The Help's Jessica Chastain Talks Broadway: "I'm Really, Really Scared!"

Jessica Chastain fills us in on The Heiress and whether she’s going for the E.G.O.T.

By Ted Casablanca, John Boone Jan 17, 2012 9:01 PMTags
Jessica ChastainJason Merritt/Getty Images

So what's a gal to do after she's had a handful of mucho-buzzed-about flicks—including The Help and Tree of Life—hit theaters in just one year? Ditch the big screen for a bit and head to Broadway!

Which is exactly what Golden Globe and BAFTA Best Supporting Actress nominee Jessica Chastain is doing with a fall 2012 stint in The Heiress. What a refreshing break from Tinseltown, no?

No. At least according to Ms. Chastain herself:

"No, it's another way of challenging myself," the glammed-out redhead revealed to us at Sunday night's glitzy In Style and Warner Bros. Golden Globes afterparty. "I'm really, really scared to do it."

You're just being humble, babe! You're a contender for a Best Supporting Actress Oscar, after all—and as much as we love Octavia Spencer we still think you have a shot at it. How is a little old thing like B-way going to rattle you?

Jessica continued: "It's big shoes to fill. Great actresses like Olivia de Havilland, Jane Alexander and Cherry Jones have played the role. It's a wonderful role for an actress. Wonderful actresses have played it. It's a lot to take on…and I want to keep challenging myself!"

Well, in our opinion, you're right up there with ‘em. We cannot wait to see you take on the Tony-winning material. And as for whether a remake of the Oscar-winning film (based off the stage play) could follow, Jessica told us:

"It depends if I'm any good at it!"

Again with the modesty! Well, if you're not going to brag, we'll do it for you—ya know, like when we jotted down the path you could easily take to capture the prestigious EGOT (that's an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony).

To which Jessica pooh-poohs: "Uh, no," she laughed giddily when we asked her if she had the four awards in mind. "No. Thank you, though."

Guess we'll just have to wait and see. But, let's be honest, none of us would really be surprised if she did, right?