Jessica Chastain goes for her first Emmy win playing country music legend Tammy Wynette.
Plus, which episodes actors submitted, a listen to the music and lyrics nominees, and more.
But it’s interesting because…
Jessica Chastain as Tammy Wynette in ‘George & Tammy’.Dana Hawley/Courtesy of SHOWTIME
I was attached to play Tammy Wynette first."
“It was gonna be a movie.
We had a bunch of different directors, different casts,” Chastain explains.
Jessica Chastain as Tammy Wynette and Michael Shannon as George Jones in ‘George & Tammy’.Dana Hawley/Courtesy of SHOWTIME
And I really love that pop in of immersion when I’m acting."
JESSICA CHASTAIN:Honestly, if it had happened 10 years ago, we would’ve lip-synced.
I mean, that’s the truth.
Jessica Chastain as Tammy Wynette in ‘George & Tammy’.Dana Hawley/Courtesy of SHOWTIME
So on set, you’re just moving your mouth that’s kind of how it’s done.
And that’s definitely what I’ve since learned.
That’s the reality.
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That’s not a performance.
That’s some weird artificial me messing with.
And 95 percent of what is in our series is from the singing on the set live.
That never would’ve happened 10 years ago.
You must’ve been grateful that he pushed you and everyone to do that.
Well, I am now.
[Laughs] But at the time, I was so happy that he was gonna do it.
And then that was something he was very passionate about.
I couldn’t just be like,no.
I was outta my comfort zone, but I really leaned on Mike.
And this idea of, where does her voice come from?
I thought about when she left her first husband, her mom took her kids away.
She was pregnant, she was institutionalized, and they gave her electric shock therapy while she was pregnant.
And this it kinda makes me wanna cry even think about it what that does in your body.
I just imagine what it is.
And this idea that this woman had so much pain inflicted on her emotional pain, physical pain.
She had three dozen surgeries on her womb.
And how many times she [got] cut up.
And that, to me, was something I’d never really explored before.
And how were you able to confront that and get to the other side of it?
Well, definitely singing “Stand By Your Man” in Vegas.
All eyes were on you.
I’m literally holding up a target like,all right, throw the darts at me.
She’s there on set with us, she’s a professional singer.
Could you just put on a Tammy and George album and listen to it?
Or is there a separation you oughta make?
How does it affect you now?
I don’t listen to it as much because I was obsessed.
I listened to it all the time.
Not only that, I listened to the influences of Tammy Wynette.
Like, who did she listen to when she was growing up?
There’s all these, these artists that she listened to.
So I spent a lot of time in that world, which I grew to love the world.
But now when I hear a song of theirs, it actually makes me emotional.
So every time I make a film evenTree of Life…
I really feel like when I’m going through something that I’m experiencing it.
So sometimes when I hear George and Tammy, it’s tough for me ‘cause I feel heartbroken.
Listen to the fullAwardistpodcast interview with Chastain below.
Emmys Flashback
Who submitted what?
Now that they’re all nominated, actors submit just one episode for voters to consider.
Here’s a look and listen to the nominated numbers.
Ginny & Georgia “Marriage Is a Dungeon” (from episode “Hark!
Darkness Descends!")
