Jessica Chastain is doing promo for her next Netflix movie with Eddie Redmayne, The Good Nurse. It’s described as a crime drama; I’ll probably watch it. She appeared on Jimmy Kimmel’s show and spoke at length about her visit to Ukraine in August. Apparently she’d reached out to some friends from Ukraine to express her sympathies and ask if she could help in any way, and she was invited to visit the country to help raise awareness. She visited Kyiv, met families, and met President Zelenskyy.
Jessica Chastain opened up about her recent trip to Ukraine during her Wednesday visit to Jimmy Kimmel Live!. The actress visited the embattled country in August, where she spoke with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
“If there’s any way I can use my platform to help amplify other stories, you know, desiring freedom and equality and safety then I just feel it’s my responsibility,” Chastain said.
Russia invaded Ukraine in February. Between the bombings, tanks and soldiers, many buildings and homes in the cities like Kyiv and Irpin have been damaged or destroyed. Chastain visited a family’s home for lunch and couldn’t believe the scars left behind by the violence.
“At one point I said, ‘Is that a bullet hole in the mirror?’” Chastain recalled. “I looked at the ceiling, there were bullet holes. The chair I was sitting in had bullet holes. And there’s little kids, a 6-year-old, a 4-year-old. I don’t understand what is happening to the world.”
While Chastain was not caught up in any of the wartime violence, the feeling of danger was very real.
“It was kind of like being in a video game,” Chastain said. “There were a few times on that day where I thought, should I be doing this? This feels very scary.”
According to Chastain, Zelensky was concerned that the West will forget about Ukraine in the coming months. He fears winter could be hard on the citizens, given the damaged infrastructure.
Wow, that visit sounds very intense and very sad. The image of the bullet holes in a chair still being used in a family home is very vivid and scary. Before watching the video of Jessica’s interview with Jimmy, I was thinking that it was nice that she went, but was confused on how she was able to go and also thought it was a bit inconvenient for the Ukrainian government and the family she visited to have to host and worry about logistics for a Hollywood actress with all that’s going on. But understanding that she was invited and her conversation with President Zelenskyy makes all the difference. Especially given his concerns about whether Ukraine is still being covered in the news and how the citizens will fare during the winter, it makes perfect sense that they would want her to come and raise awareness and keep Ukraine at the top of the mind and headlines. Good for Jessica for going. That must have been scary, but it was the right thing to do and hopefully every little bit helps.
I needed a few weeks to process everything I saw from my trip to Kyiv. We landed in Poland, drove 4 hrs then took a train for another 11. I was nervous and the length of the journey gave me time to calm myself. I’m going to now start sharing with you guys what I saw. pic.twitter.com/fFsloiBwuw
— Jessica Chastain (@jes_chastain) September 1, 2022
She looks really great in this shade of orange.
Photos credit: Avalon.red and via Instagram
Good for her for helping spread the word – I wish “like being in a video game” wasn’t the headline though, feels like bad wording in the context of war and people dying. Not exactly the message people should be focusing on.
Good for her and for using her platform.
Deep respect for the people of Ukraine for defending their country against a much larger and mightier aggressor.
Russian misinformation is being pushed really hard through MAGA and far left channels that Ukraine should negotiate or give in, or that the US should mind it’s own business. Jessica Chastain talking about this during her promotional tour is so powerful at counteracting these fringe voices. 75% of US citizens are in favor of supporting Ukraine with military and humanitarian assistance.
Tankies are the worst. MAGA at least has a whole media ecosystem pushing their views, tankies whip up their delusions out of almost nothing.
Agreed, Pinkosaurus.
I’m so glad she was able to go. She seems like such a lovely person who tries to help when she can.
I have an aunt who has been radicalized by Fox/MAGA. Her parents literally fled Estonia to get away from Russian/USSR violence, and she is pro-Putin and thinks Ukraine is not a real country. It is baffling and heartbreaking.
A brave humanitarian gesture. Glad she is home safe.
Thank you Jessica Chastain. Glory to Ukraine!
Jessica really walks the talk with the causes she cares about. It’s admirable.
And she’s even from Sacramento area right like my heart 💜 🖖 tysm sending love to you all
and smdh no frickin way y’all cracking me up rn if I’m smelling what we’re stepping in that is so hilarious 🤣 like singing she’s so high above me she’s so lovely we love our girl Jessica idk no comparison here omg I’m super ridic as you all know and I can’t come up w an apt/available comparison in my mind rn which could reflect status but loving you like a love song 🎧 🎶 baby w gratitude 🙏 tysm 😂 gosh sure needed this laugh these laughs 🖖 celebitches