Despite her signature strawberry blonde hair, actress Jessica Chastain possesses an undeniable chameleon quality that sets her apart from other actors of her generation. She has the ability to embody a number of characters effortlessly, all while looking effortlessly gorgeous. The irony is not lost on us.
On top of having a porcelain complexion that leaves us craving her SPF recommendation, the 44-year-old doesn’t look as though she’s aged a day since we first saw her appear in The Help 10 years ago. Since then, she’s gone on to star in equally epic films like Tree Of Life, Zero Dark Thirty, Interstellar and more – each time leaving us in awe of her shiny hair and youthful skin.
So it begs the question – what is the woman doing that we aren’t?
She hates the gym, but loves dancing
Poised, elegant and ever-graceful, the two-time Academy Award nominee credits her life-long love of dance for the fluidity in her performances. But it’s also one of the ways she stays healthy, because as it turns out, her “guilty pleasure is not working out”. Or at least that’s what the actress told Glamour: “I don’t like going to the gym. I like going for hikes, doing yoga and dancing.” Fair enough.
She makes exceptions for her favourite workout partner though
Jessica told Shape magazine back in February that she had been keeping up with her workouts during lockdown, but it was all thanks to her grandma’s words of encouragement: “During quarantine, I did [trainer] Isaac Boots’ Torch’d workouts with my grandmother, who is in her 80s.”
“It was such a breath of sanity during that time to do it every morning with my grandma. And she really helped me be accountable,” the actress explained.
She keeps to a strict vegan diet
When it comes to her diet, Jessica really doesn’t play around. In fact, the actress went vegan 14 years ago after experiencing issues with chronic fatigue. “At the time, I was very low energy, and I remember getting sick,” she explained to Shape magazine.
“A friend said, ‘You should try this two-week vegan raw-food diet.’ I hated it. The first week, I was so miserable. But by the second week, I had so much energy,” Jessica went on. “When the two weeks were over, I was like, I’m done! I went to a restaurant and ordered risotto and fish. And that night, I felt sick again.”
“I decided that my body was clearly telling me the way it wanted me to eat. I was [a] raw vegan for about nine months. Now I’m just vegan.”
She’s just as crazy about sun protection as we are
Looking at her skin, it comes as no surprise that the natural redhead told VOGUE: “Sunscreen is really important to me.” Same girl, same. She’s also clued up on her ingredients.“I read a while ago that if you put vitamin C on before sunscreen it makes the sunscreen more effective, so I do that. I like Skinceuticals C E Ferulic ($228 at Adore Beauty). Just a couple of drops every day before sunscreen.”
She doesn’t wear foundation every day
It turns out fellow Help actress, Sissy Spacek, completely changed Jessica’s makeup routine one day while they were on set. “She told me she doesn’t wear foundation,” Jessica explained to Glamour.
“Before that, I thought I had to wear foundation every day. After that I was like, ‘Oh I can just wear concealer and let my freckles shine’,” said the actress.
“That was the best advice… I like an un-air-brushed face and I like seeing freckles.”
Self-care is very important when it comes to maintaining her sanity
Jessica has a very pragmatic approach to self-care too. In the same interview with Glamour she said: “If I’m not feeling 100% I think, ‘What do I need in my life? Is it having a good meal? Being kissed? What is it right now that I need?’”
“It could be sitting in silence for 10 minutes in a room with a lit candle,” she went on to explain, “taking a hot bath or going for a massage, a yoga class or a hike and being in nature.”
“If I’ve booked a personal training session or reserved a place in a Soul Cycle class and already paid for it, but I wake up in the morning and ask myself, ‘Is not going to this exercise class worth the $50 that I spent?’ And I’m like, ‘Yes it’s worth it!’ that’s a pleasure sometimes [too]’” explained the actress.
Main image credit: Getty
What do you think of Jessica’s SPF obsession? Are you going to give her vitamin C serum trick a go?
She is absolutely stunning!
I love her hair – she’s such a natural beauty and I would never have guessed she is 44 years old.
Me neither! She is just gorgeous!
Not really a fan of her as an actress but she looks amazing. She definitely has the right idea about looking after yourself. I also hate the gym and exercise in general but love dancing and swimming.
Jessica Chastain has beautiful Red Strawberry Blonde Hair love her porcelain skin, such a classic beauty so very down to earth, Jessica looks after her lovely skin by making sure she uses Sunscreen just like the rest of us. Wished that I had a makeup artist 💄
I didn’t really know that vit c increases sunscreen efficacy but I have seen some sunscreens with vit c in them. Now I know why!
You should consume cooked tomatoes daily as they are rich in lycopene, a carotenoid that has shown to offer 33% more sun protection to people who consume it daily than people who don’t. Of course, also always remember to cover up, seek shade, and use maximum sun protection!
I didn’t know Vitamin C made sunscreen more effective! I just Googled it & it seems legit – good to know!
Me neither! I’ll give you another tip, eat foods rich in beta-carotene such as sweet potatoes and carrots and cooked tomatoes which are rich in lycopene. Both beta-carotene and lycopene give you added protection against UV damage!
Those orange veggies are my faves – love ’em!
Wow! It’s hard to believe she is 44yo. It must be that Vegan diet.
A whole foods vegan diet is rich in so many beneficial nutrients!
I should get my redhead friend to read that Jessica loves sunscreen.
I don’t blame her for not liking gym!
Me either though I would go if I had paid as I would feel guilty if I wasted the money
I’m with her with the hikes, dancing and yoga and no gyms
Same like her, I went raw vegan over 10 years ago for a very long time (for health reasons at first), now do have some cooked goodies like potatoes, rice, roasted veg etc. Man, change in skin was huge! Add sun protection and good skincare now, so happy with my skin.
Yeah this girl is gorg =D
I’ve found my skin has never been better since going vegan!
Love her Jessica Rabbit hair.
Awesome comments, that Skinceuticals vit C serum sure is dear though!
They are the original creators of the vit C, vit E and Ferulic combo. It is very dear though, I do agree!
I agree with SPF routine.
Stunner!
She is glowing- that also comes with adhering to a vegan lifestyle! Something I hope to do sooner rather than later! 🌱 🌏 ❤️
She is beautiful! I love her skin! I need to up my sunscreen game
So beautiful
I’ve always admired Jessica Chastain as an actor and she does look amazing. I love that she also follows a vegan diet.
I like her approach to exercise, mix it up and do the things that we enjoy
I’ve been wearing just a vitamin c serum under my sunscreen for the past couple of months not even realising how beneficial it has been while I’ve been out walking.
Awesome, I like her, I justed watached in Scenes from a marriage
Her skin looks so flawless.
She looks great. Can recall seeing her act in any shows though.
Another celebrity I’ve never heard of.
With her beautiful skin sun screen would be a must and the vitamin C tip sounds worth a try-I can’t see any freckles on that stunning skin?
I love her SPF obsession 🙂 I wish I could do her trick and apply vit c before it but I’ve always broken out, I desperately want to find one that works for combination skin like mine.
Vegan and dancer – more to love about her.
I’ve never heard of her before! I must be living under a rock!
Never underestimate the importance of a wide brimmed hat!
Jessica is really lovely
Amazing
Jessica is still young enough to look young. Hope she stays looking young in her mature years as she does have that beauty.
well well i love her attitude
She is very beautiful; her hair is gorgeous!