Chastain to star in 'Heiress' on B'way

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NEW YORK, Jan. 5 (UPI) -- Jessica Chastain, who starred in some of the most celebrated films of 2011, is to make her Broadway debut in "The Heiress," the play's producers said.

The award-winning actress appeared in "The Debt," "Take Shelter," "Coriolanus" and "The Tree of Life" last year, and was recently nominated for Golden Globe and Screen Actors Guild awards for her performance in the 2011 release "The Help."

Producers Paula Wagner, Roy Furman and Stephanie P. McClelland said Thursday Chastain will head up the cast of the revival of Ruth Goetz and Augustus Goetz's drama "The Heiress" this fall.

Based on the 19th century Henry James novel "Washington Square," this production marks 17 years since the play was last seen on Broadway.

"I was immediately struck by Jessica's talent and skill when I saw her on stage opposite Al Pacino in 'Salome,'" Wagner said in a statement. "She is an actress with that rare ability to transition effortlessly between the stage and screen. ['Heiress' director] Moises Kaufman had the vision to see Jessica as the perfect actress to play one of the great psychologically complex female characters."

"Jessica Chastain is a great actress with chameleon-like prowess and enormous emotional intelligence; I think she's one of the best actresses of her generation. I'm thrilled to be working with her on 'The Heiress,'" added Kaufman.