Kate Chastain has been at the center of a lot of news coverage recently, mostly concerning her dual roles as a mother and an actress. Though these roles are hers to play, some people have accused her of not fully giving her all to her Nationality. They argue that Kate has allowed herself to be exploited by certain elements of the film industry, most notable for her role as Coraline’s human love interest, The Ghost. This is part of an ongoing trend in which actresses, particularly those of a young age, who are considered fresh face start to try and get parts in popular films which are aimed at younger audiences. Though critics may state that this is simply an attempt to cash in on a popular trend, others see this as an act of artistic exploitation, which goes beyond simple self-expression.
Kate Chastain has done her best to distance herself from her past, as much as possible. While Coraline was written as an adult, Kate has gone out of her way to make sure that the character is conceived of as a young girl in her early twenties. She has also made sure that her image is presented in a very young way, as a product of her childhood identity crisis, which came to a head during the time when she was desperately seeking answers to the questions that had been plaguing her since birth. However, some may find this a clever marketing ploy, as it is a well-known fact that the identity crisis that Kate experienced at the end of the film is directly related to her coming to terms with her own identity and sexuality.
Kate Chastain’s greatest assets as an actress is certainly her height, and her blonde hair, which help to lend her the kind of timeless beauty that many older actresses are sometimes associated with. Yet, she would argue that even if her looks are no more than assets, they are assets that help give her the ability to be sensitive to the plight of others. It was these human rights issues that became the focus of her career after Coraline was released and in particular her decision to go into political activism. Today, many agree with Chastain’s stance on the importance of human rights, and her decision to get politically active has led to her acting in various humanitarian films. Nowadays, her films seem to be far more far-reaching than her early career, which is often credited for setting the standards for female directors and actors today.