Jessica Chastain has opened up about the challenges she faced while filming “Mother’s Instinct” with her close friend and fellow Oscar-winner Anne Hathaway. The film, which is a remake of a 2018 French psychological thriller, casts the two actresses as 1960s housewives whose bond is tested following a tragic incident. Despite their onscreen roles as adversaries, the real-life friendship between Chastain and Hathaway added a layer of difficulty to their performances.
During a recent appearance on BBC Radio 4’s Woman’s Hour, Chastain shared her sentiments, revealing, “It was more difficult to play friends who have conflict in the story, especially when you care about the person so much.” Her statement encapsulates the complexity of their dynamic on set, where they had to navigate the territory of playing friends turned foes, whilst maintaining their genuine off-screen camaraderie.
Chastain’s regard for Hathaway’s talent was evident as she praised her co-star’s ability to quickly transition into character. “She’s really incredible and can just switch on a dime,” she commented, acknowledging the professional ease with which Hathaway brings her characters to life. Hathaway, concurrently riding the wave of a busy 2024 with promoting projects such as “The Idea Of You” and the melodrama “Mother Mary,” remembers a time before her continuous success when roles were scarce. It was Christopher Nolan’s call for “Interstellar,” which both actresses starred in.
Notably, both Chastain and Hathaway also serve as producers on “Mother’s Instinct,” a testament to their multifaceted involvement in the film industry. Their history of collaboration, which includes 2014’s ’”Interstellar” and 2022’s “Armageddon Time,” showcases their evolving relationship as both colleagues and friends.
Interestingly, “Mother’s Instinct” is not the first acting rodeo for Jessica Chastain, who once graced the set of the medical drama “ER” in a small role before skyrocketing to fame. The same show also witnessed early performances by other now-famous actors, such as Chris Pine and Octavia Spencer, as revealed in MsMojo’s countdown of stars who appeared on “ER” before they were famous.
Relevant articles:
– Jessica Chastain Shares Surprising Reason Working With Friend Anne Hathaway On New Film Was So Hard, HuffPost UK, Mar 26, 2024
– Top 10 Stars Who Appeared on ER Before They Were Famous, watchmojo.com
– Jessica Chastain Shares Surprising Reason Working With Friend Anne Hathaway On New Film Was So Hard, Yahoo News Singapore, Mar 26, 2024
– Jessica Chastain says Anne Hathaway was “difficult” to work with, Far Out Magazine, Mar 27, 2024