Jessica Chastain is an American actress and producer best known for her appearances in films like The Help, Zero Dark Thirty, Interstellar, The Martian, Molly’s Game, and Miss Sloane.
She received Academy Award nominations for Best Actress and Best Supporting Actress for her roles in Zero Dark Thirty and The Help, respectively. She is known for her portrayals of strong-willed women in films with feminist themes. Her other notable credits include It Chapter Two, A Most Violent Year, The Eyes of Tammy Faye, and George & Tammy. With her signature red hair, captivating screen presence, and dedication to complex roles, Chastain has become one of Hollywood’s most respected talents. So, who is Jessica Chastain? Here’s everything you need to know about the actress.
Contents
Jessica Chastain Biography
Jessica Chastain was born on the 24th of March 1977, in Sacramento, California,
| Birth Name | Jessica Michelle Chastain |
| Nickname | Jess |
| Date of Birth | March 24, 1977 |
| Place of Birth | Sacramento, California, U.S. |
| Age | 48 |
| Sun Sign | Aries |
| Profession | Actress, Film Producer |
| Nationality | American |
| Ethnicity | French, Dutch, English, Scots-Irish/Northern Irish, Scottish, Welsh, Irish |
| Marital Status | Married |
| Spouse | Gian Luca Passi De Preposulo |
| Children | 2 |
| Residence | New York City, New York, U.S. |
Family and Education
Jessica Chastain is the daughter of Jerri Renee Hastey (née Chastain), a vegan chef, and a rock musician, Michael Monasterio. Her biological father died on February 5, 2013. Her mother married her stepfather, Michael Hastey, a firefighter.
She was not on good terms with her biological father, and her birth certificate has no father listed in it. Jessica has said that her stepfather was the first person to make her feel secure. She shares a close bond with her maternal grandmother, Marilyn, whom she credits as someone who “always believed in me.
She has two half-sisters, Nicole Monasterio and Laci Smoot, and two brothers. Her younger sister, Juliet Chastain, died by suicide in 2003 following years of drug abuse. She became estranged from her step-sisters.
Chastain graduated from El Camino High School in Sacramento in 1995. She attended Sacramento City College from 1996 to 1997, where she served as a member of the debate team in the college. She also attended the American Academy of Dramatic Arts.
Later, she was accepted into the Juilliard School, New York City, in 1999 and graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts (B.F.A.) degree in 2003.
Jessica Chastain’s Husband and Love Life
Jessica Chastain married Gian Luca Passi De Preposulo, an Italian-born fashion executive who works for French fashion house Moncler, on June 10, 2017, in Italy. Their wedding was attended by Jess Weixler, Anne Hathaway, and Emily Blunt. They welcomed their first child, a daughter, Giulietta Passi Chastain, via surrogate in 2018. Their son Augustus Passi was born in 2020.
Body Statistics
| Height | Feet – 5 feet 4 inches Centimeters – 163 cm Meters – 1.63 m |
| Weight | Kilograms – 56 kg Pounds – 124 lbs |
| Body Build | Slim |
| Body Measurements | 36-25-35 |
| Eye Color | Green |
| Hair Color | Red |
| Sexuality | Straight |
| Shoe Size | 7 (US) / 37.5 (EU) / 4.5 (UK) |
| Dress Size | 8 (US) / 40 (EU) / 12 (UK) |
| Distinctive Features | Red hair Dimple chin |
Career Overview
Jessica Chastain’s acting career began on stage and in television before she transitioned to major film roles. She began her acting career in the mid-2000s with guest roles in ER, Veronica Mars, Law & Order: Trial by Jury, Jolene, and The Debt. Her big break came in 2011 when she played Mrs. O’Brien in Terrence Malick’s coming-of-age drama film The Tree of Life opposite Brad Pitt.
Chastain’s breakthrough year was 2011, when she starred in multiple acclaimed films, including The Help, which is based on Kathryn Stockett’s 2009 novel of the same name. Starring alongside Viola Davis, Octavia Spencer, and Emma Stone, she received an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress.
Her portrayal as Maya, a CIA intelligence analyst, in the political thriller Zero Dark Thirty (2012), co-starring Jason Clarke and Joel Edgerton. Directed by Kathryn Bigelow, the film earned around $130 million against the production budget of $40 million. Chastain’s performance in the movie was met with positive reviews, earning her a Golden Globe Award for Best Actress and also receiving an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress.
She followed this with powerful performances in Zero Dark Thirty (2012), Interstellar (2014), The Martian (2015), Crimson Peak (2015), Miss Sloane (2016), and Molly’s Game (2017). In 2019, she took on the role of Vuk, an evil alien, in the MCU film Dark Phoenix, which is the sequel to 2016’s X-Men: Apocalypse. The film stars an ensemble cast starring James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender, Jennifer Lawrence, Nicholas Hoult, Sophie Turner, Tye Sheridan, and Alexandra Shipp.
In 2021, Jessica won widespread acclaim for her portrayal of televangelist Tammy Faye Bakker in The Eyes of Tammy Faye, co-starring Andrew Garfield, earning her first Academy Award for Best Actress. She was cast as Amy Loughren opposite Eddie Redmayne in The Good Nurse, where she plays a night nurse who discovers that her co-worker (Eddie) is a serial killer.
Jessica earned her first Emmy Award nomination for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited Series for her part as Tammy Wynette in Showtime miniseries George & Tammy, starring Michael Shannon.
Jessica is also a producer and founder of Freckle Films, a production company dedicated to female-led stories and underrepresented voices. She produced several films and TV shows, including The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby (2013), The Zookeeper’s Wife (2017), Ava (2020), The Eyes of Tammy Faye (2021), George & Tammy(2022–2023), and Mothers’ Instinct (2024).
Net Worth
As of 2025, Jessica Chastain’s net worth is estimated at around $50 million. Her wealth comes from her acting career, production company, endorsement deals, and investments.
Favorite Things
- Actor – Ralph Fiennes
- Movie – The English Patient (1996)
- TV Show – The Sopranos (1999-2007)
Facts
Chastain was inclined towards acting when she was seven years old after her grandmother took her to a production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.
Her idols are Isabelle Huppert, Tilda Swinton, Cate Blanchett, Emily Watson, Julianne Moore, and Marion Cotillard.
She was included in Time Magazine’s 100 most influential people in the world for 2012.
In 2012, Chastain was named the Sexiest Smile by Victoria’s Secret’s “What Is Sexy” list.
Jessica has a three-legged dog named Chaplin.
Jessica Chastain played the title character opposite Al Pacino in a 2006 stage production of Oscar Wilde’s Salome and also appeared in Pacino’s drama-documentary Wilde Salome (2011). She was personally handpicked by Pacino to cast her in the play.
She learned German and Krav Maga for her role in the movie The Debt (2010).
Chastain was originally cast to play Maya Hansen in Iron Man 3 (2013) but dropped out due to scheduling conflicts. Rebecca Hall was later cast instead.
She is a feminist and has often spoken against the discrimination faced by women and minorities in Hollywood.
She was ranked at #77 on Vulture’s 100 Most Valuable Stars of 2014 list.
Chastain was considered for the role of Annabel Richter in A Most Wanted Man (2014), but it later went to Rachel McAdams.
She practices Yoga.
Jessica Chastain knows how to play the ukulele.
She is a huge fan of Marion Cotillard and has publicly expressed her desire to work with her.
She learned how to play the piano for her role in the movie Crimson Peak (2015) and performed all the songs in the movie by herself.
FAQs
Who is Jessica Chastain?
Jessica Chastain is an award-winning American actress and producer known for her performances in films such as The Help, Zero Dark Thirty, Interstellar, Molly’s Game, and The Eyes of Tammy Faye.
How old is Jessica Chastain?
Jessica Chastain is 48 years old as of 2025.
Is Jessica Chastain married?
Yes, Jessica Chastain is married to Gian Luca Passi de Preposulo, an Italian fashion executive. They got married in 2017.
Does Jessica Chastain have children?
Yes, Jessica Chastain and her husband have two children: a daughter named Giulietta Passi Chastain (born 2018) and a son, Augustus Passi (born 2020).
What is Jessica Chastain’s net worth?
As of 2025, Jessica Chastain’s net worth is estimated to be around $50 million