With his starring role as Bob Dylan in the upcoming movie A Complete Unknown, Timothée Chalamet continues to make bold and interesting choices that captivate audiences.

For a young man at the height of stardom, Timothée Chalamet exudes a cool, laid-back charm.

Turning 29 years old just two days after his new movie is due to release globally on Christmas Day, he admits that he’s still coming to terms with the whirlwind of attention and praise he’s received in recent years.

With his ruffled locks and graceful style, Chalamet gives off the aura of an intellectual artist—a thoughtful presence in a fast-paced industry. That combination has led to Chalamet working with some of the industry’s most respected directors, including Christopher Nolan, Luca Guadagnino, Greta Gerwig, Wes Anderson and Denis Villeneuve.

He has starred in hits like Dune: Part One and its sequel, and has raised his profile even more by dating Kylie Jenner. But despite the temptation of major blockbuster deals, Chalamet remains focused on projects that challenge him as an actor. This latest film, A Complete Unknown, is a perfect example.

Directed by James Mangold, known for Walk The Line—with Joaquin Phoenix as Johnny Cash—this biopic sees Chalamet stepping into the shoes of the legendary Bob Dylan.

It’s a role that requires more than just surface-level imitation; it demands an understanding of Dylan’s ever-evolving identity and unpredictable spirit. Chalamet is quick to acknowledge the weight of playing such an iconic figure.

A Complete Unknown sees you playing one of the most well-known singer-songwriters of all-time, Bob Dylan. How flattering has it been to play him?
Playing Dylan was a surreal experience because he’s so much more than just a musician. He’s constantly evolving, unpredictable and has this mystique that’s impossible to fully grasp.

For me, the challenge was embracing that ambiguity, understanding that I couldn’t reduce him to a single identity. Dylan’s life and art resist simplification, so it was about capturing his restless spirit, not trying to explain him.

There’s an energy to him that’s raw and I wanted to honor that. It’s not about imitation, but finding those moments where the myth and the man overlap.

Obviously, you’re far too young to have been around when Dylan first hit the music scene. What preparation did you do for the role?
His influence is so massive that it’s still everywhere. To prepare, I dove deep into his music and watched countless interviews, performances and documentaries to get a sense of his voice and presence.

I worked closely with music coaches to understand his style, but beyond the surface, it was about capturing his energy and unpredictability. Dylan’s a shape-shifter, so I focused on embracing that fluidity. The more I studied him, the more I realized that there’s no ‘one’ Bob Dylan, and that became central to my approach.

You’ve been praised so much by people who’ve been lucky enough to see clips of the movie for your voice in replicating Dylan, who has such a unique style. How nice is that feedback to receive?
That kind of feedback is amazing to hear, especially when you’re portraying someone as iconic as Bob Dylan, whose voice is so unique and distinctive.

I spent a lot of time working on getting that right—listening to his recordings over and over, not just to imitate but to really capture the essence of how he delivers his words.

It’s less about sounding identical and more about finding that rhythm and emotion in his voice. So, hearing that people think it comes through in the clips is a huge relief and feels really rewarding.

What can we expect from your portrayal?
You can expect one which captures the complexity of who Dylan was during a key moment in his life. It’s not about imitating his every move or trying to sound exactly like him.

Instead, it’s about embodying the spirit of someone who was constantly evolving, always resisting definition. Dylan was impulsive, sometimes cryptic and I wanted to bring that energy to the role.

It’s a balance between showing his vulnerability and his mystique. He’s an icon, but he’s also human and I hope I’ve given a glimpse of both those sides.

The cast is impressive with Monica Barbaro as Joan Baez, Edward Norton as Pete Seeger, Elle Fanning as Sylvie Russo and Johnny Cash played by Boyd Holbrook. What was it like to have worked with such a great cast?
Working with this cast was an incredible experience. These are all actors who brought so much depth to their roles. It was inspiring to be around people who not only respected the real-life figures they were portraying but also found ways to make them their own.

There was a real sense of collaboration and it felt like we were all tapping into this larger-than-life world that Bob Dylan and his circle lived in. It elevated the entire project.

Last Christmas, you were seeing Wonka go worldwide and this year, you’ll be trying to dominate the box office with this. Are you at your peak in acting?
It’s hard to say if I’m at my peak. I feel incredibly fortunate to be part of projects like Wonka and now A Complete Unknown, but I don’t think in terms of peaks.

For me, acting is always a learning process and I hope that never changes. Each role pushes me in new directions, whether it’s playing a whimsical character like Wonka or embodying the complexities of Bob Dylan.

I just try to stay focused on the work, stay curious, and keep growing. If people respond to that, it’s amazing, but I’m always looking ahead to what’s next.

After playing such varied roles and showing your immense versatility, what can you tackle next to keep this run of diverse roles going?
Quite honestly, nothing springs to mind and I’m not just being coy or feeling that if I do say something I might be laughed at or shot down. I haven’t even thought about it. I like to see what offers come in and wait for the dust to settle

You had committed to playing this role way back in 2020, then as we know, a couple of things in the world changed, somewhat.
Lockdown really set this film back, yes. I think when you have a movie that necessitates crowds being close together you can either find a hundred solutions to work a complicated route around something very simple, or just put the thing on hold and come back to it when everything has subsided.

Which actors did you look up to before you go into the industry?
None, really. I always felt it was too distant and I had my own ambitions to compete with actors rather than be like them. I know that sounds quite strange, doesn’t it? In actual fact, I only really began to appreciate the true talent of actors when I was working alongside them.

Like who?
If I had to name one it would be Matthew McConaughey—obviously we worked together on Interstellar.

From day one he was someone willing and happy to steer me in the right direction. I actually feel I owe an awful lot to him, not so much in what I have done, but in what I haven’t done, and by that I mean avoiding a lot of the traps that young male actors tend to fall into when they’re starting out.

I’ve benefited a lot from his advice. He was the person who really showed me the value of preparing properly for a role. And I don’t mean reading a script—he was the one who told me how to properly immerse myself in a character, in the history, in the era, in the architecture—the whole thing. I came to realize that a movie was about so much more than the actions and the dialogue of those in shot.

It was also interesting to see how he handled the press. He’s even helped me with the business side of acting.

Is that experience something you can now pay forward, now you are an established actor?
Having someone young actors can talk to and who understands the industry well is very reassuring. Agents and publicists will pretend they do that, but let’s be honest, there is often an ulterior motive. An actor can only really fully trust another actor. They are the only people who can empathize with each other.

Did you have any other people you confided in?
I’m very close to my sister who’s a few years older than me. I have always spoken to her a lot. I never hide anything from her.

What do you feel you have achieved in your career so far?
I haven’t achieved anything yet. I’m still finding out about myself and my career. I’m at the point now where I want to step back to darker subjects and explore small projects as well as big ones. It’s all evolution; all necessary.