Actor Timothée Chalamet recently opened up about his early career challenges, revealing that he initially aspired to star in action films like Maze Runner and Divergent. However, as he shared with The Hollywood Reporter, he faced consistent rejection due to his physique.
“I’d always get the same feedback: ‘You don’t have the right body,’” Chalamet recalled. “At one point, my agent even told me, ‘We’re going to stop submitting you for these big projects because the feedback hasn’t changed. You’re not gaining weight.’ And I was trying—I really was—but my metabolism or whatever wouldn’t let it happen.”
As a result, Chalamet shifted his focus to independent films, a move that proved pivotal. He earned acclaim for his performances in Call Me By Your Name, Lady Bird, Beautiful Boy, and Little Women. Reflecting on this shift, he said, “I kept knocking on one door that wouldn’t open, so I turned to what seemed like a smaller opportunity. But that path turned out to be incredibly rewarding for me.”
Chalamet eventually broke into larger-scale productions with Denis Villeneuve’s Dune franchise, cementing his status as a leading actor. His next major project is A Complete Unknown, where he portrays legendary musician Bob Dylan. The film is set to release on December 25.
Speaking about his earlier roles and their connection to his portrayal of Dylan, Chalamet noted, “Those performances were deeply personal and vulnerable. There’s an intimacy in that work that reminds me of Bob’s early music, especially his folk songs.”