Oscar-Winner Is Pursuing Master’s Degree at Harvard

An Oscar-winning actress is swapping the red carpet for the classroom. Jessica Chastain, who is recognized for her spectacular performances in “Interstellar” and “The Help,” is officially back in school!

(Photo by PATRICK T. FALLON/AFP via Getty Images)

As per a report published by Variety, the “Mother’s Instinct” actress has enrolled in the two-year Master’s in Public Administration (MPA) program at Harvard University‘s John F. Kennedy School of Government. The star has been spotted on the Cambridge, Massachusetts, campus this summer, attending classes.

What the MPA Program Entails

According to Harvard’s official site, the program is “for aspiring leaders with real-world experience and graduate-level coursework in economics, public policy, or management.”

Students in the program customize their curriculum to align with their personal and professional goals. The flexibility allows them to focus on areas such as leadership, economics, and global policy.

Jessica‘s Strong Academic Background

Chastain’s academic path has been impressive. She previously attended Sacramento City College and the American Academy of Dramatic Arts before graduating from Juilliard in 2003 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in drama.

In 2024, she received an honorary doctorate from Juilliard for her “outstanding contributions” to film and theatre.

From “The Eyes of Tammy Faye” to the Ivy League

(Photo by PATRICK T. FALLON/AFP via Getty Images)

Following her graduation from Juilliard, Chastain launched her acting career with roles in popular series such as “ER” and “Law & Order”.

Chastain made her film debut in 2008’s “Jolene,” but it was her portrayal of Tammy Faye Bakker in “The Eyes of Tammy Faye” (2021) that earned her an Academy Award for Best Actress, as well as a SAG Award and Critics’ Choice Award.

She also made her Broadway debut in 2012 in “The Heiress.”

She earned a Golden Globe for Best Actress in 2013 for her performance in “Zero Dark Thirty” and later took home the Academy Award for Best Actress in 2022.

Up next, Chastain stars in “Dreams”, a romantic drama about a wealthy socialite and a Mexican ballet dancer who fall in love, set for release in October 2025.

A Voice for Women’s Rights

(Photo by Stefania M. D’Alessandro/Getty Images for Gucci)

Beyond acting, Chastain has long been a champion of gender equality and women’s reproductive rights. She was honored at Variety’s Power of Women luncheon in 2017 for her work with Planned Parenthood, an organization she credited for giving her access to affordable birth control early in her life.

“[It] makes it possible for a woman to have the equal opportunity of her male counterparts of having jurisdiction over her body, her life, and her health,” she said at the time.

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