Oscar nominee Jessica Chastain is desperate to meet Robin Williams so she can personally thank the funnyman for putting her through college.

The Zero Dark Thirty star, who is the favorite 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 Late Night With Jimmy Fallon on Friday (18Jan13) when the host told her Williams watched the program.