Jessica Chastain is an award-winning American actress, best known for playing intelligent, strong women in diverse and challenging roles both on screen and stage. Her engaging portrayals of a variety of characters have earned her a Golden Globe Award and two Academy Award nominations. Chastain is perhaps best known for her roles in the science fictions films Interstellar and The Martian, in which she played Matt Damon’s fellow astronaut, and horror movies such as Guillermo del Toro’s period horror film Crimson Peak. She has also excelled in playing empowering female roles during her impressive career. Off-screen, Chastain is a strong feminist voice in support of female actors, championing gender equality in Hollywood and beyond.

Chastain began her acting career in television, appearing in several television shows including ER, Veronica Mars and Law & Order: Trial by Jury. Her big-screen debut came in 2008 in Jolene followed by several smaller film roles, but her breakout year was 2011, where she won roles in Terrence Malick’s The Tree of Life alongside Brad Pitt before playing an aspiring socialite in The Help, earning her first Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress.

Chastain’s star continued to rise in 2012 when she provided her voice talent in Madagascar 3: Europe’s Most Wanted, and starred as CIA analyst in the thriller Zero Dark Thirty—a part that won Chastain her first Golden Globe and a second Academy Award nomination, this time for Best Actress. Lead roles in the box office smash hits The Martian and Interstellar followed, cementing Chastain’s place in Hollywood’s A-list. Chastain continues to add to her impressive filmography, with her strong performances in dramas A Most Violent Year (2014) and Molly’s Game (2017) receiving critical acclaim, and a lead role in the sequel to Steven King’s It due in 2019.