Jessica Chastain on How Reproductive Choice Changed Her Life

What is one defining moment in your career or life that empowered you to create change, and how has it shaped the path you’re on today?

Every woman in my family had a child by the age of 17, forcing them to drop out of high school. They lacked access to sex education, birth control, and the ability to make informed choices about their futures. Growing up in a low-income environment where the odds felt stacked against women, I knew I wanted a different path. As a teenager, I sought out free birth control and condoms from Planned Parenthood, a decision that gave me the autonomy to pursue higher education becoming the first woman in my family to go to college.

This experience shaped my unwavering commitment to reproductive rights. I’m a fierce advocate for a woman’s right to choose and deeply passionate about empowering women to stay in the workforce and start a family on their own terms. I actively support Planned Parenthood because I know firsthand the critical role it plays in providing access, education, and opportunity. The ability to make choices about my own body changed the trajectory of my life, and I hope to inspire others to claim that same power.