Jessica Chastain Says Oscar Isaac Friendship ‘Has Never Been Quite the Same’ After Playing a Divorced Couple on HBO’s ‘Scenes’: I Needed ‘A Breather’ After

Jessica Chastain and Oscar Isaac set social media on fire in 2021 due to their electric chemistry on the Venice Film Festival red carpet for HBOs Scenes From a Marriage. The devastating limited series, based on Ingmar Bergmans 1973 miniseries of the same name, cast the two actors as a married couple going through a grueling divorce. Chastain told Vanity Fair her and Isaacs longtime friendship hasnt been the same since.

Scenes From a Marriage was very tough, Chastain said. And I love Oscar [Isaac], but the reality is, our friendship has never quite been the same. Were going to be okay, but after that, I was like, I need a little bit of a breather. There was so much I love you, I hate you in that series.

But theres so much joy in what I get to do, the Oscar winner added. Theres a lot of catharsis. I feel like I have the best job in the world because I get to have these experiences. Theyre so out of this world and feel like theyre mine. But then I live a very quiet life. I dont have to have these tortured things in my life. I play them and I experience them, and then I come home and I live quietly and peacefully.

Isaac earned an Emmy nomination for his performance in Scenes From a Marriage, while both performers picked up Golden Globe nominations. Varietys Daniel DAddario praised their performances in his review, writing, Whats to watch for is the fireworks as Chastain and Isaac immolate one another, and those are indeed spectacular.

Elsewhere in her Vanity Fair interview, Chastain opened up on the SAG-AFTRA strike. The conversation took place just a day before the strike began.

I dont think its fair. I dont think the contracts are fair, and Im not speaking for me, Chastain said. Im at a place right now where I can support my family. But there are a lot of people who cant, and the industry, its not right, its not fair. We need to stand together and fight for a fair wage until we get it, and we can do that The reality is, at least what Ive heard from my union, what Ive heard from writers that Ive spoken to, this is a fight that will go on for a long time until people are paid fairly.

Scenes From a Marriage is available to stream on Max.