By: Julia Oatey By: Julia Oatey | March 15, 2022 | Movies, Television,
Jessica Chastain as Tammy Faye Baker.
Academy Award winning actress Jessica Chastain never fails to give her audience authentic, compelling performances. From powerful, determined women to loving, emotional roles, Chastain is a stand out. It’s hard to pick favorites when it comes to the many characters Chastain has taken on in her time on screen, but we’ve gathered 9 of the best.
When Tammy Faye Baker and her husband, Jim, aim to produce the world’s largest religious broadcasting network and theme park, several obstacles jeopardize their hard work. Chastain, as Tammy Faye, puts on a performance like no other depicting her as a pure, authentic and determined woman striving to turn her dreams into a reality.
We love seeing Chastain play Commander Melissa Lewis in The Martian, especially because of the amount of power she holds as a female astronaut. When a group of astronauts leave behind Mark Watney on Mars, they must do everything they can to bring him back home. Chastain, the character in charge, holds so much responsibility and will do anything for her NASA team.
Chastain, who plays an operative on a mission to locate Osama bin Laden, will make you feel like you can achieve anything as long as you set your mind to it. Chastain’s portrayal of a character bound to her determination and perseverance, but always appearing with a calm, subdued demeanor is spot on.
As the star of this film, Chastain really commits and embodies everything it means to be Molly Bloom. Based on Molly Bloom’s memoir, Chastain had to build a character so genuine and earnest to match the qualities of a real person. She represents a character so cognizant and insightful that nobody can shake her.
Murph is a remarkably intelligent scientist on a mission to rescue humanity. Although this may not be Chastain’s forte in real life, she sure does convince her audience it is. When barriers threaten to make planet earth uninhabitable, Murph is the sound of mind and heavy heart throughout the film.
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When the evil clown, Pennywise, comes back 27 years later to torment the town yet again, Beverly Marsh is ready for anything. Chastain took on this character and had to determine what Beverly’s world might have looked like the past 27 years. Beverly is a complicated character that dealt with an abusive father and now an abusive marriage. In this second chapter, she stands her ground and Chastain captures this with courage and bravery.
This philosophical film that focuses on spirituality presented a rare vision for its storyline and characters alike. Chastain plays the mother in the O’Brien family and it's tough to describe solely in words the way she portrays a character whose outlook on life is like no other. This character favors love above all and radiates joy to all those around her.
In this five-part television series, Chastain takes on a wife in a marriage that is struggling to stay afloat. Chastain’s character is so captivating and relatable to many that you are sure to have to work to hold back tears.
Elizabeth Sloane is ruthless and brilliant and she’s in it to win it. Chastain depicts yet another strong, powerful female — a lobbyist in Washington, D.C. aiming to pass a bipartisan gun-safety bill. She executes a compelling performance with a determined, confident character that will keep your eyes peeled to the screen.
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