Academy Award-winner Jessica Chastain recently sat down with Collider's Steve Weintraub to discuss her latest projects, including the erotic thriller "Dreams," her acclaimed filmography, and upcoming ventures. Chastain, who also serves as a producer on "Dreams," described her lead role as Jennifer McCarthy as a profound challenge she enthusiastically embraced, particularly due to the intimate and vulnerable performance it demanded.

In Michel Franco's "Dreams," Chastain portrays Jennifer, a powerful and wealthy socialite who embarks on a clandestine relationship with Fernando Rodríguez (Isaac Hernández), a promising ballet dancer. The narrative unfolds as Jennifer takes desperate measures to protect their future after Fernando secretly crosses the US-Mexico border. The film, which also stars Rupert Friend and Marshall Bell, delves deeply into timely themes of immigration, power dynamics, and the complexities of human relationships. Chastain highlighted how the film continues crucial conversations about these realities, especially concerning the normalization of cruelty and the privilege of disengaging from difficult truths in society.

Working with director Michel Franco, known for his unique one-take shooting style, presented a distinctive challenge for Chastain. She praised his collaborative approach, especially in navigating the film's explicit intimate scenes. Chastain emphasized that these scenes were integral to the storytelling, revealing character depths rather than being gratuitous. She shared an anecdote about requesting a location change for a staircase scene to ensure a sense of protection and demonstrated that evocative power in cinema doesn't necessitate explicit exposure, stating, "You don't have to be gratuitous, basically."

Beyond "Dreams," Chastain addressed the postponed Apple TV+ miniseries, "The Savant." She expressed her hope for its eventual release, noting that it had received positive reviews and held significant importance. She revealed that the program the series is based on was canceled just eight days after the show was pulled, suggesting it's easier to cancel something when it's not widely known. Chastain believes the individuals depicted in the series deserve celebration for their sacrifices.

The interview also explored Chastain's cinematic tastes, revealing her "controversial" favorite films from celebrated directors. For Christopher Nolan, she chose "Interstellar," calling it a "love letter to his daughter" and the "most emotional, beautiful, vulnerable Christopher Nolan we've ever seen." Her pick for Steven Spielberg was the classic "E.T.," while for Stanley Kubrick, she surprisingly selected "Eyes Wide Shut," appreciating Nicole Kidman and Tom Cruise's performances despite its critical reception. Martin Scorsese's "Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore" stood out to her, particularly for its portrayal of female characters, expressing a wish for Scorsese to explore more such stories.

Reflecting on her career, Chastain identified "The Eyes of Tammy Faye," a film she also produced, as the project that scared her the most. She described the immense challenge of embodying Tammy Faye Bakker, a character vastly different from herself, to the point of her body shaking on the first day of shooting. Conversely, Terrence Malick's "The Tree of Life" left the biggest impact on her, offering her the profound opportunity to "play the embodiment of grace." She also recalled lighthearted moments, sharing stories about asking Antonio Sabàto Jr. for an autograph as a child and Helen Mirren for a photo before they worked together.

Chastain's dedication to her craft is evident in her relentless pursuit of challenging roles. She shared her work ethic, stating she enjoys being busy and constantly seeks to challenge herself, even considering going back to school during time off. This philosophy guides her choice of roles, ensuring she never settles for doing something she's done before. Looking ahead, Chastain confirmed upcoming projects, including a modern-day noir film with Ben Stiller, Richard Gere, and Michael Showalter, and a collaboration with Elijah Bynum, the director of "Magazine Dreams," whom she considers a genius.