JESSICA CHASTAIN

The Crimson Peak star talks working with Nolan and GdT.

What attracted you to J.C.

Chandor and A Most Violent Year? I loved Margin Call. And then I went to the premiere of All Is Lost in Cannes. I’d got an invitation and I thought, “I’m going to go to this because he’s one to watch.” Then we spoke, he told me a little bit about the project he had and I said, “I just want to work with you.” Were you making Guillermo del Toro’s Crimson Peak and A Most

Violent Year at the same time? Yeah, that was tough, having to fly from set to set, and do two different accents. A coach on each one – a completely different look. I’m blonde in J.C.’s film and very glamorous, but then I’m dark and

‘I wanted to do something that people might not expect’

mysterious in Guillermo’s film. I’d do a scene and then fly back to Toronto to do Guillermo’s film, set in 1901. I’m never doing that again, flying back and forth! So you’ve been spending a lot of time in airports and hotels? Which is not so much fun. But I have my dog companion, Chaplin, who travels with me! How was it being directed by Guillermo del Toro? I love Guillermo. He produced a film I did called Mama, so I’d met him before and I loved him. He sent me the script and I connected to a character that was different from the one he initially envisioned for me. Not a personal connection... but because I wanted to challenge myself and do something that people might not expect from me. We spent four months on this film, and it was exhausting! But every single day was a joy. You’ve been working with so many people. Are you a good schmoozer? No, because I still get shy. When I was on set with Christopher Nolan [ on Interstellar], I didn’t talk very much because I just wanted him to like me! You don’t want to say something stupid! JM

ETA | 23 January A Most Violent Year opens next year. Crimson Peak opens on 16 October.