Jessica Chastain’s Love Affair With Christian Louboutin: From Tammy Faye to the Subway

Jessica Chastain’s 2022 Oscar win for The Eyes of Tammy Faye wasn’t just a triumph of acting; it was a masterclass in physical transformation.

While the world buzzed about her 4-7 hours in the makeup chair, fashion enthusiasts were captivated by the evolution of her red-carpet style—from the prosthetic-heavy filming days to her high-glamour appearances in Gucci and Christian Louboutin.

The petite American actress has long been known for her love of high heels, especially the red-soled shoes by the French shoe designer, and has been wearing them for as long as we can remember.

Jessica Chastain as Tammy Faye Bakker in the 2021 American biographical drama film The Eyes of Tammy Faye (Credit: Searchlight Pictures)

She had been nominated twice before—first in 2012 as Best Supporting Actress for The Help and again in 2013 for Best Actress in Zero Dark Thirty—but her first win finally came for her brilliant portrayal of televangelist Tammy Faye Bakker.

Tammy Faye Messner sits beside RuPaul on The RuPaul Show in 1998, pairing sheer tights with graphic black-and-white pumps that perfectly matched her bold, unapologetic on-air style (Credit: Startraksphoto)

“Full Disco Jesus”: Jessica Chastain Pairs Metallic Burberry with Silver Platforms

Off-screen, Chastain embraced the flamboyance of Tammy Faye’s era in a way that felt both referential and fashion-forward.

For the New York premiere of The Eyes of Tammy Faye on September 14, 2021, she leaned into late-’70s and early-’80s disco glamour—an aesthetic she famously described as “Full Disco Jesus.” The result was a high-shine, monochromatic moment that fused Studio 54 excess with modern red-carpet polish.

Jessica Chastain in a silver metallic Burberry Resort 2022 dress and metallic ankle-strap sandals at the New York premiere for “The Eyes of Tammy Faye” at SVA Theater on September 14, 2021, in New York City (Credit Janet Mayer / Startraksphoto)

To prepare for the role, Chastain immersed herself in archival footage of Tammy Faye Bakker, studying her dialect and mannerisms with the help of a dialect coach.

Jessica Chastain wears a turquoise and orange Gucci dress featuring a jeweled neckline at the Rome Film Festival to promote her new film The Eyes of Tammy Faye on October 14, 2021, in Rome, Italy (Credit: IPA / INSTARimages)

Power Tailoring in Rome: Grounding Electric Blue Gucci with Christian Louboutin Irizas

Continuing the press tour overseas, Chastain brought a sharper, more tailored take on glamour to the Rome Film Fest photocall on October 14, 2021. Trading disco sparkle for polished structure, she stepped out in a rich blue Gucci silk duchesse set—pairing a sculpted jacket with a coordinating skirt that nodded to classic Italian tailoring.

She finished the look with Christian Louboutin’s sleek Iriza pumps, grounding the statement ensemble with a timeless, red-carpet-ready silhouette that kept the focus squarely on precision, proportion, and footwear.

Jessica Chastain stands between producer Kelly Carmichael and Vincent D’Onofrio at the 2021 Rome Film Fest, grounding her vivid blue Gucci silk duchesse look with classic black Christian Louboutin Iriza pumps (Credit: Rocco Spaziani / DPA / Cover Images)

Music was central to Tammy Faye Bakker’s life—she released 16 albums over the years, making singing an unavoidable part of the role. For Chastain, that proved to be one of the most intimidating challenges.

She admitted on The Late Late Show with James Corden that performing vocally in public made her deeply uncomfortable, especially given Tammy Faye’s unshakeable confidence.

Jessica Chastain was nervous about doing all of her own singing in The Eyes of Tammy Faye (Credit: Searchlight Pictures)

Despite the nerves, Chastain sang all of the film’s musical numbers herself, viewing it as a responsibility to the woman she portrayed.

While her Eyes of Tammy Faye press tour showcased a refined, Gucci-led chapter of her style evolution, Chastain’s choice of Christian Louboutin in Rome felt entirely on brand.

The actress has long been a devotee of the French shoe designer, frequently turning to his pumps for both red-carpet polish and real-world wear. To see just how far back that relationship goes, you only have to rewind a few years to one of her most memorable and relatable shoe moments in 2016.

From Red Carpet to NYC Subway: Jessica Chastain’s Relatable Shoe Moments

Jessica Chastain wears her red hair down for the opening night of “Long Day’s Journey into Night” held on April 27, 2016, in New York City (Credit: Joseph Marzullo/ WENN)

Celebrities: They’re just like us! …kind of.

In April 2016, after spending hundreds of dollars on stylists and buying designer garb worth thousands, Jessica Chastain had to take the subway because there were no cars available.

She uploaded a video of the subway trip she took with her sister to watch the play “Long Day’s Journey into Night” in New York.

Jessica Chastain steps out in New York wearing a green-and-black Prabal Gurung dress, finished with sleek black peep-toe Christian Louboutin heels that add height and polish (Credit: Joseph Marzullo/ WENN)

Style Spotlight: The Christian Louboutin “Academa” Pump

Jessica wore a metallic swirl-pattern creation from Prabal Gurung, which she styled with a pair of painful-looking Christian Louboutin platform “Academa” heels.

The forest green color of Jessica’s dress contrasted with her fiery locks.

A close-up of Jessica Chastain’s black Christian Louboutin “Academa” pumps, featuring a peep-toe front, subtle cutouts, and the designer’s signature red sole (Credit: Joseph Marzullo/ WENN)

Perhaps the most relatable part of Jessica’s public transit adventure: she uploaded a Snapchat from it AND filtered it. A woman of the people — even if she is dressed head-to-toe in designer. Check it out below:

Despite its name, Christian Louboutin’s “Academa” is anything but an office staple. With its towering platform and 120mm-plus heel, the style is firmly in party and red-carpet territory—designed to make an entrance rather than survive a workday.

It’s the kind of shoe that delivers maximum impact under evening lights, not something most fashion insiders would consider remotely practical for corporate wear.

Peep-toe pumps with cutout accents at the vamps and counter, tonal stitching, and covered heels

Black Christian Louboutin “Academa” Leather Cutout Red Sole Pumps

Christian Louboutin’s Academa pump is styled with a low-cut vamp, hidden platform, and subtle cutouts

Nude Christian Louboutin “Academa” Leather Cutout Red Sole Pumps

Jessica Chastain’s Enduring Love Affair With Christian Louboutin

From international film festivals to candid city moments, Jessica Chastain’s footwear choices reveal a consistent throughline: a preference for sharp silhouettes, elevated platforms, and the unmistakable red soles of Christian Louboutin.

Whether anchoring a high-glam red-carpet gown or adding polish to an off-duty look, her shoes are never an afterthought.

Below, we revisit some of Chastain’s most memorable Louboutin and footwear moments—each one underscoring how central shoes are to her signature style.