Jessica Chastain

I don't look modern. I'm not the girl that would walk into the room and everyone goes, "Oh!"

I get embarrassed really easily. I get embarrassed even when people sing me "Happy Birthday."

People were confused by me, and at first, I was auditioning a lot for the crazy characters or the victim, someone who'd been attacked. This is great, because usually, those are the best acting roles.

There is this immediate connection, this intimacy when you're acting because there's no room to be polite or shy. Also, as an actor, I get to connect with women I've never met before.

I always say I am a realist, and my mom says, "No, you just have anxiety."

I'm inspired by people who are so sensitive and vulnerable that they try to cover it up.

I'm very sensitive in real life. I cannot not cry if someone around me is crying. I will start to cry if someone is crying, even if it's not appropriate. I have that thing in me, a weakness or sensitivity.

I'm not the girl at the club on the table. I'm going to be the one in the corner, quiet and so I don't call attention to myself.

I was the girl who cut school to go to the park, and the other kids would be smoking and drinking and I'd be reading Shakespeare.

I walk the dogs, I play the ukulele, I cook. I'm not a girl who goes to big parties--I'm shy.

I was always a little awkward, a redhead, and very freckly. Kids like to make fun of people who are different. I had short red hair and wore workout boots, so I got teased really badly for having red hair and being different.

I'll be the first unknown that everyone's going to be sick of. People will say, "We have no idea what her name is, but she is everywhere!"