Jessica Chastain Admits She Was 'Nervous' to Promote New Movie 'Memory' at Venice Film Festival 2023 Amid SAG-AFTRA Strike

Jessica Chastain is making a statement while promoting her new movie.

The 46-year-old Oscar-winning actress attended the press conference for her new movie Memory at the 2023 Venice Film Festival on Friday (September 8) in Venice, Italy.

PHOTOS: Check out the latest pics of Jessica Chastain

Jessica was seen wearing a black “SAG-AFTRA on Strike” T-shirt as she attended the event with co-star Peter Sarsgaard and director Michel Franco.

During the press event, Jessica admitted that she was “very nervous” to attend the film festival amid the SAG-AFTRA strike, revealing that “there were actually some people on my team who advised me against it.”

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Jessica went on to note that actors are “often made to keep quiet in order to protect future working opportunities, and we are often told and reminded how grateful we should be. And that is the environment that I think has allowed work to be abused, to go unchecked for many decades. And is also the environment that has saddled members of our union with unfair contracts,” according to Variety.

Jessica and Peter, 52, were able to promote Memory at the film festival due to an interim agreement from SAG-AFTRA.

“I am here because SAG-AFTRA has been explicitly clear that the way to support the strike is to post on social media, walk the picket line and to work and support interim agreement projects,” Jessica said. “It’s what out national board, negotiating committee and our elected leadership has asked us to do.”

Jessica continued, “The independent producers, like the ones here, are letting the AMPTP know that actors deserve fair compensation, that AI protection should be implemented, and there should be sharing of streaming revenues.”

“I hope my being here today encourages other independent producers, and encourages actors to show up [at festivals] and support our union members,” Jessica added. “Hopefully we will see an end to the strike soon and hopefully AMPTP will go back to the table.”

Jessica and Peter aren’t the only actors that were granted permission to attend the film festival amid the strike.

Click through the gallery for 20+ pictures of Jessica Chastain at the press conference…