Jessica Chastain may be a literal goddamn movie star, but that doesn’t mean she doesn’t feel the cold hand of stage fright. In a recent interview with Inside the Actors Studio she admitted that she was a shy kid and spoke of the anxiety she feels very often:
“I’m almost having a breakdown right now.”
Chastain says that while performing helped her overcome her shyness in certain ways, she could totally do without all of the attention everyone pays her as a famous person.
“It’s a strange thing. Acting for me has never been about wanting attention or wanting to be seen.”
Somebody picked a weird job if they want to be left alone. Just admit that you’re like Henry Cavill and in it for the money.
“It’s funny that I’m in a profession where that’s where I am. There’s so much I want to express, it’s about connecting with another person and the intimacy of what that is, and so I have to overcome my shyness.”
As somebody who felt ugly because of her red hair, was super shy, and even dropped out of high school, I’d say that two Oscar noms later it’s working for her.