Actress Jessica Chastain said director Michel Franco was told her Oscar win would make her difficult to work with.
Jessica Chastain said that before filming Memories, someone told the director Michelle Franco that after winning the Oscar she will behave like a diva.
In fact, the actress won the coveted statuette for The Eyes of Tammy Faye before arriving in New York to film the project.
Reaction to the actress’s victory
Presenting Memento at the Toronto Film Festival, Jessica Chastain said: “Since I’ve been doing bigger projects lately and getting a lot of attention, there was an idea that I wouldn’t be interested in being on set without a trailer. We had Oscar night and I won Tammy Faye. Immediately after that, I appeared on the set of Memories. Michel said that a lot of people told him, “Oh, Jessica is going to leave your movie because she just won an Oscar,” or that I’m going to come in and be a nightmare or a diva.“.
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A project without simplicity
During the filming of Michel Franco’s project, the actress did not have a caravan at her disposal, she did not wear makeup and bought the clothes she wore during filming on her own. Franco added: “I said they don’t know anything. She’s the opposite. She will appear content, happy and productive. People are so afraid of actors. I do not know why. The worst way to approach an actor or other person is with fear, and if you’re pointing in the wrong direction, then yes, all your nightmares will come true.“.
The director emphasized: “Everyone was at a loss. It’s like they didn’t know what we were going to do with this Oscar-winning actress.“.
Chastain wanted to repeat: “I’m not going to make a film that’s going to be ruined. If I want to be pampered, I’ll go to the spa. I make a film so I can work and be creative without having to sit alone in a trailer.“.