Timothée Chalamet responds to criticism over formal acting experience

Timothée Chalamet has addressed a co-star who dismissed his acting skills over his formal training or lack thereof.

The 30-year-old Marty Supreme actor, who has earned four Academy Award nominations, five Golden Globes, six BAFTAs, and ten Critics’ Choice nominations over his career, recounted the encounter in a conversation with Matthew McConaughey for Variety.

“No names, but the guy was a punk,” Chalamet said. “He asked me what conservatory I had gone to, and I said I didn’t go to an acting conservatory. And he said, ‘Well, you haven’t trained as an actor then.’ And we were all part of an ensemble.”

Chalamet reflected on learning to navigate unsolicited advice in the industry.

“I always said, ‘Beware of the people in life that get more of the advice they give you than you get at the advice,’” he said. “They’re thrilled by the act of giving you advice. All of a sudden you can’t listen to what they’re saying anymore because they’re flexing on you so hard. You never did that to me, though, which I’m grateful for.”

Chalamet also praised McConaughey for his mentorship and attention to preparation during their work together on Interstellar in 2014.

“Hugely inspired by you on Interstellar,” he said. “There were times on Dune where I felt like, 'OK, how do I ground this for myself?' I would look at your level of preparation and be deeply inspired.”

He described how this influenced his approach on Dune 3, studying control panels and inventing dynamics for himself. 

Recalling McConaughey’s insistence on fully understanding the set environment, Chalamet said, “You said, 'You should know. If you were on this farm, you would know.' I thought you were half-joking, so I cracked a laugh, and you said, 'No. You should really know.' I went home that night and printed a bunch of research. I knocked on your trailer door. I was proud to show it. That stuff means a lot, man.”

Reflecting on acting itself, Chalamet emphasized embracing vulnerability: “As an actor, all you risk is looking foolish, because it’s a tremendously foolish job. If you can embrace that foolishness, nothing can stop you. You’re on a powerful light source, man, if you can embrace the clown in all this.”