Jessica Chastain: Gaining 15 Pounds for The Help Was "Torture"

Celebrity Body August 11, 2011 AT 7:29PM
Jessica Chastain: Gaining 15 Pounds for The Help Was "Torture" Credit: DreamWorks; Frazer Harrison/Getty Images

Curves with a cost! 

Jessica Chastain packed on 15 lbs. for her role in The Help, but the 30-year-old vegan absolutely hated gaining the weight.

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"I had to be soft and curvy, so I ate a lot of soy," Chastain told E! News. In the movie, she plays Celia, an unwelcome newcomer who reminds locals of Marilyn Monroe.

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So how did the actress make her svelte physique more voluptuous? "Soy helps you become curvy because it has estrogen in it," she said. "So what I would do -- and this is really gross -- is buy cartons of soy ice cream, microwave it and drink it. It was disgusting, [but] wait [until] you see my boobs in the movie."

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The health-conscious star described her weight gain as "a form of torture."

"You put on all this weight, and then you're in the South where it's really hot and muggy," she said. "And you're putting on girdles to suck you in!"

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But fortunately for Chastain, she was able to get back to her trim figure quickly with the help of yoga and her vegan diet.

Tell Us What You Think

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  • February 28, 2012 - 12:58am Jerry Don Weller

    The extra 15 lbs looked very good on her in this guy's opinion, but ah heck don't want to tick off my wife so I'll leave it at that ;-)

  • December 22, 2011 - 2:03pm Audra Towns

    I loved jessica chastain in the movie, The Help.

  • December 22, 2011 - 2:03pm Audra Towns

    I loved jessica chastain in the movie, The Help.

  • September 12, 2011 - 9:43pm Vivian Carter

    For someone who's naturally thin, it's really hard to put on weight, even if it's "just" 15 lbs. I totally understand her, but I'm glad she decided to do it and be part of the cast of this amazing movie. I think she looks great with or without the extra 15 lbs. I watched her on "The Debt" and "The three of life" before finally watching "The Help" and I have to say her range as an actress is amazing. She's such a talented artist.

  • August 15, 2011 - 10:32pm Angee Steiner

    "it was so hard to gain so much weight?" 15 pounds is not what I would call alot of weight..I am disappointed she is making such a huge deal about getting curves..they are pretty natural on an adult woman..

  • August 15, 2011 - 3:28pm Chelsea Allyn Pritchard

    she looks SO much better with more weight on her - she looks gross without it

  • August 15, 2011 - 12:51am Lisa Keith Whitlock

    I so admired her body in The Help that I came straight home to google her. Imagine my disappointment when I read this and saw her "before" photos. What is wrong with this world?

  • August 14, 2011 - 10:22pm Nycole Bohannon

    Oh shut the hell up she looks better with weight on her

  • August 12, 2011 - 7:42pm Kimberly Paric

    She looks good either way. Don't be jealous Nat.

  • August 12, 2011 - 1:34pm Nat Zlotnik

    What torture, to not be able to look anorexic

  • August 12, 2011 - 12:38pm Cinnamon Everett

    Hmm..hate to break it to her but she looks much better with the 15lbs on her...just sayin nobody wants a bone..even dogs bury 'em.

  • August 12, 2011 - 12:20pm Allison Berry Barbieri

    *as a blonde, not "has" a blonde.

  • August 12, 2011 - 12:19pm Allison Berry Barbieri

    She looks younger and healthier with the 15lbs! And has a blonde! She should've kept both!

  • August 12, 2011 - 11:18am Aspee Nat

    She looka way better with the 15 pounds. The pic of her in the blue dress she looks like she needs medical attention fast

  • August 12, 2011 - 11:04am Anonymous

    she looks better and healthier with the extra 15 lbs

  • August 12, 2011 - 10:17am Jenn Terry

    This is why I wish they had cast Scarlett Johansson in this role, or another naturally curvy actress. I was a big fan of the book and am looking forward to the movie.

  • August 12, 2011 - 10:17am Marlene Micheletti-Chavez

    Put the 15 pounds back on, you look better and healthier!!!

  • August 12, 2011 - 8:39am Claudia Gutierrez

    she should keep the 15 extra pounds!!

  • August 12, 2011 - 6:12am Jes Gibson

    I think she looks WAY healthier with the extra 15 pounds!

  • August 12, 2011 - 12:33am Tracy Nichol

    I 2nd what Amanda just wrote. I would kill for her "after" body

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