“I’m the first person in my family to not be pregnant when I was 17.”
Jessica Chastain didn’t have the kind of upbringing most people assume.
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The actor says that she “struggled as a kid” while being raised by a single mom who gave birth to her as a teen.
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Jessica shared that she and her four siblings faced financial hardships and struggled to even afford food. In order to pay for acting classes, she had to work at the performing arts school where they were held.
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“When people see me, I think they expect a different background than I have,” she told the UK’s the Times.
She later added, “I have a rebellious streak because I grew up with a lot of resentment, because we didn’t have things, like even food. I don’t talk about it much, but it was really, it was not what you would expect.”
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Jessica admitted that the only reason she has been able to succeed is because of the people who helped her along the way.
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“There were people that saw I was struggling as a kid and they helped me. And that’s why I ended up where I am now,” Jessica said.
Some of those people include the team at Planned Parenthood, who gave her access to birth control — and the option to pursue her dreams.
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“I’m the first person in my family to not be pregnant when I was 17. It had a great impact on my life because it gave me choice,” Jessica revealed.
And because of her upbringing, Jessica wants to make it so that everyone has equal opportunities, no matter their background.
“I come from that place, I know what it’s like. And it makes me angry. And I don’t [want] anyone else to be denied anything. In terms of a voice, being seen, being acknowledged and valued,” Jessica concluded.
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Read all that Jessica had to say here.
Source: https://www.buzzfeed.com/alexgurley/jessica-chastain-upbringing
