Timothee Chalamet has said he’s in pursuit of greatness. Robert Downey Jr. thinks he’s already there. Chalemet, who is highly likely to land his third Best Actor nomination at just 30 years old. Perhaps incorrectly, the actor has not won that Oscar but is in a great position to do it this year for Marty Supreme.
Whether or not he wins the award, which is typically given exclusively to older actors, he is interested in becoming one of the greatest actors of all time. He’s said as much, and his performances indicate the same. Downey Jr. thinks he can already check that box.
Robert Downey Jr. Pays Timothee Chalamet Major Compliment
For Marty Supreme, Timothee Chalamet has already won the acting award at the Critics’ Choice Awards and Golden Globes. He also picked up an Actor Award nomination from SAG, and he landed on the BAFTA longlist in the best actor category. This could be his year.
At a Q&A for the film’s Oscar campaign, Robert Downey Jr. moderated and paid the young actor a huge compliment. He first referenced Chalamet’s open desire for greatness, something he said last year when he won the SAG award for A Complete Unknown. He would go on to lose the Oscar to Adrien Brody, perhaps somewhat controversially.
“When I was 30, I was making a movie with Norman Jewison. It was called ‘Only You.’ Me and Marisa Tomei,” Downey said via Variety. “We were on the Amalfi coast somewhere and I just go to Norman Jewison, you know ‘Moonstruck’ and all these great movies, I go, ‘Norman, I think I am one of the greats. I want you to tell me if you agree with that.’ He looked at me like I was nuts. He said, ‘Well, Mr. Downey, that remains to be seen.’”
Downey then went on to say, “in front of God and everyone in this audience,” that Marty Supreme has confirmed that it “no longer remains to be seen.” Downey hailed Chalamet as one of the greats just a short time into his already illustrious acting career.
This likely was music to Chalamet’s ears. He went viral at the SAG Awards for his outspoken pursuit of greatness. That pursuit has rubbed some people the wrong way since then, but at the time, it was a landmark moment for him and the film industry. Rarely has the athlete’s mentality ever crossed over into the arts.
“I can’t downplay the significance of this award, because it means the most to me,” Chalamet said in his speech. “I know we’re in a subjective business, but the truth is, I’m really in pursuit of greatness. I know people don’t usually talk like that, but I want to be one of the greats. I am inspired by the greats. I’m as inspired by Daniel Day-Lewis, Marlon Brando, and Viola Davis as I am by Michael Jordan and Michael Phelps. I want to be up there. This doesn’t signify that, but it’s a little more fuel — a little more ammo to keep going.”
Chalamet faces stiff competition this year for the Best Actor award. He went all-out for Marty Supreme, but he’s going to have to hope the Academy liked his performance better than Michael B. Jordan in Sinners or Leonardo DiCaprio in One Battle After Another. The fact that Chalamet is winning early on is good, but it’s not a perfect indicator.
Conclusion
By being nominated for A Complete Unknown, Timothee Chalamet became the youngest two-time Best Actor nominee since James Dean. That alone suggests he’s certainly on his way to being one of the greats like he wants, but a Best Actor win after his third nomination would cement that status.
