Jessica Chastain plays a tough lobbyist, a ’female character that is really confusing people’. By

ESSICA Chastain took on more than an acting role when she signed up for Miss Sloane. have been defined by a society that tells women they should be docile. Women should wear whatever they want to wear . . . cover up, wear heels, whatever. When men dictate how we should act, and dictate who we should be, it is a problem.”

Sloane is challenged by a woman of the opposite extremes, played by British-South-African actress Gugu Mbatha-Raw, who Chastain says is “an incredible human being, compassionate and passionate. Her character shocks Elizabeth by forcing her to connect with her humanity.”

“I was really happy because in our film, we see the female mentor other women,” said Chastain. “In my life, women have always helped and protected each other, but the media doesn’t always show women that way.”

Chastain says female star power is “underrated, as is the market value of women-centred films”.

In life, she is vociferous on racism, hate crime and discrimination, including the salaries of women in Hollywood.

“To portray a workaholic, flawed woman is a better choice to have in the media right now. During the electoral debates, Hillary Clinton was described by a reputable news source as ‘overprepared’.”

She scoffs: “Never before, in my entire life, has being overprepared been a negative. The media and society say how a woman has to be, and this is why we have to challenge that.”

Miss Sloane was released shortly after the US election results were announced. “We were in a state of political shock,” says Chastain. “The film was released on the day of the women’s marches in DC. It was the largest nonviolent march in the history of the US. It totally gave us a new way to see the film.”

Lobbyists are real people whose job it is to try to influence senators to change legislation, through sometimes nefarious means. “Actors are hired to show up at events and ask the right questions, that’s exactly what you’re seeing in the film,” says Chastain. “It’s a chess game. What surprised me was I had a naïve view of politics. I thought the American population determined the elections and the law — but that is not the case.”

‘Miss Sloane’ is in cinemas