Timothée Chalamet Reveals The Honest (And Relatable) Way His Dad Felt About Him Starting An Acting Career

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Timothée Chalamet‘s acting career is soaring and shows no signs of slowing down. He was even nominated for an Oscar in 2025, thanks to his remarkable portrayal of Bob Dylan in the movie “A Complete Unknown”. As we reflect on his journey, it’s interesting to hear Chalamet talk candidly about his father’s insightful perspective on when he first expressed a desire to act.

It might surprise you that Timothée Chalamet, who played the lead role in ‘Dune’, hails from a well-known family. His mother, Nicole Flender, once danced on Broadway and later joined the Actor’s Equity Association. His father, Marc, is a New York correspondent for Le Parisien and an editor for UNICEF. It’s also worth mentioning that Chalamet’s sister, Pauline, is a notable actress, particularly recognized for her work in the HBO Max series ‘The Sex Lives of College Girls’. In an interview with ’60 Minutes’, Timothée spoke candidly about his father’s understandable concern over his desire to pursue acting.

In my opinion, my father was quite justified in being cautious during my upbringing. It wasn’t a suitable environment for a child, certainly not. People were constantly approaching me, saying things like “Aren’t you adorable, do the thing where you recognize yourself as cute.” My dad, however, seemed more focused on encouraging me to be ordinary.

It’s clear why Timothée Chalamet’s father might feel apprehensive about his son’s career in Hollywood, given that many young actors encounter difficulties within the industry. For instance, in the documentary “Quiet on Set,” Drake Bell discussed the abuse he experienced at the hands of Brian Peck, a former Nickelodeon coach and actor. Unfortunately, child stars often face additional challenges such as mental health issues, mismanaged earnings, or exploitation by management. Furthermore, it’s disheartening to see how the entertainment industry can lead some child stars down a destructive path, with tragic outcomes like those of Brad Renfro, River Phoenix, Anissa Jones, and others who lost their lives due to drug abuse. Consequently, it’s not surprising that parents might fear their children having to navigate these dark aspects of show business.

In an interview on 60 Minutes, Timothée Chalamet shared that he grew up in a housing complex in Manhattan Plaza, which was teeming with actors. Contrary to what one might expect, Chalamet confessed that instead of inspiring him to join the acting world, being surrounded by performers had the unusual effect of dissuading him initially.

This building, in all honesty, left me feeling apprehensive about pursuing acting, as I found the lifestyle to be challenging and not everyone seems to be thriving in it.

This building honestly made me hesitant about embarking on a career in acting, given how demanding the lifestyle is and the fact that many people don’t seem to be doing exceptionally well.

The insights shared by the actor from ‘Little Women’ resonate deeply, as countless young actors embark on journeys to cities like California or New York with hopes of breaking into showbiz. Regrettably, not everyone will find success and meet their desired career objectives. I can easily envision Timothée Chalamet listening to countless tales of performers leaving their apartments brimming with optimism, only to return dejected after a failed audition. Indeed, this field is tough, requiring one to cultivate resilience to endure the regular possibility of rejection on a daily basis.

It turns out that a pivotal moment in Chalamet’s career was winning a spot at La Guardia High School, a challenging school for the arts. This is where he played roles in productions like ‘Cabaret’ and ‘Sweet Charity.’ Did you know that after finishing high school, the actor from ‘Lady Bird’ initially intended to pursue cultural anthropology at Columbia University? However, he switched to New York University’s Gallatin School of Individualized Study after a year to further his studies in acting. Clearly, Chalamet was deeply committed to his passion for acting and chose not to abandon honing his craft.

I, Timothée Chalamet, found myself venturing into the world of acting despite my father’s initial apprehensions, viewing it as a potentially challenging environment for a child. However, fortune seemed to favor me, as I landed my first on-screen roles in television guest appearances and gradually moved onto minor film roles in “Men, Women & Children” and “Interstellar.

Subsequently, Timothée Chalamet achieved global fame with his role in “Call Me By Your Name,” earning his initial Oscar nomination. This was preceded by acting in films such as “Beautiful Boy,” the “Dune” series, and “Wonka.” As Chalamet’s recognition from The Academy persists, it seems he is experiencing the success that every aspiring actor yearns for, a fact that should undoubtedly alleviate any concerns of his father.

In select theaters, you have the chance to catch Timothée Chalamet reprising his Academy Award-nominated portrayal of Bob Dylan in “A Complete Unknown.” This film is currently screening alongside the latest 2025 movie releases.

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2025-02-20 06:37