Jessica Chastain.Photo:Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic
Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic
Jessica Chastainis getting candid about breaking generational cycles.
In a powerful speech at the 38th Annual American Cinematheque Awards on Friday, Dec. 6, theMother’s Instinctstar, 47, shared her personal experience with trying to break her family’s cycle in order to find success and become something more than what society expected.
Chastain noted that her great-grandmother, grandmother, aunt and mother all had children before the age of 17, and they “had to drop out of school and take on low-paying jobs to support their families.” However, the actress said she was “determined” to set a different future for herself.
“Theater became my lifeline,” she shared. “It was a way to feel seen, to use my voice and to break free from the expectations that had bound my family for generations. And I became determined to escape the cycle.”
“I was the first in my family to not get pregnant as a teenager, the first to finish high school and the first to attend college,” she explained. “And attending the Juilliard School didn’t just change my life. It showed my family that a different path was possible.”
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“It’s an honor to portray women who are capable, who are intelligent and independent,” theSpace Withinactress said. “I want kids to see. I want little girls and I want boys to see that her true value isn’t in her beauty or her role as someone’s partner, but in her intellect, her resilience and her strength.”
“Stories matter because they shape culture. Stories inspire change and stories empower future generations,” she added.
Jessica Chastain speaks at the American Cinematheque Awards on Dec. 6, 2024.Presley Ann/Getty
Presley Ann/Getty
Over the years, Chastain has paid tribute to her grandmother and mother on social media. She wished her mom a “Happy Mother’s Day” onInstagramin 2020, noting that she was “grateful” to her mom and grandmother for giving “so much for their children.”
In October, Chastain revealed that her grandmother had beendiagnosed with breast cancerand encouraged people to get a mammogram.
“This week, I flew to meet with her amazing doctors and surgeons who are providing her the best possible care,” the actress wrote onInstagramat the time. “I’m beyond grateful to the incredible hospital staff.”
She added, “She’s a total badass, and I know she’ll get through this. 💪🏼.”
source: people.com
