Since his 2014 film debut, Timothée Chalamet has been a constant in the public eye, and has starred in some of the most iconic films of current times. While his previous press tours have been impressive, something about the realness of the A Complete Unknown run has really shot Chalamet further into stardom.
What sets the promo from A Complete Unknown apart from the average press runs is the fans. Throughout his career, Chalamet has always been beyond willing and able to connect with fans on a level that is not seen as often in today’s celebrity culture. There’s something about not only the quantity of interactions with fans but the quality of these interactions as well.
From hanging out with college band members to showing up at his own Look-A-Like Contest, the obscurity and almost comedic nature of these press events makes Timothée feel more human. With the surplus of modern celebrities, it’s becoming harder for the average person to relate to or genuinely appreciate someone with fame. Celebrities often end up feeling more like untouchable entities rather than normal people. But Chalamet’s charismatic ability to engage with and show appreciation for those who support him seems to separate his immense fame from his character, making him feel refreshingly real.
Not only is Timothée charismatic with fans, but he’s also mastered the art of the interview. His cultural awareness and understanding of pop moments allow him to connect with a wide variety of people. One day, he’s the guest picker on College GameDay and appearing on Theo Von’s This Past Weekend podcast, the next, he’s being interviewed by Nardwuar , discussing Charli xcx and Troye Sivan. His ability to be so well knowledgeable about such insanely different topics and interests makes him palatable for such diverse groups of people.
While there’s undoubtedly an (extremely talented) marketing team behind many of the decisions made for this press tour, I genuinely believe Timothée’s commitment to the bit played a huge role in its virality. His willingness to show up to a premiere in a blonde side-bang wig and a Chanel look is exactly what draws people to him. His comedic delivery in these moments is what makes them work. These are the kinds of bits that would come off as “cringe” or overdone if attempted by anyone else, but his charisma makes them feel effortless and unique.
Timothée Chalamet is truly one of our greats. Not only is he among the most talented male actors in the industry today, he is also able to make such deep connections with his audience in a way that has rarely been seen before. His willingness to put himself out there and break away from the typical Hollywood mold has earned him a level of fame that box office numbers and awards alone can’t achieve.
With that said, I’m really hoping to see Timothée’s name on the Best Actor nomination list for the Oscar’s later this week, and hopefully a win follows.
A Complete Unknown is in theaters now and you can stream Dune: Part Two on HBO Max. If you haven’t had a chance to tune in yet, I highly suggest it.
Thinking Weekly 
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