Jessica Chastain Shares How Harvard Master's Program Has Changed Her
Jessica Chastain is loving student life.
The Eyes of Tammy Faye actress is currently attending Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government as part of its master’s program for Public Administration, and the decision to get her diploma has been thrilling for her.
“I just like to be challenged and learn and exercise my brain in a new way,” Jessica exclusively told E! News at the Kering Foundation’s 4th Annual Caring for Women Dinner in New York City on Sept. 11. “I was really surprised by the classes that I’m responding to.”
The 48-year-old shared that in addition to statistics, she’s really enjoying her negation classes, which helped give her a new outlook on life.
“We had a class about resolving conflict,” she explained in the interview airing Sept. 15. “And right now we’re in a time where it feels like no one’s talking to each other, there’s so much division.”
But as Jessica—who shares daughter Giuletta, 7, and son Augustus, 5, with husband Gian Luca Passi de Preposula—learned from the class: “If you start from a place of agreement—no matter who you are—there can be one thing that each party agrees on.”
As the Oscar winner shared, if you start from there “and give each other the benefit of the doubt that each side, each person, wants positivity for humanity,” then it’s possible to find common ground.
“I think that’s the only way we can get out of this mess we’re in,” she continued. “And that was a really helpful class to take.”
But it’s not just her classes that have helped Jessica feel fulfilled. As she previously discussed, having the opportunity to pursue higher education in general—she graduated from Julliard in 2003 and received an honorary doctorate from the school in 2024—helped her break new ground in her family.
“I was the first in my family to not get pregnant as a teenager, the first to finish high school and the first to attend college,” the Interstellar actress said at the 38th Annual American Cinematheque Award in December. “And attending Julliard School didn’t just change my life. It showed my family that a different path was possible.”
For a look at stars who have received their own honorary degrees, keep reading.
—Reporting by Emily Curl
The recording artists earned honorary doctorates from the Berklee College of Music in Boston.
The actress was awarded an honorary doctorate from Morehouse College in Atlanta.
The A-list actress returned to her alma mater, Denison University, to deliver the commencement speech and receive an honorary Doctorate of Human Letters.
The funny man was absolutely cheesing receiving his honorary degree from the University of Nevada Las Vegas.
Before she was in the White House for Scandal, the actress was in Washington D.C. attending George Washington University, where she'd later be given an honorary doctorate.
The Blue Jasmine actor donned a purple sash, receiving an honorary degree from NYU's Tisch School of the Arts.
The Devil Wears Prada but the actress prefers a cap and gown! The star has eight honorary degrees from schools including Princeton, Yale, and Harvard.
Not "Everybody Knows" this, but the singer has been received honorary degrees from Howard University and the University of Pennsylvania.
The NCIS: Los Angeles star looks humbled as he receives an Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters Degree at the Boston College 141st Commencement in Boston, Massachusetts.
The actor proves once again that he's absolutely Unstoppable, receiving an honorary degree from the University of Pennsylvania.
In a magical moment, the Harry Potter author was given an honorary degree from Hogwarts Harvard.
Everyone's favorite science guy has six honorary doctorate degrees...but actually never went past earning his Bachelor's at Cornell University.
The former First Lady has received a number of honorary degrees from schools like George Washington University and Bowie State University.
The singer-songwriter didn't need to go to school to be on "The A Team," accepting an honorary degree from University Campus Suffolk.
This True Blood vampire didn't have to suck up to any professors to get his arts degree from Leeds Metropolitan University.
Cal State Channel Islands recognized the entrepreneur and supermodel with an honorary degree!
The rapper and actor received an honorary degree from Winston-Salem State University in North Carolina.
Mazel Tov! The iconic actress and singer was honored with a doctorate from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.
The entertainment icon gets teary-eyed over what has to be one of her all-time favorite things: a degree from Harvard University.
We think the Hamilton composer must be feeling pretty "Satisfied" with his honorary degree from the University of Pennsylvania.
Dr. Kylie has a nice ring to it, don't you think? The popstar and actress was given an honorary doctorate from Anglia Ruskin University.
The Bee Gees brothers are doing more than just "Stayin' Alive" — they're getting degrees from the University of Manchester!
The former POTUS has received honorary degrees from institutions including Notre Dame, Wesleyan, and Howard University.
If the singer dreamed a dream of earning a degree from the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, then it looks like it came true!
The College Dropout rapper finally made good on his plans to get a degree, given an honorary degree from the Art Institute of Chicago.
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