Andrew Garfield Says Jessica Chastain ‘Rearranged’ Filming Schedule for ‘The Eyes of Tammy Faye’ So He Could See His Mother Before She Died

As a cinephile who has witnessed countless stories unfold on the silver screen, I can confidently say that the bond between Andrew Garfield and Jessica Chastain during the filming of “The Eyes of Tammy Faye” transcended the boundaries of a mere movie set. Their friendship, born out of shared experiences and deep conversations, was a beacon of light in the darkest moments of Garfield’s life.


In a recent conversation with People, Andrew Garfield shared that Jessica Chastain arranged for him to spend time with his mom, Lynn, before she passed away in 2019 due to pancreatic cancer. During their collaboration on the Tammy Faye Bakker biopic, “The Eyes of Tammy Faye,” Chastain, who was also a producer for the film, made sure Andrew had opportunities to visit his mother while they were both involved in the project.

It was remarkable when David Greenbaum from Searchlight Pictures and Jessica suddenly adjusted the schedule, pausing production in North Carolina for several days, to allow me to return to England for a decade, so I could be with my mother.

In the 2021 movie “The Eyes of Tammy Faye,” Jessica Chastain played Tammy Faye, and Andrew Garfield portrayed Jim Bakker. This biographical drama is based on real events and chronicles the journey of Tammy Faye and Jim Bakker, who started small and eventually built the biggest religious broadcasting network globally, along with a Christian-themed amusement park.

As I recount my experiences during the making of our recent biopic, I can’t help but reminisce about a unique tradition shared by myself and the remarkable Jessica Chastain. During filming, she would whisk me away from our set location, and we would embark on a journey to Heritage USA, the now-abandoned theme park created by the Bakkers. It was an intriguing ritual that added an unexpected charm to our days on set.

Every Sunday, Garfield mentioned, we’d visit a stunning ceremony site. It wasn’t just about connecting with the spirits of Jim and Tammy, but also honoring the location where they established their sanctuary, almost as if it was a shrine dedicated to their deity, yet equally to them.

During our shared moments with Chastain, Garfield expressed, “We had profound discussions since we were mutually discovering one another on a personal level. I’m incredibly thankful for those instances with her as they coincided with a period when my mother was gravely ill and eventually passed away.

In 2021, Garfield opened up to Variety about spending time with his mother in England before she passed away. “The positive aspect of our relationship,” he shared, “is that we didn’t leave any unspoken words between us. We made the most of every moment while she was alive. The last two weeks I spent with her were truly life-changing for me. To be surrounded by my dad, my brother, her friends, my nephews – it was a time filled with grace amidst an unfortunate tragedy.

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2024-10-20 01:16