No one can deny that Jessica Chastain is living a life of luxury right now, but it wasn’t always that way! The 44-year-old Oscar-nominated actress has opened up about her childhood, in particular growing up in extreme poverty which she recalled involved her having to “go to sleep without eating” on several occasions.
“When people see me, I think they expect a different background than I have,” the Eyes of Tammy Faye star told The Sunday Times Style magazine, going into detail about how her single mom and four siblings struggled financially. The Molly’s Game actress then recalled how she took a job at a performing arts school when she was younger, in exchange for her taking classes there, since “there was no way my family could afford it.”
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The Zero Dark Thirty actress – who eventually went on to study acting at the prestigious Juilliard School in New York City – credited the kindness of others for helping her get to where she is today. “There were people that saw I was struggling as a kid and they helped me. And that’s why I ended up where I am now,” she told the pub, before adding that she doesn’t want to see anyone else going through the same thing.
“It makes me sick to even say this, but I never think in terms of how do I get more things in this industry. I have a rebellious streak because I grew up with a lot of resentment, because we didn’t have things, like even food,” Jessica continued. “I don’t talk about it much, but it was really, it was not what you would expect. So because I come from that place, I know what it’s like. And it makes me angry. And I don’t [want] anyone else to be denied anything. In terms of a voice, being seen, being acknowledged and valued.”
Chastain's recent interview with The Sunday Times wasn't the first time she opened up about her childhood and her family's struggles with poverty. Back in 2017, she went into detail with The Irish Times about her "very difficult upbringing" saying: "I did grow up with a single mother who worked very hard to put food on our table. We did not have money."
"There were many nights when we had to go to sleep without eating," she continued. "It was a very difficult upbringing. Things weren't easy for me growing up. Because of my mother, I do always try to think about how something must be for someone else. I'm not so interested in myself. I'm interested in other people."
