Jessica Chastain's Says 'Tammy Faye' Makeup Hurt Her Skin
In her latest film, Chastain stars as Tammy Faye Bakker, a popular televangelist alongside her husband Jim throughout the '70s and '80s.
More than one actor has undertaken intense physical transformations for a Hollywood role, however, unfortunately, some of the most memorable of these are the ones that cause the actor the most discomfort. Jessica Chastain has now joined those ranks after she revealed that her character's makeup in her upcoming film The Eyes of Tammy Faye actually left permanent marks on her skin.
When speaking to the Los Angeles Times, Chastain explained that the process of transforming into televangelist Tammy Faye Bakker required hours of makeup, prosthetics, and wigs. “I think for sure I’ve done some permanent damage to my skin on this," said the actress. "Listen, I eat very pure, and I take very good care of my skin and I stay out of the sun and all that stuff. But it’s heavy. And when you’re wearing it all day, every day — the weight of it on your body, it stretches your skin out."
She continued, “I finally took it off, and I was like, ‘I look 50 years old!’ No, I’m kidding. But it’s fine. It’s for my art.”
Jim and Tammy Bakker were nationally recognized TV preachers throughout the mid to late-'70s and '80s. The couple often combined the spirited messages of the Bible with elements of glitz and glamour. However, Tammy, specifically, was well-known for her outrageous beauty looks, a fact that made Chastain's portrayal of her that much more difficult.
Chastain's longest day sat in the makeup chair lasted over seven hours. Said the actress, "And I got to set and I was so panicky. I started to have hot flashes because it’s so heavy and hot. I was afraid. It was like going on a long-distance flight every day. Because if it takes 7 ½ hours to put on, it’s going to take at least two hours to get off."
She continued, "And she’s supposed to show up with so much energy. That was the ’90s look — the very end. That’s the most prosthetics I’ve worn. Even the bronzer and the foundation are so much darker, the lashes are thicker. The makeup gets heavier as she gets older."
