Timothée Chalamet's star has been rising consistently since his big break in 2017, with two of his most anticipated films yet -- Dune and The French Dispatch -- now in theaters. In just five years, Chalamet has already cemented himself as one of the top actors of his generation, working with some prolific directors and scoring an Oscar nomination for Best Actor.
So, with two more of his high-profile projects releasing, let’s take a look back at some of Chalamet's best film roles -- from his appearances in quiet indies to parts in sprawling war epics.
Elio Perlman (Call Me By Your Name)
In 2017, Chalamet was virtually unknown. He’d only had a few roles to speak of, with the promise of one, a lead in an adaptation of Call Me By Your Name, indefinitely on hold. Chalamet waited three long years to portray the lovelorn Elio in Luca Guadagnino’s adaptation -- and his patience paid off tremendously. The film, which depicts Elio’s first love in the Italian countryside with tender, sun-streaked austerity, was an immediate Oscars contender, and it was Chalamet's performance that earned him accolades at the Academy Awards, the BAFTAs, and the Golden Globes.
Nic Sheff (Beautiful Boy)
By 2018, Chalamet had already made big waves for his performance in Call Me By Your Name. But it was his portrayal of teen drug addict Nic Sheff that caught even more attention from critics. Beautiful Boy is based on two simultaneously published memoirs -- one written by Sheff regarding his struggle with addiction, and the other by his father, David, about his efforts to support Nic in his recovery. Steve Carrell, who plays David, and Chalamet were both praised for their honest, diligent portrayal of a dynamic strained by addiction. Beautiful Boy helped shed a light on a stigmatized epidemic and showed how dedicated Chalamet is to his craft.
Henry V (The King)
David Michôd’s period drama is based loosely on Shakespeare’s Henriad -- a group of plays that follow King Henry V’s ascension to the throne. The film abandons its Shakespearean source material right out of the gate, turning the inherent camp of the history plays into a gritty, sullen commentary about war and all its foibles (not unlike Nolan’s Dark Knight trilogy). While the tonal shift was controversial, it provided the perfect vehicle for Timmy to offer audiences another glimpse of his impressive range.
Kyle Scheible (Lady Bird)
Many were introduced to Chalamet through Lady Bird, Greta Gerwig’s solo directorial debut. In this critically-acclaimed coming of age, Timothée plays Kyle, a brooding hipster that catches the eye of the titular protagonist. His appearance was brief, as the film focuses mainly on Lady Bird’s relationship with her mother, but memorable all the same. Everyone knew a “Kyle” in high school: the alluring, mysterious manchild that breaks all the hearts he can. His character is a cliche, but thanks to Gerwig’s subtle writing -- and the nuance of Chalamet’s performance -- Kyle still oozes charm and likability.
Theodore “Laurie” Lawrence (Little Women)
Chalamet would reunite with Gerwig and actress Saoirse Ronan in the 2019 adaptation of Little Women, a classic by author Louisa May Alcott. The story follows Jo March, a wild, tomboyish writer, and her three sisters as they face the realities of life. Ronan plays Jo, and Chalamet is Laurie, her aimless, exuberant neighbor who is also madly in love with her.
The dynamic between Jo and Laurie is one of the most famous unrequited romances, so Ronan and Chalamet had big shoes to fill. But they -- and the rest of the cast -- bring an electricity, vulnerability, and modernity to a timeless classic.
To see Timothée Chalamet's latest performances, Dune and The French Dispatch are now in theaters.