Jessica Chastain gets honorary doctorate from alma mater Juilliard

“Dr. Chastain has a nice ring to it,” the actor wrote on Instagram.

Academy Award winner Jessica Chastain is officially Dr. Chastain! 

The actor recently shared a glimpse into her honorary doctorate ceremony held at her alma mater, The Juilliard School.

Chastain, a graduate of Juilliard's Bachelor of Fine Arts program (class of 2003), received the prestigious honour in recognition of her exceptional contributions to film and theatre.

The video posted on her Instagram takes fans behind the scenes of the special day. From receiving her official ceremony ticket to struggling with an oversized doctoral hat, Chastain offers a candid look at the pre-ceremony preparations.

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by Jessica Chastain (@jessicachastain)

Chastain also expressed her gratitude to Juilliard in the caption, thanking them for “this honor and for the custom hat.” 

Fellow celebrities like Julianne Hough and Tatum O'Neal showered her with congratulatory messages in the comments section.

Chastain's journey to Dr. Chastain began in 1999 when she left her hometown in Northern California to pursue her acting dreams at Juilliard. 

In a 2012 interview with The New York Times, she spoke about the challenges and excitement of adapting to big-city life and the thrill of being surrounded by artistic opportunities.

Juilliard's rigorous environment pushed Chastain to excel.  She described the constant fear of being cut from the program, which ultimately fueled her dedication. 

“There was a bar here called Malachy's, where everyone went to hang out, and I think I only went twice in four years,” Chastain revealed, emphasising her laser focus on her studies.