were any Steel Magnolia sets left standing after those two chewed their way through that movie.

Please do NOT connect Chastain with that awful POS girls-r-us fest called Steel Magnolias...what a shitty film that was.

She is totally Ron Howard's spawn.

It does make sense, r107, if you consider the title of this thread.

Gaga's was an inexplicable career explosion as well. She came out of nowhere, was suddenly everywhere, and people acted like they'd always known about her.

Same case with Chastain.

Needless to say, both are wildly overrated.

And The Help is in no way better than Steel Magnolias. How laughable.

R16, they are talking about The Heiress on Broadway, not the film. It was remade, unfortunately, as Washington Square (1997), starring Jennifer Jason Leigh in the Olivia role, and Ben Chaplin not nearly holding a candle to Monty Clift, in looks or talent.

Jessica Chastain was charming in The Help, but she is not going to sustain a career. I am so glad Michelle Williams is no longer the It girl, so Jessica does not bother me that much. I do believe she is related to Ron Howard.

uuuugh, I hate Lady Gaga. I do not think she is a genius at anything but marketing and capitalizing on the rapidly cycling memory of the public. Every damn thing she does I have seen before.

If someone would please start a thread regarding Lady Gaga being a no talent bint, I would appreciate it!

"I am so glad Michelle Williams is no longer the It girl"

Agree 100 %

She was fantastic in Zero Dark Thirty.

Well, she did graduate from Juliards... a lot less talented people have better opportunities than her. So why shouldn't she enjoy a career explosion?

That's a pretty labored comparison, R113 given that Gaga (talent aside) is adored by millions worldwide, virtually everyone knows who she is, and is a millionaire. Chastain has none of those things.

I liked Chastain enough in Take Shelter and in Tree of Life and I expect to like her in ZDT when I see it, but I loved Williams in Meek's Cutoff and Blue Valentine.

I once tried to find her mothers name, and never did. If one could find that out, then one ostensibly could do some investigating to see if she ever crossed paths w Ron Howard. I suspect this is why her Grandma comes to awards shows w her rather than her mom.

Where does the thought she is jewish? All Chastain's are kin. No matter how they spell their name. A decendant from the Kin of France from the 1600. King John Perrie Chastain gave up his throne because the Chastain's own 3/4 of france. The ugonots (if spelled correctly) began killing all the Chastain family. King John Perrie Chastain gave up his throne for love of his family. He built large ship and brought them to America. If she is jewish that would be interesting to me. A Chastain without money or ever a chance to be a queen, but love my family too. Don't know JC but love her as an actress, she favors my daughter, beautiful.

Huguenots, R121.

Wiki says she's indeed 35. Not sure what Mandisa is on about with the "She's not 30 she's 35" nonsense.

If she is 35....it is a very odd career path...Juilliard...then 10 years of nothing...(she only has 4 theatre credits listed in her Playbill bio) ...and then suddenly she is in everything.

She pings to me. Love her.

She has the #1 and #2 movie this weekend.

And still no one cares or knows who she is, r126.

She has failed to make any impression whatsoever. She could disappear from Hollywood at this very second and the entire world would shrug their shoulders and say "who?"

[quote]She has failed to make any impression whatsoever

Be sure to bump this thread on Oscar Night.

[quote]She is totally Ron Howard's spawn.

Somewhere upstring I'm sure someone has mentioned that it's Bryce Dallas-Howard -- who played "Two-slice Hilly" in The Help and was fabulous in the part -- who is Ron Howard's daughter.

At least she has a cool name, sounds regal, befitting a movie star. Her first name should really be Julia though.

"Juilliard...then 10 years of nothing"

She told Charlie Rose she auditioned for everything for years and always got passed over. Just bit parts here and there.

Yes, there's a reason she got passed over. Because she has nothing to say as an actress. She is curiously empty and enigmatic, and not in an interesting way.

Jessica Chastain is the Queen of the Box Office!

Snort.

No one is going to see either of those movies because of Chastain.

Everyone in the business knows that.

[R18] Agree. Major sour grapes.

She claims to be "working class" from Sonoma, CA? Really? We can't afford to live in Sonoma & make over $100k a year.

I'm smelling bs. A tiny 50's home is about $1m in Sonoma!

Jessica and Bryce are sisters.

[quote]We can't afford to live in Sonoma & make over $100k a year.

To be fair to Jess, when she was growing up in Sonoma they hadn't started making wine yet.

Only in 2011 she had 6 movies released. How is that even possible? How come the schedules did not overlap? She was also hugely advertised at the Toronto Film Festival, even though nobody had heard of her at the time. There was some serious effort to "launch" her for sure.

Wasn't there another rumor that she is the daughter of Ron Howard's father?

She had six movies out at the same time because most of them were shot years earlier and were held up for ages. Tree of Life was shot three years before it was released. I think The Debt was in limbo for a very long time, too.

What people don't get is that these are almost all small, independent movies. She's not making any cash from this stuff. She's turned down a lot of studio pictures recently, including Iron Man III and Oblivian, the next Tom Cruise film, to do roles she likes. She's not exactly Sam Wothington, who was given the lead in several major action picture franchises without much track record, she's been winning auditions, and has been in supporting in pretty much every film except Zero Dark Thirty.

She did get somewhat of a late start in her career. She didn't go to Julliard until she was 21. She had worked in regional theater in the Bay Area for a few years at that point, and auditioned for Julliard at the recommendation of a fellow actor. She was signed to a development deal by TV producer John Wells after she graduated, but she said casting people didn't know what to do with her. My guess is that she seemed too mature for the types of roles offered to 20somethings, but is in her sweet spot now that she's in her 30's. She's getting cast because she's classically trained and has chameleon looks. She can look pretty or plain and can wear many hair colors. She also hasn't had a ton of plastic surgery, so she can do period roles. A lot of actresses are talented, but they look unreal, or much too modern, which limits their choices.

R141, If she's classically trained, then why do her eyes show so little movement or changes in expression? In ZDT I didn't see the inner conflict I would have expected.

She's definitely a lesbian. Her "best friend" is her girlfriend/partner. They've been together for years.

Her age has changed four or five times on IMDb and she is plenty pissed off that they have it correctly now as 35.

I don't think she's a terrible actress. I've liked a couple of movies she's done. We'll see.

She has no partner. Her bff, Jess Weisler doesn't live with her.

She's going bald just like her dad:

She's preggers from Jason Clarke.

I don't think she's a terrible actress -- she WAS very good in The Help -- but she lacks the charisma, the star presence, that certain something to really carry a film. The critical acclaim and Oscar nod for Zero Dark Thirty mystify me: she's a complete cypher in the film, you feeling nothing for her (pro or con) and, as a result, you feel nothing about what's happening to her. The role needed somebody with more personality and presence to sell such a character.

R147, I remember Angelina Jolie being criticized for her work in SALT for similar reasons. Who would you have cast instead?

Naomi Watts or Rachel Weisz, but they probably were too pricey.

Part of the problem, also, is that the script and direction are also so generic, bland and dispassionate, and thus it might have been that Chastain was adrift and unsure how to play the role.

she brought nothing to the table in Zero Dark Thirty. I don't mind the character not having a real back story or wahtever, but I just didn't believe her, all she did was talk and look stern and ball-breaker-y. she wasn't even part of the big climax sequence. it was a lifeless performance and i'll be very disappointed if she beats out Emmanuelle Riva, who actually had to do some believable acting in Amour.

.

Jesus, she is a CIA data analyst in ZDT. Why do you think you're supposed to identify or sympathize with her AT ALL? Its not that kind of movie, really. You can see in numerous scenes that Maya is a cold, focused operative. Its not a damned soap opera. No wonder movies get so dumbed down these days.

I recently saw ZDT and I do n ot understand the reasons why this lead actress was nominated.

Her perofrmance was very lifeless. I felt nothing for the lead character, no hatred, no like.

Just complete indifference

She gave two of the most ridiculous, laughable, and unbelievable performances this year. As a punk rocker in Mama? Bitch, please.

Her complete lack of presence and total lack of believability in Zero Dark Thirty almost destroyed that film totally.

She should never work again.

For some reason I agree with R154. I do not see the appeal of this actress, and I see no extraordinary talent here.

[all posts by ham-fisted troll a removed.]

Many other actresses could have made the role in ZDT into something extraordinary. Her two showy scenes with tears, particularly the last where she wept on the plane were execrable and hilarious.

The Debt is completely forgettable. Her only passable role was in The Help, and even that was amateurish. She is a bland, terrible actress.

The two Oscars she attended made zero impression, unless you spend your time parroting PR. She will never get an Oscar and she'll be forgotten in five years.

[all posts by ham-fisted troll a removed.]

Keep up that work, shill.

She secured her A-list status with great career choices (leading character in Liv Ullmann's new movie, the holocaust baity role, Nolan's intelligent sci-fi flick and Del Torro's ambitious project).

She is already the IT girl of fashion and embodies classiness with Old Hollywood glamour. The fact she was the one to shine in Cleopatra screening is a proof of that.

Dating a hot European Count certainly helps.

No matter how you look at it, she is an exception. A miracle in Hollywood.

[post redacted because linking to dailymail.co.uk clearly indicates that the poster is either a troll or an idiot (probably both, honestly.) Our advice is that you just ignore this poster but whatever you do, don't click on any link to this putrid rag.]

I think she's wonderful. Very talented, smart, gorgeous and has that mystique about her. She really stands out in today's Hollywood environment.

She's the only one the current parade of actresses I can stand.

She looks taller than 5'4'':

R164 this is because she wears high heels.

I have seen her IRL in flats. Very petite. I would say more 5'2' pushing to 5'3'.

[quote] Thoroughly mediocre, unattractive, and charisma free

I know, right?!

[quote]Naomi Watts or Rachel Weisz, but they probably were too pricey.

Oh honey, thanks for the laugh!

I thought she was supposed to be distant and cold/awkward in "Zero Dark Thirty" so I liked her performance. I also liked her in "The Debt" and even in "The Help". That doesn't actually mean anything, I've liked some mediocre actors from time to time.

The real way to tell whether or not she's got the chops for the long haul would be her stint on Broadway. How were the reviews? What did the DL theater queens think?

I liked her performances in The Debt and The Help, much better than in ZDT. Even if she's playing a character that professionally must be emotionless and calculating, if there aren't moments where an actress shows traces of non-robotic humanity then the movie doesn't resonate. We needed to see her in private struggling with her need to be in total control yet frustrated with the constraints of her position. Remember that portraying real life is often boring which is why reality shows either totally fail or aren't at all true.

My thoughts on Jennifer Lawrence:

[quote]Thoroughly mediocre, unattractive, and charisma free

Love her. She can act. She is also one of those people who can either look really beautiful or really plain.

There is nothing absolutely spectacular about her.

However, she's a good actress and paid her dues. She has been incredibly lucky and I appreciate the fact that she is getting the work that she has earned.

OP, I don't think this thread is working out the way you had hoped.

She appears to have been working a long time for this "inexplicable explosion", and she actually has some acting training. Unlike certain actors who brag about having never taken an acting class like it's funny.

[quote]OP, I don't think this thread is working out the way you had hoped.

I am not OP, but it does seem that half of the posters love her, half are indifferent to her.

My guess is JC's exposure will go the Amy Adams route: it will lessen in the next couple of years.

I thought she was miscast in ZDT. Or maybe she is a limited actress.

why would freakin LIV ULLMANN want her if she's empty and unattractive. do you people know who liv ullmann is? chastain has extraordinary, stirring, enigmatic depth and she's quite beautiful. she did the stoic thing in zd30, i think it was so interesting to have a beautiful young woman in a traditionally male part. she nailed it.

She was absoloutely amateurish and horrible in that Zero Dark Thirty mess. You could even tell from the trailer that she was overdoing it.

is she gay?

Hollywood has once again shown its bad taste projecting her as a major movie star.

Her Eleanor Rigby movie has already been praise, so I am afraid more praise for JC is on the way.

She's a terrible actress. All she does is play a mood. She has no idea how to create real human characters. And it's nauseating to watch her take herself so seriously. I feel like whenever I'm watching her on screen, she's screaming at the top of her lungs 'HEY! I'M A SERIOUS ACTRESS!". I seriously can't stand to watch her.

She's a terrible actress. All she does is play a mood. She has no idea how to create real human characters. And it's nauseating to watch her take herself so seriously. I feel like whenever I'm watching her on screen, she's screaming at the top of her lungs 'HEY PEOPLE! I'M A SERIOUS ACTRESS! WATCH ME DO MY SERIOUS ACTING!" I seriously can't stand it.

Ugggh.... awful. Zero Dark Thirty? Overact much?

why all the hate? And the OP is a douche.

R182 R183 you forgot to take your meds today, dear, because you sound like a raging troll.

If you find her "nauseating" why do you watch her films? avoid them, my dear.

I don't get the hate. She doesn't bother me. I can think of other actresses who bug me much more.

Sorry but I agree with OP - she is neither talented or attractive.

She must be related to somebody with influence.

R182 totally agree, and she is astonishingly pretentious and snobby in real life. I get acting can be art but she takes it to an obnoxious level. She needs to stop mentioning Julliard and shakespeare everytime she opens her mouth. She definitely thinks because of the roles she does and people she admires, she sits on a higher more important level that others who don't do oscar bait films.

Only on DL she is hated and considered "untalented"

Jessica with Matt Damon, sebastian stan and Kate Mara in The Martian:

is julliard and similar acting schools extremely difficult to get into or as long as you can talk, chew gum at the same time and you got the bucks to afford it, you can "get in?" just wondering..

is a school like julliard the equivalent of ANY AND ALL british actors/actresses who because they have some british acting academy school whatever credits/education on their resume, and that have that oh so intelligent sounding accent that means AUTOMATICALLY they are talented?

Does the Jessica Shitstain troll only hate her or is she also the "Joanne Woodward is a home wrecker" troll?

R191 I suspect "the shitstain" troll is the OP too. He or she is obsessed with harmless actresses. He keeps bumping old threads so he can spread his weird obsession towards Jessica or any other harmless actress like Joanne Woodward .

Sadly, some people "agree with him or her. lol!

Now Jessica Chastain is milking Bryce Dallas Howard's exposure thanks to the Jurassic Park premiere by constantly mentioning on SM how similar they look like. Really? Where were those comments when BDH was not working and needed to increase her presence? Chastain will take advantage of any popular 'friends', and then ditch them when they are no longer relevant, like her supposedly best-friend Jess Weixler.

I love her, but those "Eleanor Rigby" movies were awful

Thanks for linking to Ridley Scott's newest flop movie, r189. I see Chastain is reprising her role from the beloved Interstellar here.

If you're thirsty for another taste of Chastain awfulness, check out the trailer for Crimson Peak! She's laughable, in a story we've seen a hundred times before.

In any case, I agree with many of the posters above: JC is so charisma free she makes Amy Adams look like the most exciting & talented actress ever. Which, of course, she is not.

She does seem to have some sort of favoritism thing going for her. She is a decent actress but lacks the "X" factor that makes producers clamor for an actress. In other words, her pretty but not astonishing looks and blandish acting skills will not make her box office worthy--ever. Consequently, I will go with the nepotism thing as the vehicle she is riding to fame and fortune. I always had a hard time believing Ron Howard could have a child out of wedlock. I know--he is human. But he dated his wife Cheryl since he was a teenager IIRC, and they seem VERY tight. My guess is Chastain is the daughter of Ron's dad.

R196 I'm sceptical that Ron Howard is normal.

R195 R193 Looks who's here the shitstain troll. At least you're admitting that you are trollin. Shame on you to bash a lovely and great actress like Jessica. Go away or go back to AW forum. and to R196 that is the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard. she is not Ron's daughter. Talent, my friend, Talent!

r198 = Jessica Chastain

R199 troll

Shitstain is old and fat.

A passable actress but doesn't really catch the eye. She lacks charisma and screen presence, which is extremely odd for a Hollywood actress who keeps getting cast in major roles. I don't get any lesbian vibe from her at all so she's not even of interest there. Her career is indeed a strange phenomenon.

so, why keep bumping this thread then if you guys gonna be mean to her?

R201 go away fucking troll

R202 so, why keep bumping this thread then if you guys gonna be mean to her?

R203 / R204 took a break from masturbating with her Shitstain-themed dildo to defend her honor on an anonymous message board. Oh dear. You need a new obsession. Although it is so much fun terrorizing you...

R205 "oh, dear" the only one obsess here is you. You are the one who needs a new hobby pathetic loser.

Talent, my friend, talent!

A thing "the shitstain troll" lacks

Why is she doing a Marilyn Monroe bio movie? God, let the woman RIP for five minutes. Tired of endless Oscar bait bios. At least do some about lesser known people or someone whom you may not know much about their private/personal life.

R208 she's not doing that MM film. I think that project is dead now,

Oh, dear. Shitstain doesn't have talent or charisma. The movies she stars in are failures. Her only bet is to piggyback onto an actual star's movie as a supporting member.

R210 so? why you are heeereeeee You obviously haven't seen any of her films because you are a troll.

People on here who think that she can't act should shut the fuck up and watch The Debt and Take shelter. Great performances from this actress.

People on here who think that [insert the name of an unremarkable actor] can't act should shut the fuck up and watch [insert name of film(s) that no one ever heard of, let alone watched, from years ago].

surejan.gif

People on here who think that she can't act should shut the fuck up and watch The Debt and Take shelter. Great performances from this actress.

[quote]Two years from now, you won't know who she is.

Ha!

How much weight do you think this fat ass has gained while you queens have been arguing over her for the past hour? Is she officially into American plus sizes yet?

People on here who think that she can't act should shut the fuck up and watch The Debt and Take shelter. Great performances from this actress.

In case anyone wasn't sure, Shitstain's fans are mental midgets, as evidenced by the copy/paste messages.

Asperger's or are you just a sexually frustrated lesbian R217, R215, R214, 212, etc etc?

All of her fans are frustrated, panting lesbians. She is utterly boring to hetero people, men especially. She has no sex appeal whatsoever. But the lesbians, especially the butch ones, really seem to like her.

People on here who think that she can't act should shut the fuck up and watch The Debt and Take shelter. Great performances from this actress.

Who is the loafer-wearing fag that she's been pretending to date? She must be deeply closeted or perhaps asexual. It comes across onscreen. That said, her figure was never anything special, but now that she's really getting old, she's starting to get fat.

People on here who think that she can't act should shut the fuck up and watch The Debt and Take shelter. Great performances from this actress.

Fat, boring bitch.

I felt like such a loser accepting that ridiculous MVP of Film award at the Critics Choice awards on the same day that I couldn't even manage an Oscar nomination. Then to top it off, I could barely squeeze my fat ass into my dress, I looked like hell because I had been sobbing over my failures and also because I'm this fat, and then my Big Speech was a mess.

I can't stop eating! I have to join Weight Watchers immediately but I don't want to stop eating!

Can anyone recommend a movie or two where she gave a particularly strong performance?

I'm so fat, I'm going to eat my feelings.

R225 watch The Debt . The tree of Life, Miss Julie and Take shelter. Great performances. Enjoy!

That Monroe movie has been and still on her IMDB. I know there is a some deranged fan on this thread who thinks he/she is her unpaid PR rep.who needs to sort out people.

The Debt--Helen Mirren playing the older version of Chastain's character puts her to shame. So does the young actress playing her part in the original Israeli version. She was fine in a Tree of Life, but Pitt was better and had a more compelling story with the sons. Her tear ducts did get a workout if that means anything.

But if she ever wants to get in Streep's league she needs to work on her accents. Terrible NY one in A Most Violent Year. It made her character seem more phony than the plodding plot.

R225 watch The Debt and Take shelter. Great performances from this actress.

R228 You are wrong, she was brilliant in The Debt and was way better than Pitt (who can't act) in TTOL.

R230, Well, maybe she can shit out another five or six Oscar bait movies again in one year again that no one cares about despite her desperate campaigning, and all flop except for Interstellar, but that was Nolan's baby. You know she though she would get at least a supporting nom. especially with Nolan and old Harvey in the driving seat of two of them.

She merely okay in the Debt and I was waiting for them to switch back to Mirren's more interesting role. Worst fight/struggle scene ever.

Sobbing at a window for two hours in ToF. But she was good in Take Shelter.

What's amusing is that she no doubt fucked Weinstein to get him to buy Eleanor Rigby. Must've been a terrible lay (no surprise there) because he proceeded to butcher it and then never promoted it.

I really enjoyed her work in The Help. I found her sexy and sweet and human and believable. Haven't liked her nearly so much and anything else since then. I thought she was blown off the screen by Jennifer Ehle in zero dark 30.and God she was bad on stage in The Heiress, but that production was a mess and I doubt she had any real help.

She is cast because she is a decent actress with a good body. But the public still confuses her with Bryce Dallas Howard and does not really give a shit about Jessica. She lacks charisma and personality.

R233 you are disgusting Weinstein got nothing to do with that film.

She actually expected to get a Tony nomination for her work in The Heiress and flipped out on her agent when she didn't. LMAO. Delusional.

R224 R 226 R232 is a disgusting troll, go away. You are obviously mental.

r233 Please get professional help. Harvey bought the movies at TIFF and combined the two into one movie in an effort to mainstream it. He was the distributor and showed the movie at Cannes with Chastain, where still no one gave a shit.

She's so lacking, she can act but there's nothing really exciting. I think she will get an oscar but she's just so darn thirsty for it.

R236 is mental. You are the delusional on here.

Sorry, r233, I mean R 237.

I agree about Zero Dark Thirty. Ehle was great and out acted Chastain. Jason Clarke did the same thing in the beginning of the movie.

[quote]no one gave a shit.

It gives a shit to you. For someone who dislikes Jessica so Much you are spending to much time on here spreading your hatred.

R242 really struggling with words, coherent thoughts, etc. Poor thing.

I doubt she'll ever win a major award (Emmy, Oscar, Tony). There will always be someone more compelling, someone better. I mean, when you get beat by the likes of J Law, you should just give up, no one cares about you.

R243 why are you still here? Can't live without trollin? You Poor Thing!

R244 why are you still here? Can't live without trollin? You Poor Thing!

R245/R246 I'm still here because it is way too much fun terrorizing you and making fun of Shitstain.

[quote] fun terrorizing you and making fun of Shitstain.

R247 Oh, dear. Well, at least you're admitting it. you are a troll and a terrorist douche bag. Hahaha mental!

I'm glad you hate Jessica. She is waaay better for a loser like you.

R248 Still struggling with those words. You're either drunk or retarded. I'm guessing retarded.

Yes, R242, I hate to waste my time, even on Netflix streaming, on crappy movie that had no purpose but for Oscar consideration. Not even Viola Davis or James McAvoy could make it work.

Not the Shitstain troll, but I don't hate the woman, because, like you , I don't know her, unless you are she. If so, then a little advice: Try to be cool and not so desperate for people to love and award you. Like fear, people can smell it coming off you.

R249 Hahaha At least I'm not a bully or a douche like you.

But you ARE a douche and a bully R251... still struggling with basic concepts over there I see.

R252 Are you mental? seriously...

...

Okay well, I'm just really feeling pity for R253. This person is clearly not of sound mind. To continue to engage with this person would be like poking a retarded, caged monkey with a sharp stick.

R254 so, your mother didn't love you when you were a kid?

"The shitstain troll " gave up on me so easily, do I deserve a better troll... or bully...or douchebag

Good lord. There is nothing about Jessica Chastain that is worth all this nonsense. She's so bland.

She's a competent enough actress, nothing spectacular. She lies about her age like every other narcissistic Hollywood actor/actress. It's not a big deal, except to her.

Obviously she's been fucking someone with power and money. It's Megan Ellison, so "they" say, but I don't know if Megan has enough juice by herself to pull all that work for Chastain. She probably fucked Harvey too, they all do. Maybe a little Sherry Lansing on the side? Fucking Lansing was great for Jodie's career.

R257 Please go away. We don't need another shitstain troll on here.

R258, WTF?

It's gossip - this is the Datalounge - for GOSSIP. What is your fucking damage?

R259 No. this is not gossip. Go to sleep.

Well, okay, you're right - it's technically not gossip because I know two people who are in a position to know and they say it's actually true.

Do you have a problem with a lesbian becoming a movie star?

Do you have a problem with THIS lesbian becoming a movie star?

Are you the closet patrol, coming around to try to keep the poor thing in the closet?

Fess up, kid.

R261 who's the lesbian? what are you talking about?

Good lord. There is nothing about Jessica Chastain that is worth all this nonsense. She's so bland.

She's a competent enough actress, nothing spectacular. She lies about her age like every other narcissistic Hollywood actor/actress. It's not a big deal, except to her.

Obviously she's been fucking someone with power and money. It's Megan Ellison, so "they" say, but I don't know if Megan has enough juice by herself to pull all that work for Chastain. She probably fucked Harvey too, they all do. Maybe a little Sherry Lansing on the side? Fucking Lansing was great for Jodie's career. —Anonymous reply 257

R263 your post was deleted because is sexist and degrading to women. You are saying if a woman is successful is because she slept with someone, not because she worked hard .

I didn't post it, psycho. But I did notice when it got deleted. Must be true if you had to run to a mod to get it deleted.

R265 Relax I can still see the post. It was not deleted.

I am rotfl over some nitwit getting in a tizzy over the mere mention that fat chasty might have fucked her way into a few jobs. Could someone really be that dumb? I suppose one of the big fat fraus panting over Jessie must really take this thread/board and their defense of her very seriously. Sad.

Most people in show business have slept with someone in show business. It doesn't mean much and most of the sex for parts it is in your imagination for A listers. Jessica is at least competent and in her early 40's. So, bitch, get off my walk.

R267 go to sleep shit troll. sad your ass.

R268 I love Julia! I'm a big fan since Mystic Pizza.

[quote][R263] your post was deleted because is sexist and degrading to women. You are saying if a woman is successful is because she slept with someone, not because she worked hard .

My post was never deleted, what the fuck are you on about? And since when has posting something that someone else thought was sexist or degrading been a problem on the DL? Answer: Never.

Look, kid, I know of only ONE successful actress who didn't have to fuck someone to get where she is, and that's Meryl. Other than her, everyone has to pay/play or they don't get work.

It's nothing against Chastain, she's simply another actress in a long line of actresses who have put out to get parts. In her case it was at least partly lesbian - with Ellison and possibly Lansing. Ellison s confirmed, Lansing and Harvey are educated guesses.

If you don't like gossip, or it's too much for your fragile sensibilities, get the fuck off the Datalounge, cunt.

R271 Lansing? she never work with Lansing, by the way. About Ellison, she met her during Lawless . Jessica started a conversation with her without knowing that MEgan was one of the producers and became instant friends. well, jessica told that anecdote, she thought megan was an assistant and not the producer of the movie. Musto is the one who suggested that these 2 were fucking and later the Vanity Fair article said that Ellison was obsessed with Jessica. I don't know if that was a classy way of outing megan and Jessica. who know, maybe

R271 Lansing? she never worked with Lansing, by the way. About Ellison, she met her during Lawless . Jessica started a conversation with her without knowing that MEgan was one of the producers and became instant friends. well, jessica told that anecdote, she thought megan was an assistant and not the producer of the movie. Musto is the one who suggested that these 2 were fucking and later the Vanity Fair article said that Ellison was obsessed with Jessica. I don't know if that was a classy way of outing megan and Jessica. who knows, maybe

I no longer think you're a sad, delusional frau, I think you're a scary, obsessed FREAK. Why do you have her life memorized? Are you even allowed within 100 feet of Fatty Chastain?

R274 Look who's here! go to sleep shit troll. You are the one who is obsessed on here. I don't know about her life. Just what I read on gossip sites like this one.

She's not fat. She's put on a few pounds but she's still far from fat.

R276 you are right. It's only this sad pathetic troll who keeps calling her "fat". This is the way women are treated on here.

A few pounds looks like about 20 when the person is built like she is, short, squat and thick-waisted. Fatty Chastain.

Go to sleep, FREAK.

Bitch is now in Jurassic World. Can nothing stop her career?

Oh give it a rest, R277, I'm one of the Datalounge old-timers who's been bitchslapping the angry lesbians for attacking those trans women.

But Jessica Chastain is still not fat.

She eats her weight in vegan ice cream every night, I heard. And at her age? That metabolism is nonexistent.

R280 I'm not a lesbian pt transphobic, so I don't know.

She is definitely one of the bigger fraus in Hollywood. You can't exactly say that she's fit. The limbs all look flabby and the stomach only resembles something flat with the help of several layers of Spanx. The hips and thighs are in different time zones.

R278 Go to sleep, FREAK Go to sleep, FREAK.

She's not a hardbody but she's still not fat.

I think she's beautiful and talented.

She's zaftig.

Her nose job is the worst, though. That 80s-style ski ramp job is terrible.

Jessica Chastain dad is not Ron Howard.. Her biological father, a musician named Michael Monasterio died in 2012.

You guys are mixing her up with Bryce Dallas Howard. She was the actress in "The Help", and should have won a oscar for the role.

R279

You mean Bryce Howard, who was also in the movie Help with Jessica Chastain.

I am NOT Jessica Chastain!!

R283

Wait a sec... are you referring to Dallas or Chastain? Because Chastain is totally not fat.

So this hate is now so mixed up by two gingers , it's become convoluted., like they morphed into one! omg this is hilarious..

R291 No one is confused. Chastain is the fat one with the fucked up and ugly nose.

R293

Where do you see fat on this frau? Bitch please...

R294 Looks to me like Dallas is definitely the fatter one..

wow, The "Help" co-stars still hold a grudge against Jessica, because she stole their thunder... especially Emma Stone. There are no pics of these 2 interacting , and they were in the same events this year. Instead, we have pics of Jessica with Emily, Naomi, Rosamund,or Lupita.

Bryce is still jealous of Jessica's career? That's strange because Bryce have nepotism on her side. Jessica without any friends or contacts in this industry, she auditioned for all her roles: Salome, Jolene, The tree of Life, the Debt , Take shelter, and won.

I've never seen this woman before. She's not unattractive and she's not beautiful. I don't waste time on wimmen's flicks which seem to be her strong suit. Guys on this board baffle me. Who cares about these gals?

R298 and why are you here then?

R294 Bitch, please. That pic you posted? It's from 2011. She's porked out in a major way since then.

LMAO, yeah she's gained substantial weight since then. Nice try, R294. smirk.gif

Did her and Tom Hardy ever fuck?

R302 Tom Hardy is a piece of shit, closeted bisexual, druggie, cheater with a violent temper. Anyone who agrees to have sex with him is as fucked up as Hardy. Chastain seems well-adjusted but tend to cock tease all of her male co.stars even the gayer ones like Edgar Ramirez. I don't know why she keeps doing this because she has zero chemistry with all of these actors, even Hardy.

She's only famous because of nepotism. Take away her dad's connections and she's nothing. Talk about a Plain Jane.

I actually think she's quite talented. I've only ever seen her in zero dark thirty though...

R304 I'm not bryce dallas howard!

Jessica is part of Riccardo Tisci's fashion Gang:

Still not happening despite another tremendous push by Hollywood. When will they drop her?

Idiotic thread.

Looking back, it's kind of shocking that she did that movie Lawless (2012). It's very macho-driven, she barely has anything to do - and she even agreed to a gratuitous nude scene. Did she not have just enough clout at the time to turn this down? Maybe this was before she got really into the hardcore feminist thing?