Jessica did an interview to USA Today last month, to talk about Miss Sloane and how she prepared for the role by studying Washington lobbyists. Chastain spent pre-production Googling top female lobbyists, and walked away from a trip to Washington with a decidedly different take on Sloane, a character she presumed would wear little makeup and rotate the same wardrobe day in and out.

“It was almost naïve of me to think that, because there’s something about the way Elizabeth Sloane dresses and about some of the women that I met in D.C. where they intimidate before they even enter the room,” says the actress, whose character’s war paint is dark nail polish and crimson lipstick.

The misogyny lobbed at Hillary Clinton in the presidential election is top of mind for the actress, particularly when discussing words used to describe women like Elizabeth Sloane and the Democratic nominee.

During the debates, “the criticism against Hillary was that she was overprepared. I never heard in my entire life that a man was overprepared for anything. I am overprepared in my life,” she says. “What’s wrong with being ambitious, being overprepared, being one step ahead?”

Watch a small bit of the interview in the video below, and check the full interview on USA Today website.

Some portraits taken during the interview has been added to our gallery.

PHOTOSHOOTS & PORTRAITS > PHOTOSHOOTS FROM 2016 > 016 – USA TODAY