Timothée Chalamet has never been one to shy away from his pursuit of greatness. Since he declared his intentions at the 2025 SAG Awards, that confidence and honesty have seeped into every aspect of the 29-year-old's life, including the press tour for Marty Supreme—to the point where his unwavering self-assurance has caught the eye of some. But just like the protagonist of the film, Timothée's response to those who might want him to display more humility is shameless and unapologetic.
"This is in the spirit of Marty," he told IndieWire in an interview published on December 19th. "Ultimately, this is an original film at a time when original movies aren't really being produced. It's a movie about the pursuit of a dream. I'm leaving it all on the field. Whether it's the merchandise, the Zoom calls, or the media appearances, I'm trying to get this out in the biggest way possible."
And it's all—yes, even the orange Marty blimp, the ping-pong ball-headed entourage, and the limited-edition windbreaker—as he puts it, "In the spirit of Marty Mauser." In fact, the Dune star pointed to a lyric from Bob Dylan—who Timothée embodied in A Complete Unknown—that reads, "He who is not busy being born is busy dying," as a source of ongoing inspiration.
"Certainly, everyone needs respite and relaxation and healing at times," he explained, "but with such a unique lifestyle and career opportunity, that is to say, to work at a high level, why not be passionate about it all? I've always given it my all." And while he thinks that pursuit is evident in his earlier films—Bones and All, Call Me By Your Name, Beautiful Boy, and The King were among those he named—he feels his "artistry is growing."
"It's in formation," he added. "My foundation as an artist has gotten stronger. So my canvas board got bigger, or my palette." As for self-doubt? There simply aren't enough hours in the day for that.
"I have a technical approach to every role I've done," Timothée explained. "That process and approach is different. It's not like I have a playbook. But when it comes down to it, production days, 12 hours usually, there's not a lot of time to be doubtful, not even in a combative sense, or as an athletic showman." He continued, "You're getting through the day if you're lucky and disciplined, and keep a level of focus for that."
