Jessica Chastain - Jessica Chastain Keen To Meet Benefactor Robin Williams

The Zero Dark Thirty star, who is the favourite to land a Best Actress Academy Award, won a scholarship funded by Williams to go to prestigious arts school Julliard in New York - and she's never had the chance to give her benefactor a hug.

She says, "I am the first person to go to college in my family and it was because I got a scholarship from Robin Williams, who made it possible... I sent him a letter when I got the scholarship, but I've never met him.

"I almost met him; I was at a restaurant and I was telling someone the story... (and) Robin came in and sat down next to me.

"I waited until he was done eating because I don't want to be the crazy girl at the restaurant, and before he finished he jumped up and left and I jumped up and I was gonna chase after him and then I thought, 'No!'"

She made an appeal to meet Williams during an appearance on U.S. show Late Night With Jimmy Fallon on Friday (18Jan13) when the host told her Williams watched the programme.