Timothée Chalamet, a rising young actor, faced a surprising challenge when his agent told him he needed to gain weight in order to book the kinds of big, blockbuster roles he was auditioning for.
In a recent interview with Zane Lowe on Apple Music 1, Chalamet opened up about this early experience in his career. “When I auditioned for The Maze Runner or Divergent, the feedback I received was always, ‘Oh, you don’t have the right body,'” Chalamet revealed. “I had an agent who called me and basically told me to gain weight—not aggressively, but you get the idea.”
This pressure to physically transform himself in order to fit a certain mold was something Chalamet said he could relate to when preparing to portray the legendary musician Bob Dylan in the upcoming film A Complete Unknown.
“I’ve had a life experience; I won’t say it’s weird, but I can relate to some of these things he went through,” Chalamet explained. Bob aspired to become a rock & roll star, akin to Buddy Holly, Little Richard, or Elvis Presley—a genre of pop, rock & roll music heavily marketed to children in the late 1950s. Equally, I wanted to be a big movie actor.”
Just as Dylan struggled to find his own unique musical voice amidst the popular trends of the time, Chalamet said he had to forge his own path in Hollywood rather than trying to mold himself into what casting directors were looking for.
“I found my way into these very personalized movies,” Chalamet said. “For him, it was folk music. He couldn’t keep a rock & roll band because they would all get hired by other kids that had more money, literally, in Minnesota. For me, the challenge was to find a movie that resonated deeply with my personal style, such as Call Me By Your Name, Beautiful Boy, Lady Bird, Little Women, Miss Stevens, or Hot Summer Nights. These movies, albeit on a smaller budget, were incredibly relatable and began in this theater setting. This is where I found my rhythm, my confidence, my flow, whatever you want to call it.”
Rather than bulking up to land the big blockbuster roles, Chalamet embraced the more intimate, character-driven films that allowed him to showcase his talents. Chalamet’s decision has clearly paid off, as he has gone on to earn an Oscar nomination and establish himself as one of Hollywood’s most sought-after young actors.
Now, as he prepares for the release of A Complete Unknown, Chalamet says his own experiences have helped him connect with Dylan’s journey in a meaningful way. “This is interpretive. This is not definitive,” Chalamet said of the film. “This is not a fact. This is not how it happened. This is a fable.”
To fully embody the role, Chalamet worked with a harmonica coach for five years and retraced Dylan’s steps through Chicago, Madison, Wisconsin, and Minnesota, where the iconic singer-songwriter was born.
While the film may not be a strict retelling of Dylan’s life, Chalamet’s personal connection to the material is clear. It shows the importance of staying true to yourself, even when the industry pressures you to change. “I found my way into these very personalized movies,” Chalamet said. “This is where I found my rhythm, my confidence, my flow, whatever you want to call it.”
It’s a lesson that Chalamet has clearly taken to heart and one that has served him well throughout his burgeoning career. And as he continues to take on fascinating, challenging roles like that of Bob Dylan, it’s clear that Chalamet is only just getting started.