Jessica Chastain Bio: Real Name Jessica Michelle Chastain (Born Jessica Howard) She/Her

Jessica Chastain (born March 24, 1977) is an American actress from Sacramento, California. She was born Jessica Howard and performs under her mother's maiden name as Jessica Michelle Chastain.

Facts checked Nov 6, 2026.

Who Jessica Chastain Is

Jessica Chastain was born Jessica Howard on March 24, 1977, in Sacramento, California. Biography.com lists her full name as Jessica Michelle Chastain and says she began performing under her mother's maiden name, Chastain—partly to avoid confusion with Bryce Dallas Howard (Biography.com). TV Guide lists Birth Name: Jessica Michelle Chastain (TV Guide). She won Best Actress for The Eyes of Tammy Faye (2021) and is married to Gian Luca Passi de Preposulo (Biography.com). On November 5, 2026, she premiered Netflix's Heartland at Metrograph in New York City; the film streams November 13 (Just Jared; Netflix Tudum). Read more: Jessica Chastain's real name and the Heartland Netflix premiere.

Things You Might Not Know

• Birth surname Howard; professional surname Chastain is her mother's maiden name. (Biography.com)
• She plays Misty Jones in Netflix's Heartland, written and directed by Shana Feste. (Netflix Tudum)
• On Watch What Happens Live she said she has no plans for Broadway musicals, praising co-star Jennifer Nettles' consistency as a live singer. (Just Jared)