Currently, there are about 200,000 women serving in the military and thousands more working in United States intelligence agencies like the CIA. This year, two Oscar-nominated films are tackling an important and, at times, heartbreaking topic: women and war.
Zero Dark Thirty, starring Jessica Chastain, is one of the films making big headlines this year. The movie chronicles a female CIA agent on the decades-long hunt for Osama Bin Laden. With roaring accolades for her performance and an Oscar nomination for the film, Jessica’s career is beginning to sky-rocket.
“It’s the myth of overnight success.” -Jessica Chastain
Jessica Chastain on Katie speaking about her first experience when she KNEW acting was her has me tearing up.. Passion is everything!
— Briseis (@Buffy_Levine) February 12, 2013
The Best Actress nomination for Jessica Chastain is her second Oscar nomination so far. Last year, she received one for Best Supporting Actress for her role as Celia Foote in The Help. Jessica answers the questions on everyone’s mind: What will the Oscar nominee wear to the Oscars this year and who will she bring as her date?
“Comfort is over-rated when you get to wear a beautiful dress.” -Jessica Chastain
Fantastic interview w/ #JessicaChastain on @katiecouric this afternoon! Fingers still crossed that she wins that #Oscar for @zerodarkthirty!
— Preston Mock (@PrestonMock) February 12, 2013
Jessica Chastain’s character in Zero Dark Thirty is based on a real-life CIA agent named Maya. How did Jessica research this role? And what was it like to work with director Kathryn Bigelow?
“It’s a dream to work with her.” -Jessica Chastain
@ @jessicacweb Jessica was so gracious, elegant, engaging…truly a remarkable young woman/actress on @katiecouric today – just love her!
— Jc2009USA (@JC2009USA) February 12, 2013
Zero Dark Thirty demonstrates the extraordinary role women are playing in the military and in intelligence communities today. That role is only going to increase now that the Pentagon has lifted the ban on women in combat. But a new documentary is exposing the dark side of service for many women. Nearly a third of women who have served in the military say they were victims of sexual assault while on active duty, and the Pentagon says there were 19,000 assaults in 2010 alone. The Oscar-nominated film, The Invisible War, tells some of the stories of women who enlisted to protect and defend their country, but encountered an enemy within. Kori Cioca and her husband Rob McDonald were featured in the documentary.
“I was always waiting to have my face spit in or him touch me.”- Kori Cioca
@katieshow kori story is so powerful what she has gone through.
— Sara (@saraGG14) February 12, 2013
Jessica Hinves always dreamed of serving in the Air Force. That dream became a nightmare when she was sexually assaulted while on duty. Jessica and her husband, Staff Sargeant Scott Hinves, who is currently serving in the Air Force, share their emotional story.
“After I was raped, everyone in my squadron turned their back on me.” -Jessica Hinves
@katieshow What a profound & heartbreaking show. These women are incredibly brave & hopefully today’s show is a catalyst for greater change.
— Valeria Messallina (@Messallina18) February 12, 2013
Amy Zering is one of the producers of the The Invisible War. Susan Burke is an attorney who represented many of the women featured in the film. Why was the this story so important for them to share? And what is being done about the epidemic of military sexual trauma?
“You can go AWOL, you can commit suicide or you can put up with it.” -Susan Burke
@katiecouric @invisible_war That was a great show.I am proud of the men and women who have spoken up.Things can only get better.
— CPC (@cpcinon) February 12, 2013
Last week, during Katie’s interview with Kerry Washington, she discussed One Billion Rising, a global campaign launched by the movement V-Day to end violence against women. Find out why Katie is rising up.
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