1 / 10
After getting her start in theater and smaller guest roles on shows such as ER, Veronica Mars, and Close to Home, Jessica Chastain would make her film debut in 2008's Jolene, based off of the Dolly Parton song of the same name! As the title character and lead, Jessica was received warmly by critics everywhere, with many saying she made the film the success it was!
2 / 10
2011 would bring many breakthrough roles for Jessica, one of these being hit drama Take Shelter. Jessica scored the role of Michael Shannon's lead character's wife "Samantha" in this apocalyptic thriller!
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The second big film of 2011 for Jessica would be Terrence Malick's experimental drama The Tree of Life, starring opposite Brad Pitt. Much of the film was improvised by the actors as there was no official script, which proved to be no challenge for Jessica! The film was actually made in 2008, but didn't hit the big screen until 2011, when it debuted at the 2011 Cannes Film Festival and helped to add to Jessica's breakthrough success!
4 / 10
Jessica's biggest success of 2011 would come in the form of period drama The Help. Jessica's role of "Celia Foote", an aspiring 1960s Mississippi socialite, and her on screen chemistry with "Celia's" African-American maid played by Octavia Spencer, would get her her first Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actress, an award she would end up losing to Spencer!
5 / 10
Jessica Chastain showed her versatility in 2012 hit film Zero Dark Thirty. In the film she plays CIA agent "Maya" who is tasked with killing Osama bin Laden. While the material was difficult for Chastain to stomach at times, her on-screen acting came off as flawless with critics comparing her to actress Meryl Streep!
6 / 10
2014 would bring Chastain's highest grossing film Interstellar, with Jessica starring alongside Matthew McConaughey and Anne Hathaway! The script with Jessica as McConaughey's adult daughter really touched Jessica and her acting in the film shows!
7 / 10
To close out 2014, Chastain would star in crime drama A Most Violent Year, as lead female character "Anna Morales". In preparation for the film, Jessica researched 1980s New York City and spent months perfecting her Brooklyn accent. Her hard work paid off in the form of another Golden Globe nomination and a special achievement award from the Broadcast Film Critics Association.
8 / 10
Jessica continued to show her versatility as "Commander Melissa Lewis" in 2015's The Martian. Based off of the Andy Weir novel of the same name, the film also starred big name actors Matt Damon, Jeff Daniels, and actress Kristen Wiig! The film would earn many awards, including two Golden Globes!
9 / 10
Another strong female lead for Jessica would come in the form of the title character for 2016's Miss Sloane. Earning her another nomination for a Golden Globe, the political film drew critics to hail her as one of the best actresses on the planet!
10 / 10
In the sequel to Stephen King's bestselling novel and film adaptation, It Chapter Two, Jessica plays the adult version of "Beverly Marsh". The role was challenging at times for Chastain, with director Andy Muschietti striving for authenticity, she was required to be covered in 4,500 gallons of fake blood at one point during filming! Her audacity is what has made her one of the best actresses of all time!
In 2012, Jessica Chastain was named one of the 100 most influential people in the world by TIME magazine! Taking a look back at the actresses impressive career, we can see the title was well deserved, and she continues to be an inspiration in Hollywood today! Here are some of her best roles to date!
Enjoy!