Jessica Chastain recalls fighting back after her mother's boyfriend slapped her
Jessica Chastain
Jessica Chastain will not be bullied.
The 40-year-old actress  along with Michael B. Jordan  covers WSJ magazine's Talents and Legends February issue  and recalls having to physically stand up for  herself  as a child.
After disclosing that  she  grew up with a single mom  and to this day does not know who  her  biological father is   Chastain  shared a "turning point" in  her  life when  she  had an encounter with  her  mother's then-boyfriend.
"He did something -- my room was messy or whatever and he had taken my clothes  and I was telling him to give me back my stuff -- and he slapped me. And I just kicked him in the genitals  and he fell to the ground immediately "  she  revealed. "It was me  my sister and my brother -- and I remember looking at  my sister âs face  and we were both like  âOh  my God  what did I just do?â And then I ran out of the house."
 Chastain  added  "I always look back on that moment as knowing that  'OK  if anything happens to me  Iâm capable of fighting back.' He never messed with me again."
"If you allow a bully to intimidate or victimize you  theyâll continue to do it "  she  said. "Bullies are actually weak; they donât go after strong people."
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 Chastain  seems to practice this point of view in  her  professional life  and notes the time former movie mogul Harvey Weinstein -- who has been accused of sexual misconduct by numerous women -- introduced  her  at the premiere of "The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby " which was distributed by the Weinstein Company.
"He actually told the audience  âIf I had to get in a boxing ring with Muhammad Ali or Jessica Chastain  I would choose Muhammad Ali " she recalled.
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It's been a good year for  Chastain . In addition to gaining critical acclaim for  her  lead role in Aaron Sorkin's "Molly's Game " she also married Gian Luca Passi de Preposulo in June.
Further gushing over her home life   Chastain  continued  "I actually love being married. I never thought I would  but this is a spectacular human being  and I am celebrating that I get to share my life with him."
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"I want to be a part of an industry that is very inclusive "  she  proclaimed. "One that teaches empathy  and the only way you do that is  you learn about someone who doesn't look like you. And I think there's a generation of artists that that is their goal."
[TGT]  will not be bullied.
The 40-year-old actress  along with Michael B. Jordan  covers WSJ magazine's Talents and Legends February issue  and recalls having to physically stand up for   [TGT]   as a child.
After disclosing that   [TGT]   grew up with a single mom  and to this day does not know who   [TGT]   biological father is    [TGT] shared a "turning point" in   [TGT]   life when   [TGT]   had an encounter with   [TGT]   mother's then-boyfriend.
"He did something -- my room was messy or whatever and he had taken my clothes  and I was telling him to give me back my stuff -- and he slapped me. And I just kicked him in the genitals  and he fell to the ground immediately "   [TGT]   revealed. "It was me  my sister and my brother -- and I remember looking at  my sister âs face  and we were both like  âOh  my God  what did I just do?â And then I ran out of the house."
 Chastain  added  "I always look back on that moment as knowing that  'OK  if anything happens to me  Iâm capable of fighting back.' He never messed with me again."
"If you allow a bully to intimidate or victimize you  theyâll continue to do it "  she  said. "Bullies are actually weak; they donât go after strong people. [TGT] 
Opens Up About Salma Hayek's 'Heartbreaking' Op-Ed on Harvey Weinstein
 Chastain  seems to practice this point of view in  her  professional life  and notes the time former movie mogul Harvey Weinstein -- who has been accused of sexual misconduct by numerous women -- introduced  her  at the premiere of "The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby " which was distributed by the Weinstein Company.
"He actually told the audience  âIf I had to get in a boxing ring with Muhammad Ali or Jessica Chastain  I would choose Muhammad Ali " she recalled.
  [TGT] Says  She  Feared Speaking Out Against Sexual Harassment Would Affect   [TGT]   Career
It's been a good year for  Chastain . In addition to gaining critical acclaim for   [TGT]   lead role in Aaron Sorkin's "Molly's Game " she also married Gian Luca Passi de Preposulo in June.
Further gushing over her home life   Chastain  continued  "I actually love being married. I never thought I would  but this is a spectacular human being  and I am celebrating that I get to share my life with him. [TGT] 
Insists That 'Change Is Coming' During Powerful PSIFF Awards Speech
"I want to be a part of an industry that is very inclusive "   [TGT]   proclaimed. "One that teaches empathy  and the only way you do that is  you learn about someone who doesn't look like you. And I think there's a generation of artists that that is their goal."