From aristocrat to astronaut, actor has flair for dramatic

Chastain has built a resume of strong female characters who thrive in intense situations. Some samples include:

The Martian (2015)

Chastain portrays mission commander Melissa Lewis, who makes the decision to abandon Mars during a storm without crew member Mark Watney (Matt Damon), who is believed dead. He’s not: cue the dramatic comeback. The Martian is Chastain’s highest grossing film.

A Most Violent Year (2014)

In this period-crime drama set in 1981 New York, Chastain stars as Anna Morales, wife of the owner of a small oil company being squeezed out by its competitors. Chastain earned a Golden Globe nomination for best supporting actress.

Miss Julie (2014)

The themes of power, class and sex are explored in this Liv Ullmann-directed film set in 1890. Chastain is Miss Julie, the daughter of an AngloIrish aristocrat who has eyes for someone below her bearing — her father’s valet, portrayed by Colin Farrell.

Zero Dark Thirty (2012)

Probably Chastain’s defining role. She won a Golden Globe for best actress and received an Oscar nomination for her performance as the fictional Maya, the diligent CIA analyst behind the hunt for Osama bin Laden. The political thriller was nominated for five Academy Awards, winning one for sound editing.

The Help (2011)

Race relations in 1962 are explored in this drama that earned the performers a Screen Actors Guild award for outstanding cast. As aspiring socialite Celia Rae Foote, Chastain received Oscar and Golden Globe nominations for best supporting actress.