In an industry not famed for its humility, Timothée Chalamet managed to shock even his fellow actors with a bold declaration at this year's Screen Actors Guild Awards. Accepting the Best Actor prize for his portrayal of Bob Dylan in A Complete Unknown, the 30-year-old star, clad in a black leather suit honouring the musician, stated: 'I know we're in a subjective business, but the truth is I'm really in pursuit of greatness.'
The Meteoric Rise and the 'Artthrob' Persona
Chalamet's career has been nothing short of meteoric. From his Oscar-nominated breakout role in 2017's Call Me By Your Name to playing Willy Wonka and the messianic Paul Atreides in the Dune franchise, he has been hailed as the potential biggest star of his generation. His image as an 'artthrob'—a leading man defined by emotional vulnerability, feminism, and gender-fluid fashion—resonated powerfully with a Generation Z audience, setting him apart from traditional Hollywood machismo.
This unique appeal was cemented in 2019 when Vogue named him the 'most influential man in fashion', praising his ability to blur lines between masculinity and femininity. In 2022, he became the first man to appear solo on the cover of British Vogue, a testament to his cultural cachet, all while reportedly choosing his own clothes without a stylist.
Cracks in the Persona: Jenner, Rap Alter-Egos, and 'Kardashianisation'
Recently, however, Chalamet's carefully curated persona has shown fissures, causing some disquiet among his core fanbase. His relationship with reality TV star and billionaire businesswoman Kylie Jenner since 2023 has puzzled followers, with reports suggesting the Kardashian-Jenner clan has been instrumental in 'brand-building' for the actor.
Further intrigue stems from persistent speculation that Chalamet is the man behind the mask of mysterious Liverpudlian rapper EsDeeKid. The actor, a New Yorker who performed rap in school as 'Lil Timmy Tim', has refused to deny the link. A recent video appeared to show the pair rapping together on a track containing explicit lyrics, though its authenticity is unconfirmed.
'Marty Supreme' and the Relentless Oscar Campaign
All this unfolds against the backdrop of a relentless promotional campaign for his new film, Marty Supreme, which opened in UK cinemas yesterday. In the film, Chalamet plays aspiring ping-pong champion Marty Mauser, based loosely on real-life national champion Martin Reisman. Chalamet told Vogue the character is a 'shameless, entitled, arrogant' aspirant—a description some, including the film's director, have noted aligns closely with the actor's own personality.
The marketing for the film, which Chalamet co-produced, has been notably aggressive and thematically tied to the movie's orange ping-pong balls. Tactics have included an orange airship flying over screenings, A-listers like Tom Brady wearing branded jackets, and Chalamet and Jenner attending the LA premiere in all-orange outfits. The campaign turned chaotic in London last week when fights broke out at a pop-up store, requiring police intervention.
Chalamet's comments about the film and his Oscar ambitions are, according to industry bible Variety, 'raising eyebrows in Hollywood'. He has bragged that the role represents his best work yet after years of 'top-of-the-line performances', warning people not to take his work ethic 'for granted'. This follows his second Best Actor Oscar nomination earlier this year for A Complete Unknown, a role for which he spent years learning guitar to become, as his tutor said, 'Dylan 2.0'.
The Pursuit of a Legacy
Chalamet's single-minded drive is long-standing. The son of a French journalist and a former dancer, he initially aimed for a sports career before focusing on acting at New York's famed LaGuardia High School. He briefly attended Columbia University before leaving to pursue acting full-time.
Now facing his thirties, Chalamet seems acutely aware of time. He recently expressed a desire to look back on his interviews from his sixties and see someone 'speaking the truth'. His SAG Awards speech cited method-acting icons Marlon Brando and Daniel Day-Lewis as role models in his 'pursuit of greatness'.
The central question hanging over Timothée Chalamet's next act is whether this pursuit will cement a lasting legacy or reveal the fleeting nature of internet-fuelled stardom. Is he a serious 'actor with a capital A' or a product of a hype machine that may soon find a new 'boyfriend' for the online masses? As his promotional machinery whirs and his personal life merges with his brand, the industry and his fans are watching closely to see if the pursuit itself becomes his undoing or his defining triumph.
