What You Didn't Know About Jessica Chastain's Husband

Gian Luca Passi de Preposulo is the name of Jessica Chastain's husband, and that alone is proof enough that the actress leads a fascinating private life. In fact, the "Zero Dark Thirty" star is married to a man with Italian nobility in his blood (via Bustle). Okay, we're kinda jealous. Especially considering the tall, dark and handsome kinda prince (he's actually a count) used to be the director of public relations for — ready for this? — Armani. He now works for Moncler, a jacket brand.

Apparently Passi de Preposulo, who is actually several years younger than his now-wife, spent time hanging out with the likes of Julia Roberts and George Clooney as part of his former job. And, it was actually because of her now-husband's position that he met Chastain, completely by chance as the red haired beauty tells the story. "We met in Paris," Chastain told Kelly Ripa previously (The Knot). Of course — the city of romance! Where else?

It turns out that Jessica Chastain was nominated for an Oscar the same day she met Gian Luca Passi de Preposulo. The actress had been pulled into a fashion show at the last minute, and also found out her work in "The Help" was being considered by the Academy (via CBS News). "It was the beginning of my career and then I met my future husband, so who knew?" Chastain said at the time, adding, "I know, it's probably the best day I ever had."

The pair would go on to date for five years, and then say "I do" in a gorgeous Italian ceremony. People notes the nuptials took place at a family property called Villa Tiepolo Passi, where Passi de Preposulo's father, Count Alberto Passi de Preposulo, lives — the villa is also sometimes rented out for events. Incredibly, Chastain's in-laws can trace their heritage back to the year 973. And, interestingly, even though the family has a documented noble past, the Italian aristocracy was dissolved in 1946 and thus, Chastain isn't officially a countess, despite her marriage to a count. No matter. She is still seemingly happily married and now has two children with her husband (via Us Weekly).

It's easy to understand what Jessica Chastain sees in her now-husband, Gian Luca Passi de Preposulo. He's a fashion expert from a storied European family. But, there is also a simple reason that the A-list star values the person that Passi de Preposulo is. "He's a gentleman," Chastain told W Magazine in a 2015 interview that the actress gave before the couple was married, adding, "And that's very important to me."

While she didn't give away too many details about their relationship, the Oscar winner shared a tidbit about the family she would go on to marry into — one that may have felt mildly intimidating. "He's from an old-school Italian family," the star noted. "No one in his family has ever been divorced!" 

By all accounts, the spouses, who have been married since 2017, are also happily wed. Could part of their secret be that de Preposulo opens doors for his famous wife? Perhaps!

No matter their secret for a happy Hollywood marriage, Jessica Chastain didn't always picture herself wanting a seat at that table, so to speak. The Academy Award winner talked to the Wall Street Journal Magazine in 2018 and admitted that before meeting her nobleman, she wasn't interested in getting married. In fact, Chastain was in a long-term relationship with director Ned Benson previously — perhaps this was her idea of commitment?  

Her feelings on a legal union apparently changed upon getting to know Gian Luca Passi de Preposulo. As she shared with the WSJ, "The idea of marriage shifted for me."

Just a year after agreeing to enter into holy matrimony with the fashion executive, Chastain said in the interview, "I actually love being married." She sweetly added that her hubby "is a spectacular human being." And ultimately for her, marriage is about "celebrating that I get to share my life with him."

As if being from a noble family and boasting high-fashion connections — and acting like a gentleman — isn't impressive enough, Jessica Chastain's husband also knows a lot about prosecco. In fact, as he told Business Insider in 2018, "We grew up surrounded by prosecco. The harvest was a very specific time of year for us."

Gian Luca Passi de Preposulo even launched his own brand of prosecco, called Fiol, with two childhood friends. And this isn't just any bottle of bubbly, with the Italy native explaining that Fiol was launched with the intention of cornering the market on high-end prosecco. "One thing I learned from the fashion industry is that if you start low you can only go lower, you have to position the brand high to begin with," the fizz expert told Business Insider.

You can be a part of Chastain's husband's enterprise in your own home as it appears that Fiol retails for $16.99 in the United States, while being described as "the best Italy has to offer" on its website.