For Jessica Chastain, luxury doesn’t need to announce itself. But it should still feel something.

Speaking in Dubai during a brief interaction at The Dubai Mall, where she unveiled Italian jewellery house Damiani’s newly revamped boutique and its latest high jewellery collection Ode to Italy, the Oscar-winning actor reflected on her affinity for quiet, understated luxury, both on and off the red carpet.

“Yes, it is something I gravitate towards, absolutely,” Chastain said. “I love an understated elegance.”

That said, subtlety doesn’t mean fading into the background. Dressed in a striking red suit paired with jewellery, from necklaces and bracelets, to earpieces and rings, Chastain explained that colour itself can still embody elegance when worn with intention.

“I don’t like anything vulgar,” she added. “But I do like to show up with an energy — like with a colour. I’m wearing a red suit, after all, and incredible jewellery. I think there’s an understated elegance to colour as well. Because it’s so expressive, it feels like you’re part of an art piece.”

When asked whether that shift makes luxury less about status and more about meaning, Chastain agreed instantly.

“Exactly,” she said. “It’s more about how you want to show up today. Choosing a red suit versus choosing a black suit is a very different energy you’re putting out.”

For her appearance in Dubai, that energy was intentional. “I really wanted to show up and feel like sunshine,” she said.

And that she did, when she lit up the room with her presence as fans, admirers queued up for brief takeaways and photo opportunities.

Chastain’s visit marked a key moment for Damiani, where she serves as brand ambassador. The Ode to Italy collection draws inspiration from the country’s most iconic landmarks, translated into high jewellery by the house’s master goldsmiths.

Beyond fashion, the actor also shared her admiration for Dubai’s rapid evolution.

“It’s amazing to see the growth that the city has to offer,” she said. “It’s actually quite inspiring as a human. It makes the impossible possible — it really represents that.”

This trip, she revealed, was also a family affair. “I brought my family this time,” Chastain said. “We’ve been to The Green Planet, KidZania — we went all over and had a great time.”

On the work front, Chastain is set to return for the second season of Audible’s audio thriller The Space Within, reprising her role as Dr. Madeline Wyle, a PTSD and trauma psychiatrist navigating a world of alien mysteries, government conspiracies, and altered human DNA. She also serves as executive producer on the series, with all eight episodes slated to debut on March 5, 2026.