Jessica Chastain opens up about generational cycles

Jessica Chastainwho rose to fame with her breakthrough role in 'The Help', has built an impressive career in Hollywood, gaining recognition for her powerful performances in films such as 'Zero Dark Thirty', 'Interstellar' and 'Molly's Game”.

A graduate of Juilliard, Chastain's rise to stardom is a testament to her determination and resilience, especially as someone who defied the odds stacked against her. Coming from a working-class background, she was the first in her family to graduate high school without facing teenage pregnancy, then earned a scholarship to one of the most prestigious performing arts schools in the world.

Now, Jessica Chastain opens up about her journey to break generational cycles and redefine her family's narrative.

During a heartfelt speech at the 38th Annual American Cinematheque Awards on Friday, December 6, the 47-year-old actress reflected on her personal experiences striving to exceed society's expectations and pave a new path for herself. She shared how the release of her family history was instrumental in her journey to success, for PEOPLE.

She also shared that her great-grandmother, grandmother, aunt and mother faced similar challenges, having children before the age of 17 and being forced to “drop out of school and take low-paying jobs to support and their families.”

Despite this family history, Chastain revealed that she was “determined” to create a different path for herself and shape a new future. “The theater became my life“, he shared. “It was a way to feel seen, to use my voice and to free myself from the expectations that have united my family for generations. And I became determined to escape the cycle.”

The actress later told the crowd that “she was the first in my family not to get pregnant as a teenager, the first to graduate high school and the first to attend college and the Juilliard School not only changed my life. It showed my family that a different path was possible.”

Chastain said that since then, she has “worked to dismantle the restrictive roles that society imposes on women” throughout her career and break the “archetypes” that women are valued solely for their “sexual desirability” or their “mother function”. Chastain highlighted her first career success, noting that she achieved her goal of forming a new path by appearing in two big box-office hits: “Mama” and “Zero Dark Thirty.”

“It's an honor to portray women who are capable, who are smart and independent,” Chastain said during the event. “I want children to see. I want children and I want boys to see that their true worth is not in their beauty or in their role as someone's partner, but in their intellect, their resilience and their strength

He then expressed how important stories are “because they shape culture,” “inspire change, and “empower future generations.”

In October, Chastain shared that her grandmother had been diagnosed with breast cancer. She used the opportunity to raise awareness and encouraged others to prioritize their health by getting a mammogram.

“This week, I flew to meet with her wonderful doctors and surgeons who provided her with the best possible care,” the actress wrote on Instagram at the time. “I am most grateful to the incredible staff at the hospital.”

She added: “It's a total bummer – and I know he's going to get through it.”

Andrew Garfield shared how Chastain provided crucial support during one of the most difficult times of her life.

The “Tick, Tick … Boom!” The star recently revealed that her “Eyes of Tammy Faye” co-star went out of her way to make sure she could visit her mother shortly before she died of pancreatic cancer in 2019.

“What was amazing was that (David Greenbaum of Searchlight Pictures) and Jessica rearranged the schedule at the last minute – put filming (in North Carolina) on hold for a few days so they could come back (to England) and be with my mother for 10 days,” Garfield said PEOPLE. “Because he had his own experience with a loss that he was not able to bring back, he said, 'Go.' You have to go,” Garfield recalled. “And I said, 'Well, I know I have to go, and thank you.'